Education · 1 of 5

The path

One program, one national exam, one state license. About a year if you go full time.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Biology and any health science or medical terminology class. A nursing assistant course in high school gets you patient experience early.

2. 2

   Get into a practical nursing program

   Apply months ahead

   Community colleges and technical schools run them. Entry needs a placement test, a clean background check, and sometimes a wait list.

3. 3

   Finish the program

   1 to 2 years

   Classroom work in anatomy, pharmacology and nursing care, plus supervised clinical hours in real facilities. Roughly 12 months full time, 18 to 24 part time.

4. 4

   Pass the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses)

   Weeks after graduating

   A computer adaptive exam. It gets harder when you answer correctly and can stop early once it knows your level.

5. 5

   Get licensed by your state board

   Weeks

   Apply to the board of nursing in the state you will work in, with fingerprints and a background check. Then you can work.