How Long Does Nursing School Take to Complete

a group of nurses are in a hallway at the hospital

As a student pursuing a nursing degree, you’ll experience many courses and undergo instruction on everything you need to succeed in your future career. However, how long does nursing school take to complete? The answer is this: it all depends on the career path that works best for you.

Length Depends on the Career Path You Choose

What career path have you chosen? Will you be beginning your career as a Licensed Practical Nurse? Or, will you be pursuing a career as an RN? Depending on the path you choose, the length of your educational career will differ.

  • Certified Nursing Assistant diploma: Through Cambridge, it will only take a few months of study and clinical work to receive your CNA diploma. Generally, most programs require approximately 75 hours to complete.
  • Licensed Practical Nurse diploma: An LPN program will typically take 1-2 years to complete depending on your current educational status. At Cambridge, our LPN program schedule includes 1,350 educational hours.
  • Associate of Science in Nursing: An Associate of Science in Nursing or ASN program typically takes two years to complete. This includes the program we offer here at Cambridge.
  • RN to BSN Program: If you’re a current RN graduate, you can complete Cambridge’s RN to BSN program in as little as 16 months, with 7.5 or 15-week courses.
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Traditional Bachelor programs will take approximately three to four years of study to complete for new students.
  • Graduate programs: Master’s or Ph.D. degrees can take anywhere from 2-6 years to complete depending on your educational status when you enter the program. For example, if you hold a BSN, a Master’s will take approximately two years of additional study.

What Does the Nursing Curriculum Look Like?

A traditional nursing curriculum will instruct you on everything you need to know to be a successful nurse. Some of the courses you’ll take will include:

  • Medical terminology
  • Nursing core concepts
  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Biology and Microbiology

And more. For degrees such as BSN, MSN or Ph.D., the curriculum will differ depending on the specializations you choose.

Don’t Wait to Get Started on Your Medical Career

You shouldn’t wait to get started on your medical education. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to start your career. At Cambridge, we offer the fastest curriculum available to get you started on the path to success today. To learn more about our nursing programs, give us a call at 877-206-4279!