- You can start out with a diploma, offered at hospitals and lasting approximately 3 years, or an associate's degree in nursing, offered at community and junior colleges and lasting between 2 and 3 years. Both of these result in you becoming a registered nurse, and allow you to apply for entry-level nursing positions. Before you can start practicing as a registered nurse, you must pass the licensing exam required by your state.
- You can either go immediately into a bachelor's degree in nursing program after high school, or you can choose to complete a diploma or associate's degree first and begin working before enrolling in a bachelor's degree program. If you choose the second option, look for a position with an employer who offers tuition reimbursement, and then take classes part- or full-time until you have completed your bachelor's degree.
- You must complete your bachelor's degree before you can start a graduate degree program. You can choose to enter a master's degree program, or go directly into a doctoral program. A master's program will last about 2 years, and a doctorate program, when sought full-time, takes a minimum of 4 years. Look for a program that is specifically for clinical nurse specialists. Choose a doctoral over a master's if you are interested in one day researching and teaching at the university level.
