Career Resources

Nursing Careers

Explore a career in nursing

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The Growing Demand for Nurses

Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, often serving as the first and last point of contact for patients and providing necessary patient care and advocacy throughout various healthcare settings. As our population ages and focus on preventative care continues to grow, the demand for nurses globally is quickly outgrowing the current nursing workforce.

Nurses represent the largest group of healthcare professionals in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the number of jobs for Registered Nurses is expected to increase by 5% between 2024-2034 as compared to an average expected growth of 3.1% across all professions in the U.S during this period.

As the demand for nurses continues to increase, job security is part of what makes nursing a desired profession. Other factors that influence people to pursue a career in nursing include a desire to directly help others as well as a desire to work in a career with opportunities to grow both professionally and financially. Nursing also offers individuals the flexibility to choose their desired speciality, schedule (part-time, full-time or per-diem) and healthcare setting.

While most nurses work in hospitals and health facilities, there are many work setting options for nurses, including patient homes, schools, government agencies and other settings. Some nurses opt to become travel nurses, where rather than working for a hospital or other healthcare facility, they are employed by a nurse staffing agency. Typically, travel nurses will work in an assigned setting for up to 3 months, and are provided with a housing stipend.

It is crucial that the nursing workforce represents the diverse population it serves in order to bridge cultural and linguistic barriers, address health disparities impacting specific ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic populations, and provide better patient care.

Nursing Programs

There are many pathways into the nursing field, however, in order to become a nurse, you must complete an accredited nursing program. The following are the most common pre-licensure (meaning before you are licensed) nursing programs:

- A Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN): A Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree takes 4 years to complete, and is offered at many California State Universities, UC’s and some private colleges. A BSN is the most commonly pursued degree for registered nursing, as it is most widely accepted and prepares RNs to provide care in various settings, with the potential to grow in leadership roles. A BSN is also required if you ever choose to pursue a graduate degree in nursing.
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN): This entry-level nursing degree is offered at many community colleges and typically takes 2-3 years to complete. Some schools may offer accelerated programs that take 18-months to complete. This option may be right for you if you are looking for the most cost-effective nursing program. Many with an ADN choose to pursue a BSN later in their career. Learn more about the difference between an ADN and BSN
- Entry Level Masters Program in Nursing (ELM): This degree is designed for those who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree in another field, and would like to pursue nursing as a career. In this accelerated degree program, people often take 1-2 years to complete their master’s degree, depending on the number of nursing prerequisites they have previously completed.
- Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): LVN and LPN certificate programs provide the fastest option to get started in a nursing career. While no degree is obtained in these programs, LVNs and LPNs can work under nurses with more advanced titles to provide basic care to patients.

Some nurses choose to focus on a particular specialty, which each have their own education/certification requirements. Becoming specialized gives individuals increased skills and expertise, higher earning potential and more opportunities.

Nurses who pursue graduate degrees and additional certifications may also choose one of the following advanced practice clinical professions:

Many students volunteer at hospitals and clinics, participate in job shadowing, or work in other clinical healthcare settings during college in order to obtain exposure to the nursing profession to assist their career decision-making.

Get Started with a Pre-Nursing Program

While not required, you can apply to pre-nursing programs, which are dedicated programs committed to preparing first-generation and underrepresented students to attend nursing school and succeed as a nurse. These programs provide support with nursing school application and prerequisites, mentorship, test preparation, and information on career pathways. Tip: Review different pre-nursing programs to determine eligibility and then join their email newsletter so that you will be notified about application deadlines.

Applying to Nursing School and Taking the TEAS Exam

When deciding which nursing programs you would like to apply to, it is important to do your research and create a list of schools that align with your career goals, preferences and budget. Nursing schools are known to be competitive in admission, so it is wise to apply to several different schools that you are interested in to increase your chances of admission.

Once you have decided which degree you would like to pursue, you can review this list of pre-licensure registered nursing programs in California that have been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. By applying to an accredited nursing program, you will be eligible to apply for state and federal funds, pursue advanced degrees at other schools, and have access to more job opportunities.

Depending on the type of nursing program you are interested in pursuing, requirements for nursing school can vary. Each program will have its own required courses, minimum GPA requirement, and application materials. Though not always the case, it is common for nursing schools to require students to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam to assess students’ academic preparedness for nursing school.

While many institutions in California require the TEAS exam, others may require the HESI A2 Exam instead. It is important that you do your research on each program you are interested in applying for to determine which standardized assessment exam they use. And be sure to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to prepare for these entrance exams.

Learn more about TEAS exam dates/locations and how to register.

Financing Nursing School

Nursing school is an investment, and many students graduate from their programs with outstanding loans. There are various resources for covering the costs of applying to and attending nursing school as well as obtaining support during the licensing exam, NCLEX. These include financial aid (need and merit-based scholarships and grants, loans, and work-study) from nursing schools, private institutions, federal and state governments, student savings, and work during nursing school. The Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act are the launching point for nursing school financial aid; individual nursing schools may require supplemental financial aid applications.

See the following for nursing school scholarships, financial aid for nursing school as well as more resources here.

Sometimes, how nurses are classified as a profession may change, which could impact access to loans for graduate degrees. For the latest information, visit the American Nurses Association.

Exam and Licensure

Once you’ve completed nursing school, you must take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) in order to become licensed as a registered nurse in the United States. Note that if you relocate to another state, you may be required to take and pass the NCLEX in the state that you plan to work in, as each state’s Board of Registered Nursing determines which candidates receive licensure. While this is not always the case, it’s important to do research to determine whether a new licensing exam will be required upon moving.

There are many resources available for preparing for the NCLEX. Be sure to review our From the Web Nursing section for the full list of resources we’ve located. You can review this list of California registered nursing programs and their NCLEX pass rates here.

Tip: If you’re interested in attending nursing school or becoming licensed outside of California, check the website(s) of the nursing school you’re interested in for details on applying and licensing.

Explore California Nursing Programs and the education requirements: