Apply for admission to colleges and universities offering accelerated nursing degree programs. A comprehensive list of these programs can be found by visiting the Best Nursing Degree website. Most nursing programs require admission to the college prior to admission to the accelerated nursing degree program. If you are an applicant who has yet to obtain an undergraduate education and are planning to complete a three-year accelerated program, your first two years will be spent completing general education courses. These are courses that are common to most other degree programs offered by the college or university.
Take any prerequisite courses that are necessary for a nursing degree that you may not have taken as part of your first undergraduate major. Most nursing schools require that you complete courses in microbiology, organic chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, communications and psychology. These requirements can vary by school, so check each school's requirements carefully before completing the registration process. Taking these courses prior to applying to the nursing program can show the admissions committee that you are serious about attending nursing school and have taken the necessary steps to fulfill that mission.
Submit all required paperwork in order to have your application evaluated by the nursing program you are applying to. This paperwork usually involves official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. If you are a first-time undergraduate student, the nursing school will evaluate your current academic progress; you will still most likely have to submit an application to the nursing program.
You may also have to complete an oral interview and obtain letters of recommendation from a faculty member or employer in order to be accepted. Once you are determined eligible for an accelerated program, the nursing school will determine which of your previous courses will count towards your prerequisite nursing course requirements. You can then take the remaining nursing courses to complete your accelerated degree program.