Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

The profession of nursing holds a special place in today’s U.S. healthcare system. While there are a number of educational paths and specializations that you can pursue within the field, earning your associate degree in nursing (ADN) is one path that can lead to becoming a licensed registered nurse, provided your program meets your state board’s licensing requirements.

ADN Programs

An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is an undergraduate degree that allows students to gain core knowledge and clinical skills in the field of nursing. Most ADN programs are two-year degrees once prerequisite coursework is complete. Students who graduate from a board-approved ADN program may be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is the exam required to become licensed as a registered nurse.

Finding the best ADN program for you may appear to be tricky given the numerous options you have. But the key is to keep your career goals at the forefront of your decision. Think about where your degree can take you in terms of practice settings, and the kind of impact you want to have in the nursing field.

Can I get my Associate Degree in Nursing online?

You should also factor in current circumstances into your choice. You may be interested in a particular program, but the school offering that program is not in your state. Find out if the school gives you the option of completing that program online.

Some colleges and universities offer ADN programs in a hybrid format, combining online coursework with in-person labs and clinicals. Earning part of your ADN online may be a more workable option if you are working full time alongside the degree, but in-person clinical hours are still required, and not every distance-education program is recognized for licensure in every state.

It is best to review admissions requirements — and confirm the program’s approval in your state — to determine which online ADN program works best for you.

Should I pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing?

One reason you may consider pursuing an associate’s degree in nursing is that it helps to equip you with the skills you need to jumpstart your career as a registered nurse, while also ensuring that you are well-prepared should you decide to earn a more advanced degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) later on in your career.

Earning your ADN nursing coursework typically takes about two years to complete once prerequisites are finished, a faster path to becoming a registered nurse than a BSN. Other programs, like a BSN program, typically take four years to complete, and your own timeline will also depend on prerequisite coursework and the licensing process.

ADN Program Admission Requirements

Admission requirements will vary by school. It is best to take time to review the admissions requirements and process for your desired ADN program. Some admissions processes will require interviews, and others won’t. Requirements to gain admission into an ADN program may include:

  • A high school diploma or GED. Schools often set a minimum GPA for entry — CCRI, for example, requires a 2.7 cumulative GPA for its nursing program
  • College-level prerequisite coursework such as anatomy & physiology, composition and psychology
  • HESI A2 entrance exam scores
  • SAT, ACT or GED scores, sometimes accepted as an alternative

Requirements like these vary by school and change over time, so confirm current admission criteria directly with your preferred program.

ADN Curriculum

No two ADN programs are the same though there is some crossover in terms of the topic areas covered. Prospective students should expect to take a combination of prerequisite courses and nursing classes. Foundational ADN classes may include:

  • Microbiology
  • Foundations in Nursing
  • Behavioral/Mental Health Nursing
  • Communications

Most ADN programs require supervised clinical hours. Depending on your state board of nursing, the required number of hours varies — California, for example, requires a minimum of 500 direct patient care clinical hours. Through clinical hours, you will learn how to apply the knowledge you have gained in the classroom to real scenarios in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and other medical settings.

Nursing Careers with an Associate Degree

One benefit to earning an ADN is that it can open you up to a wide range of career paths and work environments. Some nursing careers you can pursue with your associate’s degree in hand, in addition to pursuing RN licensure include:

  • Registered Nurse
  • Outpatient/Personal Care Nurse
  • Physician’s Office Nurse
  • Nursing Care Facility Nurse

Earning your ADN allows you the freedom and flexibility to choose from many registered nurse career paths to find which one aligns with your interests. An ADN and RN license alone don’t guarantee eligibility for every role above — California, for example, requires additional prescribed education for Public Health Nurse certification, and requirements vary by state. Becoming an RN and pursuing additional specialties may also require additional credentials.

ADN Career Salary

RN salaries vary widely. Your location, practice setting and number of years of experience could all play a role in how much you earn. As of May 2025, the median annual wage for all U.S. registered nurses is $97,550, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — a national, all-education-levels figure, not broken out by degree type. The lowest 10% of RNs earned less than $68,940 that year, while the highest 10% made more than $137,470.

FAQS

Find below some basic questions to help you determine whether earning your ADN is worth it.

How long does it take to get an Associate Degree in Nursing?

Generally, ADN programs take two years to complete. Depending on the status of your credits (such as if you have applicable transfer credits), you may be able to earn your ADN in a shorter amount of time. For others, such as part-time students, earning your ADN may take longer than two years.

What is an ADN nurse?

An ADN nurse may be a registered nurse who has earned their associate degree in nursing so that they can provide nursing care to patients. They may record patients’ vital signs, administer medications, monitor patients for changes in their condition, and report a patient’s status to doctors. Duties of an ADN nurse may vary depending on the career path they are pursuing and the environment in which they work.

Can you be an RN with an associate degree?

An ADN is one of several education pathways states recognize toward RN licensure, alongside a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), as long as the program meets your state board’s requirements and you pass the NCLEX. A BSN may take four years to complete.

Do BSN and ADN students take a different NCLEX?

Both BSN and ADN graduates from board-approved programs prepare to take the same National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become registered nurses. The NCLEX-RN follows one test-plan framework regardless of BSN or ADN preparation, though individual adaptive exams do not contain identical questions.

Information last updated: October 2026