Online pre-nursing courses?

RunBabyRN · Dec 4, 2014

You can't take nursing prereqs online. You'll need to attend a school for the lab element, at least. Additionally, in order to obtain your degree, you need to have your general education completed as well.

You might be able to take college courses in college through the local community college. You can even get high school credit for them.

ixchel · Dec 4, 2014

I was able to do all of my pre-reqs and gen eds online through my local community college except for A&P and microbiology. Those two might exist online, but nursing programs are likely to prefer classes with on campus labs.

That said, online courses take a lot of self discipline and some are harder online than in person (learning math by reading it, rather than having someone explain it, is quite interesting). To get into nursing school, most programs are competitive and you'll need at least a 3.5 to be competitive. Try something that comes easily to you first, before moving on to harder subjects. If it's a struggle to keep up, you'll know you need face to face classes.

ThatOneDude822 · Dec 4, 2014

Your best bet would be to call around to CCs and ask if they allow HS students to register for certain classes. Most likely they will not let you take some of the harder sciences as a HS student (Anatomy, micro, physiology), but you might be able to take English, Stats, chem (I took 15 units of chem at the university here when I was a HS senior), intro bio (if your program requires it), and maybe even comm (public speaking). But like I said, you'll probably have to take Anatomy, Microbiology, and Physiology when you're actually in college.

If you cant take stats or english there, you could always go the AP route for those two classes. If your school doesn't offer AP, the there are online AP courses, but I think most of them (the good ones anyway) cost a pretty penny. Some people have self studied for AP exams before (not formally enrolled in a class, but they order the book and review guide online and study the material themselves and then take the exam).

So you do have options to reduce the number of prereqs you'll need to complete, even if you can't get them all done.

Nienna Celebrindal · Dec 4, 2014

Actually you can. I got my AS degree from south university in allied health. It was essentially all of pre-reqs. I got into a California State University. They accepted everything but I did have to retake Chem because it didn't have a lab (but I was given credit for it as a science without a lab).

They took my a&ps and micro that had online labs. These classes were also excepted by 2 community college nursing programs and a private.

I did TONS of homework before attending South. I talked to South a lot and all the nursing programs I was thinking of attending. It was work, lots of phone calls and emails. Once I got the okay for these courses in writing I proceeded.

Nienna Celebrindal · Dec 4, 2014

I have no idea if they except high schoolers though. The best thing you can do is start researching. Find out what kind of accreditation schools want (in my experience it's regional). Find out what the schools will and will not accept as far as transfer credits. Make sure that whatever you take will transfer. Ask questions, even if you feel like you are a pain in the butt , keep asking until you get a legitimate answer.

As a pp said online courses are no joke. They are hard. You may be better off taking a few classes in the summer and maybe 1 in the evening from a community college.

whiteymcb12 · May 31, 2015

Actually you can. I got my AS degree from south university in allied health. It was essentially all of pre-reqs. I got into a California State University. They accepted everything but I did have to retake Chem because it didn't have a lab (but I was given credit for it as a science without a lab).
They took my a&ps and micro that had online labs. These classes were also excepted by 2 community college nursing programs and a private.
I did TONS of homework before attending South. I talked to South a lot and all the nursing programs I was thinking of attending. It was work, lots of phone calls and emails. Once I got the okay for these courses in writing I proceeded.

did you do your public speaking course online from them as well?

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · May 31, 2015

you can take pre-requisites such as psychology & sociology via the CLEP.

WCSU1987 · May 31, 2015

Finish high school and then can do them. If can do A&P classes with high school do that. If can do a CNA with high school.do that. If can volunteer at a hospital do that. If can do volunteer EMS do that. If school offers EMT class do that.

Worcester is the home of EMS in New England.

Best of luck.

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

You definitely can't do all of your pre-reqs online. I took Bio, A&P I, A&P II, and Micro with required lab classes. However, I was able to take English, Humanities, and College Algebra online. I would absolutely look into your local community college.