Nursing Pathway
Start Your Journey to Becoming a Nurse
Becoming a nurse starts with the right educational foundation. Depending on your goals and timeline, you can choose from one of three primary pathways:
Diploma in Nursing
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
A 2-3 year degree program that prepares you for licensure.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
A 4-year degree program for those seeking advanced opportunities in nursing.
Hover over each option to learn more or click to explore in detail.
Complete General Education Requirements
General education courses are foundational classes that prepare you for advanced nursing education. These may include Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology, and more. Completion times vary based on prior education and program requirements.
Diploma in Nursing
Full Name
Diploma in Nursing
Experience
No Experience Needed
Estimated Tuition
$25,945
Duration
~16-24 Months
Prerequisites
High School Diploma or GED
Grade C or Better in College Preparatory Courses and Mandatory Courses
Institutions (Specialization)
- Baton Rouge General - Baton Rouge (General) View
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
Full Name
Associate Degree in Nursing
Experience
No Experience Needed
Estimated Tuition
$16000
Duration
~18-24 Months
Prerequisites
High School Diploma or GED
Courses such as English, Biology, Physiology, Psychology, Math, TEAS Exam (some colleges)
Institutions (Specialization)
- Baton Rouge Community College (General) View
- Bossier Parish Community College (General) View
- Delgado Community College (General) View
- L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College (General) View
- Louisiana Delta Community College – Monroe (General) View
- Louisiana State University at Eunice (General) View
- Louisiana State University of Alexandria (General) View
- Louisiana Tech University (General) View
- Northshore Technical Community College (General) View
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana (General) View
- South Louisiana Community College (General) View
- Southern University at Shreveport (General) View
- SOWELA Technical Community College (General) View
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Full Name
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Experience
No Experience Needed
Estimated Tuition
$30,000
Duration
~24-36 Months
Prerequisites
Satisfactory Passing Grades in Pre-Nursing Courses
High School Diploma or a GED Test
Institutions (Specialization)
- Chamberlain University - New Orleans (General) View
- Dillard University (General) View
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (General) View
- Grambling State University (General) View
- Herzing University - New Orleans (General) View
- Louisiana College (General) View
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (General) View
- Loyola University (General) View
- McNeese State University (General) View
- Nicholls State University (General) View
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana (General) View
- Southeastern Louisiana University (General) View
- Southern University and A&M College (General) View
- Southern University of New Orleans (General) View
- Tulane University (General) View
- University of Holy Cross (General) View
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette (General) View
- University of Louisiana at Monroe (General) View
- William Carey University (General) View
Once you’ve completed one of the paths above, you’ll continue to the next step: Passing the NCLEX-RN.
Do you have partial college credits/work experience? Try HEAL-Navigator to see what steps you need to take to become a registered nurse or APRN.
