School Enquirers

In order to become a RN in the US, you have to take and pass the NCLEX. In order to be eligible to sit for the NCLEX, you have to get a degree in nursing (or a diploma, but this is uncommon). The degree can be an associates degree (ADN) or a bachelors degree (BSN). The BSN can be completed at a traditional pace, or there are accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs that cover the same material, but the pace is accelerated. The ABSN typically requires the student to have another bachelors degree.

There are pros and cons to each path to the NCLEX. For example, the ABSN is usually more expensive, but it takes less time to complete. On the other hand, the ADN can be cheap (at a community college), shorter than a traditional BSN (usually 3 years, one year less than a BSN), but some employers require or prefer employees have a BSN (traditional or accelerated). A BSN is usually more expensive and longer than an ADN and less expensive and longer than an ABSN (but costs can vary widely so be sure to compare).