How Long Are Nursing Programs?
A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at CTU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.
The United States is experiencing a nursing shortage, According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Workforce Analysis, a shortage of over 263,000 registered nurses (RNs) is projected nationally in 2026.1 While this shortage presents various challenges for the healthcare system, it may also create potential opportunities for current and aspiring RNs.
There are several different paths you can take to become a nurse. However, some employers—particularly hospitals—may require a bachelor’s degree in nursing,2 and at least one state as of the time of this writing requires new RNs to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure.3
How long a nursing program is will depend on different factors discussed below. We also explore state licensing requirements and how long it may take to become an RN, an LPN/LVN or a CNA.
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Employment of RNs is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034,2 while employment of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) is projected to grow 3% over the same time period.4 It is expected that many of the openings in both career paths will be due to workforce exits and retirements.2,4 The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey, conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers (Forum), backs this up: about 40% of nurses (RNs, APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) and LPNs/LVNs) report that they plan to leave the nursing profession or retire over the next five years.5
How Long Is Nursing School?
How long it takes to complete nursing school depends in large part on what type of nursing school program you are referring to. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course can be completed in a matter of weeks, and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program can be completed in about a year—but becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) can take two to four years depending on what RN pathway is chosen. Below is a more detailed breakdown.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
What Is a CNA?
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs), also called nursing assistants or nursing aides, provide patients with basic care (such as checking vitals) and assistance with daily living activities (such as bathing, using the toilet and eating). Some may dispense medication. CNAs typically work under the supervision of LPNs/LVNs and RNs.6
How Long Can It Take to Become a CNA?
The time it takes to become a CNA is typically measured in weeks, not years. Most CNA courses are between 4 and 16 weeks long7 and involve a mix of classroom instruction and clinical training. Some CNA courses may include as few as 75 hours of classroom instruction and clinical training, but others may include as many as 120 or more—the number of required hours will depend on the state you will practice in. Aspiring CNAs should contact their state board of nursing or health department to learn about minimum CNA training requirements and to confirm that a given program is state-approved.
After completing a state-approved CNA education program, aspiring nursing assistants must next pass a state competency exam. While state standards for CNA exams vary, most have a written exam component and a skills evaluation component. Those who pass the exam are added to their state’s nursing assistant registry. In most states, CNA certification must be periodically renewed.6
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
What Is an LPN?
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some states, provide basic medical care to patients or to persons with disabilities. They may check vital signs, change bandages, assist with bathing and dressing, and document patient care/update health records. However, their specific duties and responsibilities may vary by work setting and the state in which they work.4
How Long Can It Take to Become an LPN?
It takes at least one year to become an LPN. The first step in the process is to complete a state-approved LPN certificate or diploma program. Exactly how long an LPN course takes to complete can vary, but in general, they are about a year long. They cover nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology, and also include a clinical component.4
After completing the LPN training program, the next step is to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Some employers also may require or prefer candidates with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS) certification. Optional certification in a medical specialty area such as gerontology, wound care or intravenous (IV) therapy could also be beneficial. LPNs who are interested in advancement may choose to pursue an LPN-to-RN degree program.4
Registered Nurses (RNs)
What Is an RN?
Registered nurses (RNs) treat patients, coordinate their care, and offer them advice and emotional support. RN duties may include recording patient medical histories, symptoms and conditions; administering medications and performing diagnostic tests; collaborating with doctors and the larger medical team regarding patient care; and educating patients and their families about how to manage their conditions (or educating the public if the RN’s specialty is public health).2
RNs may choose to specialize and work with specific patient groups.2 Examples include labor and delivery nurses, pediatric nurses, psychiatric nurses and travel nurses, though there are many others.
How Long Can It Take to Become an RN?
There are several educational pathways you can take to become a registered nurse. Depending on the route chosen, the process typically takes around two to four years. This two- to four-year estimate includes:
- time spent in a nursing diploma or nursing degree program (which includes classroom instruction and clinical hours),
- time spent studying for and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and
- time spent obtaining licensure in the state you plan to practice in.
CTU’s Flexible Online Nursing Programs
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion Program
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) online degree program at Colorado Technical University is designed for working RNs who would like to advance their education, “level up” their nursing skills and knowledge, and expand their potential practice options. This flexible online degree program allows for self-paced study, which can make it easier to balance work and school. Candidates can complete the program’s clinical-hour requirements in their local communities.
For RNs who hold a nursing diploma, the CTU RN-to-BSN online degree program can be completed in as few as 24 months.* For RNs who hold an ASN or ADN, the RN-to-BSN degree program can be completed in as few as 13 months.*
* This program length is an estimated time and varies depending on your credit load and academic breaks. Total program cost and program length assume a student will be awarded the maximum credit for transfer, licensure, prior experiential learning, and professional certifications, will be continuously enrolled, and will satisfactorily complete all program requirements for graduation. See the tuition and fees schedule for additional information.
MSN, DNP & Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Programs
The CTU College of Nursing also offers convenient online degree programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, as well as a post-graduate APRN certificate program.
CCNE-Accredited Nursing Degree and Certificate Programs
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, Master of Science in Nursing degree program, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and Post Graduate APRN Certificate—Family Nurse Practitioner at Colorado Technical University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( https://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Frequently Asked Questions
RN-to-BSN degree programs are essentially accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing programs that are only open to RNs. Whereas traditional BSN degree programs are designed as four-year programs,8 RN-to-BSN degree programs are designed to take two years of full-time study, or less, to complete. This is because RN-to-BSN degree programs tend to award a significant number of transfer credit for prior nursing coursework and/or licensure.
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) degree programs typically take two years of full-time study to complete. These nursing programs are most commonly offered by community colleges and hospital-based nursing schools.8
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs typically take roughly two years of full-time study to complete.
RN diploma programs typically take between two and three years to complete and are usually offered by hospitals or medical centers rather than colleges or universities. Today there are far fewer nursing diploma programs than nursing degree programs.2
Request more information about our online nursing programs today, or apply now.
1 HRSA Data Warehouse, Workforce Projections, “Registered Nurses, Supply and Demand by State,” https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/nchwa/workforce-projections (last visited Feb. 10, 2026).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Registered Nurses,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (last visited Feb. 10, 2026). Conditions in your area may vary.
3 In 2017, New York State enacted what is known as the “BSN in 10” law. See New York State Education Department Office of the Professions, “Enactment of a Baccalaureate Degree in 10 Years Requirement for Registered Professional Nurses (‘RN’),” https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/advisory-notices/enactment-baccalaureate-degree-10-years-requirement-registered-professional-nurses-rn (last visited Feb. 12, 2026).
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm (last visited Feb. 10, 2026). Conditions in your area may vary.
5 Richard A. Smiley et al., “The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey,” JOURNAL OF NURSING REGULATION, vol. 16, issue 1 (S1–S88), https://www.journalofnursingregulation.com/article/S2155-8256(25)00047-X/fulltext.
6 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Nursing Assistants and Orderlies,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm (last visited Feb. 10, 2026).
7 American Red Cross, “Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Classes & Nurse Assistant Training (NAT),” https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lp/certified-nursing-assistant-nat (last visited Feb. 10, 2026).
8 American Nurses Association (ANA), “How to Become a Nurse,” nursingworld.org, https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/how-to-become-a-nurse/ (last visited Feb. 10, 2026).
CTU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2194999 2/2026