If you’re looking to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you may find yourself wondering about nursing school requirements. This could lead to questions like:
- Have you taken all the classes you need to qualify for the program?
- Do you need to have a nursing license to apply?
- What about transfer credits and coursework?
Here, we’ll break down some of the most common nursing school requirements, so you can apply with confidence.
Completing Your Pre-Requisites
Pre-requisites are specific courses you need to complete before you can apply to a nursing program. These courses often lay the foundation for your nursing education, ensuring that you have an understanding of the basics and are ready to pursue deeper knowledge in the nursing field.
Prerequisites for nursing school may vary across programs, but some of the most common include:
- General education classes like:
- Math
- U.S. History
- American Public Policy
- Science-based courses, such as:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Human Anatomy
- Foundational courses for patient care, like:
- Ethics
- General Psychology
- Sociology
You’ll most likely complete these nursing school requirements at a university or college while earning your associate degree or nursing license. As you search for nursing programs, check out their pre-requisites to make sure you’ve completed all the required coursework before you apply.
Transferring Your Previous Coursework
If you’ve already earned a degree in a non-science field but want to shift to nursing, you don’t have to start from scratch. There are several pathways in place that can help streamline the process of completing your nursing school requirements.
For example, Athens State provides a seamless credit transfer process to ensure that you get the most out of the credits you’ve earned with your degree. We also offer a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) that allows you to apply previous work experience and education you’ve gained outside the classroom toward your BSN.
Having an Active RN License
If you’re applying for an RN to BSN program, an active, unencumbered RN license is a nursing school requirement.
RN to BSN programs are accelerated programs that allow you to build on your previous nursing experience and education. This means that you’ve already passed the NCLEX-RN (National Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses) and are currently able to practice as an RN.
Checking the General Admission Boxes
In addition to the nursing school requirements we’ve outlined above, there are general admission requirements you’ll need to meet during your application process. That usually includes:
- Completing an application
- Submitting required transcripts
- Maintaining a minimum GPA requirement
- Being in good standing with your previous colleges and universities
Have more questions about nursing school requirements?
Finding the right BSN program for you comes down to what fits your background and goals, and nursing school requirements are a small piece of the puzzle.
Explore the admission requirements for Athens State’s nursing programs, and start building a pathway that works for YOU.