What you need to know about becoming a nurse
The route, the money and the demands of the job, in one page.
Becoming a nurse takes between about a year (practical nursing) and four years (a bachelor’s degree), followed by a licensing exam. This page gives the route and the facts to weigh first.
The route
- Choose a level. An LPN certificate, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. See nursing degree requirements.
- Finish the prerequisites. Anatomy, microbiology and other courses. See prerequisites for nursing.
- Pick an approved program. Check state board approval and accreditation, then compare NCLEX results, cost and clinical placements. Start with how to choose a nursing school.
- Graduate and apply to the board. Each state sets its own application, fees and background check.
- Pass the NCLEX. The NCLEX-RN for registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN for practical nurses.
- Hold and renew your license. Renewal cycles and continuing education rules differ by state.
Our state guides cover steps 4 to 6 for each state we have researched.
What nurses earn
The median registered nurse in the US earned $97,550 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Licensed practical and vocational nurses earned $64,400 and nurse practitioners $132,300. Pay varies a lot by state: see registered nurse salary by state.
The job market
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse employment to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 180,800 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. Nurse practitioner jobs are projected to grow 41%. A large share of the workforce is near retirement: the median registered nurse is 50, and nearly 40% say they plan to leave nursing within five years, according to the NCSBN 2024 workforce study.
The exam
In 2025, 86.7% of US-educated graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt. Results are published by program, so you can see how a school compares. Browse NCLEX pass rates by state.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Schedules. Hospitals run around the clock, so shifts of 12 hours, nights and weekends are common early on.
- Physical and emotional demands. The work involves lifting, long stretches on your feet and difficult patient situations.
- Many paths. Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, schools, long-term care, public health, home care and technology, and can move toward advanced practice, management or teaching. See the roles of a nurse practitioner, nurse manager, oncology nurse and pediatric nurse.
- Cost and time. Compare programs on net price and plan how to pay.
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) and Employment Projections (2025 to 2035); NCSBN NCLEX statistics (2025) and National Nursing Workforce Study (2024).