High school diploma

verene, MSN · Aug 17, 2018

I would speak to local nursing programs to find out what their requirements are. It is likely you will have to complete a GED along the way, but I wouldn't let this stop you if you want to go into nursing.

caliotter3 · Aug 17, 2018

For LPN/LVN, you must be a high school graduate or have a GED in my state. Imagine this is the same elsewhere. However, in my state to attend a community college, where you find the majority of ASN RN programs (as well as some LVN programs), one can start school if they are of a certain age over 18. In other words, you can start taking prerequisite courses immediately, work on your GED simultaneously, and then, at the proper time apply to the RN program. As already advised, look on the websites of all local schools to see what is required for each. Make an appointment with an advisor to map out a plan and to get any remaining questions answered.

City-Girl · Aug 17, 2018

It's never to late to get started! You have some work ahead of you, but it's totally doable. Good luck!

forevernursem · Aug 17, 2018

You will need proof of high school graduation or a GED to apply for a nursing program. But, you can take non-nursing courses, like prereqs (math, bio, English) without having a GED or diploma.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 18, 2018

I would strongly recommend just getting your GED first before tackling any type of college-level courses. GED studying and subjects will help you in the long run, once you're ready to start doing prerequisites at the community college level.

You will have to, more than likely, take placement tests for community college to determine what level English and Math you can be placed in. After that, you need to do some math in order to work your way up to statistics (many nursing schools require statistics). This is probably anywhere between 3-5 classes of math to just do a statistic course. For general Anat, Phys, and/or Micro, chances are you'll have to do a general Biology course and a general Chemistry course just to get a chance to take the core science classes. Most of these core classes require College Algebra at the very least.

You have a bit of a road ahead of yourself, but it can be done. You have been out of school for a while and to boot, never graduated HS or got a GED. You will need something to help establish basic habits in studying and understanding material. Studying for the GED will help you once you start taking the courses you need at the community college level.

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Aug 18, 2018

You can't get financial aide if you don't have a HS diploma or GED. That route only works if you can pay for your classes yourself. But it's actually common that you can't get a degree until you have that high school equivalent done. So if you went for nursing, you wouldn't get your degree until you get your GED. What can help you, though, is a lot of community colleges offer programs for your GED that can actually get state grants to get you through it. Or your state probably has programs to get it for you.

Most nursing programs outside of extremely competitive areas, are only going to look at what you did at that school. I failed out of college once with a 0.4 GPA, I never went back to retake those classes, and I'm in nursing school, because I did really good at this school I'm in now. So, getting into school and getting that nursing degree is never impossible. It depends 100% on the school though, typically an associates from a community college is going to be your easiest bet, but to graduate and get your degree, they'll typically require your GED. And getting into nursing school is competitive. You can be the best student, but if it's between you and someone that graduated high school or has their GED, you're the one getting cut. They need to see that you're going to finish. Their accreditation depends on it, enough people have to complete their degrees every year. You definitely want it before you apply for nursing, regardless of your school's rules for admission.

So while you technically CAN go completely through nursing school without your GED, you're not eligible for financial aide. That's federal law. BUT if your local schools accept people without their diploma or GED, you might be able to get that while you're working on your prereqs to apply for nursing. It's probably going to take you over a year until you can even apply, because odds are, you don't have the prereqs to the prereqs that you need. You'll probably need some developmental classes since it's been so long. So expect that if you can get started in the fall, that it'll take you 4 years to finish your associate's degree in nursing, and you'll probably have a second degree finishing up around the same time if you stay full time. From needing every class at a developmental level, it should take you about 3 semesters to be actually done with all your general education classes at most community colleges.