How to Become a Nurse After High School

For students who love science, enjoy helping others, and want a career where they can make a truly meaningful difference, nursing can be a good fit. If you’re wondering how to become a nurse after high school, the journey includes enrolling into a nursing program, completing the necessary schooling, and passing the licensure exam.

Sound intimidating? It doesn’t have to be — we’ve simplified the entire process into simple steps so you can get excited about your future career instead of stressing over the how.

How to Become a Nurse After High School: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to join the ranks of America’s most trusted profession? Here’s your clear roadmap from high school to the nursing field, broken down into simple, actionable steps.

1. Explore Your Nursing Career Options
2. Choose the Best-Fitting Nursing Program
3. Meet Admission Requirements
4. Complete Schooling
5. Pass the Licensure Exam
6. Get Your First Job

Step 1: Explore Your Nursing Career Options

Your first step in learning how to become a nurse after high school is to understand the different types of nursing careers available. Do you already have a specialty or patient population in mind that you’d like to work with? Depending on your career goals, your education journey can differ quite a lot.

Here are four levels of nursing, each with different education and training requirements:

• Certified nursing assistant (CNA): Provide basic patient care like helping with bathing, feeding, and monitoring vital signs. Education is short — usually a few weeks to a few months — and includes hands-on training.
• Licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN): Provide hands-on medical care under the supervision of RNs or doctors. Practical/vocational nurses can administer medications, perform basic procedures, and report changes in patient conditions to other professionals. Training usually takes about 12 months, including classroom and clinical training.
• Registered nurse (RN): Provide a higher level of patient care, often taking the lead in assessing, planning, and coordinating treatments. RNs can administer medications and IV therapies, perform basic diagnostic tests, and create patient care plans. Training usually takes from two to four years and includes completing either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
• Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN): Deliver advanced patient care, diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and take on leadership roles in clinical settings. Training usually takes six to eight years.

Tip: Have ambitions to become an RN but only have the budget for CNA training? Start there — you can climb the nursing ladder later using bridge programs, like CNA to LPN and LPN to RN.

Step 2: Choose the Best-Fitting Nursing Program

Once you know which nursing path suits your goals, the next step is picking a program that matches your needs. Options range from fast-track community college courses for CNAs and LPNs to university programs preparing future RNs.

Consider these factors when choosing a program:

• Accreditation: Make sure the program is accredited so you can qualify for licensure exams and federal financial aid if needed. Beware of fraudulent programs, which don’t offer proper training or licensure eligibility.
• Admission requirements: Look into what each school requires for admission — this can include minimum GPA, prerequisite courses, standardized entrance exams (like HESI or TEAS), letters of recommendation, and sometimes healthcare experience or volunteer hours.
• Internship opportunities: Look for programs with strong hands-on training and partnerships with respected hospitals or clinics.
• Licensure exam support: Check the program’s NCLEX pass rates (for LPN or RN programs), which show what percentage of their students successfully pass the national licensure exam — a strong indicator of the quality of education they provide.
• Flexibility: If you need to work while in nursing school, part-time or hybrid programs can help you balance your schedule.
• Cost: Compare tuition and fees, but don’t forget to factor in textbooks, uniforms, and clinical supplies.

Step 3: Meet Admission Requirements

Once you’ve narrowed down your preferred programs, the next step is completing all admission requirements to secure your spot. Most RN programs have prerequisite courses — common ones include chemistry, anatomy, microbiology, math, and sometimes English. Full‑time students usually finish these pre-nursing courses in approximately one to two years; completing them part-time may take longer.

You may also need to take additional steps, such as completing a background check, submitting your vaccination history, and getting a physical exam from your doctor. Your admission counselor will guide you through any school-specific requirements, making sure you have everything in place to be officially admitted.

Below is an example of a full pre-admission checklist — your program may not require everything listed here:

• Completed prerequisite courses
• Official transcripts from all previous schools attended
• Standardized test scores such as TEAS, HESI, or Kaplan
• Personal philosophy of nursing essay
• Letters of recommendation
• Motivation letter
• Nursing resume
• Background check
• Immunization record
• Physical exam
• BLS certification
• Volunteer experience
• Interview with the admissions team

Step 4: Complete Schooling

Now, it’s time to dive into your nursing education. Nursing programs combine classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. In the classroom, you’ll cover a range of essential courses, such as:

• Nursing fundamentals
• Advanced pathophysiology
• Health assessment
• Pharmacology
• Mental health nursing

Programs also include clinical rotations, where you practice in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or other healthcare settings under the supervision of nursing preceptors. Here, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in the classroom — from administering medications to starting IVs.

Some schools also offer simulation labs, where you can practice skills on high-tech mannequins and virtual patients in a controlled, risk-free environment. These labs are especially useful for preparing you for rare or complex situations, like Code Blue, before encountering them in real-life.

Step 5: Pass the Licensure Exam

The final step before officially entering the workforce is passing the licensure exam required for your role. This exam ensures you have the knowledge and clinical judgment needed to practice safely as a nurse.

• CNAs typically take a state competency exam
• LPNs/LVNs take the NCLEX-PN
• RNs take the NCLEX-RN

The NCLEX exams focus on real-world decision-making. Useful preparation resources include review courses, practice tests and specialized books, as well as your school textbooks.

Step 6: Get Your First Job

Your final milestone in the journey of how to become a nurse after high school is applying for jobs. But where can you work without experience?

New nurses often start in entry-level or residency-style positions designed to help them smoothly transition from classrooms to clinical practice. These programs, often offered by teaching hospitals, provide extensive orientations and additional mentorship, as you build confidence in real-world settings.

Want to have a sneak-peak into the nursing jobs market? Here are open nursing positions ready for applicants to click apply:

• CNA jobs
• LPN jobs
• RN jobs

In addition, certain nursing specialties are especially welcoming to new graduates because they focus on developing strong foundational skills. Here are some examples:

• Medical-surgical nursing
• Rehabilitative care
• Primarily care practices
• Long-term care
• Skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes
• Mental health clinics (not acute)

The Perks of a Nursing Career

• Diverse career opportunities: The nursing field includes four levels and over 65 specialties, from pediatrics and geriatrics to critical care and labor and delivery.
• High demand nationwide: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects demand for RNs will grow 5% in the next several years, and NPs are skyrocketing with 40% growth.
• Massive workforce: There are over 4.7 million RNs in the U.S., plus over 650,000 LPNs and over 461,000 NPs, making nursing the largest healthcare profession.
• Competitive salaries: Nurses enjoy competitive wages, with some specialties earning six figures, depending on location and experience.

Enjoy the Rewards of a Nursing Career

You’ve learned how to become a nurse after high-school — now it’s time to put that knowledge into action. Turn your hard work into a fulfilling career by discovering nursing jobs tailored to your lifestyle and career goals.