So you think you want to become a nurse. First of all, congrats on this great decision! Nursing can be such a wonderful career because of the wide variety of options you have. You can get any nursing degree you want, go to any nursing school you want, and be any kind of nurse you want! As a side note, if you’re interested in becoming a critical care nurse, I wrote about it here. But what if you’re not really sure where to start to make your dreams a reality? If you’re wondering what the prerequisites for nursing school are, start here!
*Please note that while this is a general list of nursing school requirements, these nursing school prerequisites will change from program to program. You can read more about how to choose the best nursing school for you here.
Nursing school prerequisites part 1: Academic Coursework
A high school diploma, GED certificate, or bachelors degree
If you are applying to a 4-year university, you obviously only need a high school diploma. Some LVN/LPN and ADN programs will also only require a high school diploma.
(Some) ADN programs, accelerated BSN programs, and accelerated MSN programs will require you to have a bachelors degree in another field. If you went to school for something totally unrelated to nursing, no worries! It does not matter what that field is. In these programs, everyone starts in a profession other than nursing and is a nurse by the end of the program!
Official Academic Transcripts
This includes all of your high school and college coursework. Official transcripts are really just a way to prove that you attended the institutions you claim you attended as well as to assess your grade point average (GPA).
Completion of certain science courses (with a good GPA)
The minimum GPA required in order to be considered a competitive applicant depends on the nursing program you are applying to. Generally, a cumulative GPA greater than 2.5-3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or greater is the minimum cut-off to be considered for admission. I have personally seen few nursing school applicants be successful applying to schools with a GPA lower than this, though I know it does happen.
Though having a good overall GPA is important, I would argue that the most important thing is your overall science GPA. Many schools will calculate your science GPA separately from your overall GPA. What does this mean? Your GPA in only science and math classes will count. Some examples of these science courses include:
- General Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry (*sometimes required)
- General Biology
- Microbiology with lab
- Anatomy and Physiology with lab
- Math (Statistics or Biostatistics)
- Nutrition
- Psychology
- Human Growth and Development
You will also need to have taken:
- English 101 or some other kind of English composition course
Again, this list of requirements will vary by school, but the general subjects these programs are interested in you having some knowledge in is usually the same. Obviously, the higher your GPA, the better. GPA is definitely an important prerequisite for nursing school. However, if your GPA is not the highest, don’t give up hope! You are more than just your GPA. The rest of your application says plenty about you.
It is also always an option to take (or retake) certain prerequisites online or at a local community college to cut costs and save time. I completed a few prerequisites this way and it was the best decision!
Standardized test scores (*depending on the program)
Whether or not SAT, GRE, HESI, or TEAS Exam scores will be required when you submit your application LARGELY depends on the program you are looking at. I personally was not interested in studying any more and hate standardized tests, so I took all of the schools off of my list that required standardized test scores. I have no regrets about this and really just wanted to get into and start nursing school as soon as possible. Pro tip: If you do need to take these, give yourself plenty of time to prepare. If the school requires it, your scores do matter, so study hard!
For the TEAS exam, I would highly recommend checking out the ATI Testing website for preparation materials. If you have to take the GRE, Kaplan Test Prep and Magoosh are great places to start preparing.
If you are an international student, you may also be required to take the TOEFL exam.
Nursing school prerequisites part 2: Additional things that make your application stand out
Volunteer experience and extracurricular activities
Nursing schools want to see that you are an involved, engaged student. I was asked about my volunteer experiences multiple times during my nursing school interview. I was lucky enough to be in an academic fraternity in college that provided me with tons of opportunities to get involved in the community, otherwise I would have been really stuck here. Volunteering, playing a sport, tutoring after school, the job you held during high school or college, internships, and awards all count as extracurricular activities. You might not think you have any to make yourself shine, but I promise that you do!
Leadership experience (*some schools)
This one is definitely not required, but it’s not a bad idea to think of some ways you have been in leadership roles throughout high school or college. Remember that leadership experience doesn’t mean you had to have been the captain of the football team. If asked about this, you can always discuss the ways you showed up as a leader in a certain situation or a leader who inspires you. Hoping to be in a leadership role one day is also a great goal to mention.
A good interview (*some schools)
Many but not all schools require an interview, and it can be one of the most important of all of your nursing school prerequisites. This is your time to shine and show that you are more than just your grades. My guide to preparing for your nursing school interview as well as my list of over 100 questions to help you prepare for your interview are both great places to start!
A great personal statement and good answers to any supplemental questions that are asked (*some schools)
Articulating why you want to be a nurse is also one of the most important aspects of your application. You might have the same GPA as everyone else applying, but eloquently stating what drives you to want to enter the nursing profession is definitely a part of your nursing school application that you should be heavily prioritizing. Some tips I have for writing a great personal statement:
- Start early
- Write, read, re-read, and edit
- Have others read and critique your statement
- Make sure you are answering everything that the essay prompt asks you to discuss
- Use a story and make it engaging. If you’re starting with “I want to be a nurse because…” I’m sure there are other ways you can state this
- Personalize it. Find a way to weave in who you are, what has gotten you to the point of applying for nursing school, and how your experiences thusfar have shaped you
- Mention the specifics of that program that make you excited to be applying
Some schools also require supplemental questions in addition to a personal statement. These are usually situational and/or ask you very specific things. Keep it short, sweet, and answer these questions to the best of your abilities. All of the above rules to create a bumpin’ personal statement also apply here!
Great references (*some schools)
Some schools will tell you exactly which types of references you need (and how many they need). A general rule is to have at least 3-5 people in mind.
- At least one person who has taught you in an academic setting (professor or instructor)
- At least one person who has worked with you who is in a position of leadership (a manager, a charge nurse, a supervisor at a previous job)
- At least one person who has worked with you as a peer (probably the least important one)
Keep in mind that if reference letters are required, some of your references might ask you to write your own reference letter. I would be lying if I said I enjoyed having to do this, but there are some great tips on how to do this online.
Again, it’s important to note that every nursing school will require something different. Some of the above prerequisites for nursing school are quite standard while others will only be necessary if you are interested in obtaining a certain degree or going to a certain school. However, I do hope this helps give you an idea of what to expect as you start thinking about (and applying to) the nursing programs of your dreams.
Good luck! You got this.
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