RNs completing a diploma program typically take only nursing-related courses, including nursing science courses, pharmacology, and anatomy and physiology. Completion of an RN diploma is typically the quickest route to becoming an RN, often lasting 18 to 22 months. Diploma RN programs are not common and can be difficult to locate. Many of these programs are offered by private vocational schools.
Associate degree nursing programs are the most common routes to RN licensure. Most associate degree nursing programs lead to the completion of an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), though some lead to the completion of an Associate of Science of Nursing (ASN). In addition to the core nursing classes that diploma-prepared RNs must complete, RNs completing an associate degree must also satisfy general education requirements, typically in math, English and the humanities. Most associate programs are four semesters in length, in addition to several prerequisite classes that often must be completed prior to entry into the program.
Prospective RNs who choose to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) as their first degree will typically have a four-year academic plan. In addition to the coursework that associate-prepared RNs complete, nurses who pursue a BSN will complete an additional 45 to 60 credits in upper division nursing coursework. The prerequisite classes that associate-prepared RNs must complete prior to entry into a program are typically completed in the first year of a BSN program, so often the program has no prerequisites.