Students who want an associate degree or diploma in nursing will take 2-3 years of classes before being ready to take their licensing exams. A bachelor's degree in nursing usually takes four years. Many BSN programs are technically two years in duration, but they require students to complete two years of general college education as well as nursing prerequisites before they begin the nursing program. Applicants who already have a bachelor's degree in another subject are eligible for accelerated BSN programs, which can be completed in less than two years.

Because any college-level or nursing courses that you have already completed may count toward the prerequisites for the nursing program you are interested in, the best way to find out how long it will be before you can begin your career in nursing is to submit all of your college transcripts to the admissions office of the school you wish to attend.

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