Getting into a nursing program usually starts long before you apply. Most programs require a set of prerequisite courses, often with minimum grades, recent completion dates and specific lab requirements. Planning them well can save you a semester or more, and help you build a stronger application.
Nursing programs set their own requirements, and they change. Always confirm with the specific program's admissions page and an advisor. Requirements for the program can differ from the college's general admission rules.
Common nursing prerequisites
Programs vary, but these appear on most lists for ADN and BSN programs:
| Area | Typical courses |
|---|---|
| Sciences | Anatomy & Physiology I and II (with labs), Microbiology (with lab), Chemistry (general, introductory or organic/biochemistry depending on program) |
| Math | Statistics, sometimes college algebra |
| English | English Composition I (sometimes II) |
| Social sciences | Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan or Developmental Psychology, Sociology |
| Other | Nutrition, medical terminology, sometimes ethics or public speaking |
Accelerated BSN programs (for people who already have a bachelor's degree) often require the sciences plus statistics, but may waive general education.
The rules that catch applicants out
Minimum grades
Many programs require a minimum grade in each prerequisite, often C or B, and some calculate a separate science GPA or prerequisite GPA used for ranking applicants. A C may meet the minimum but hurt your ranking.
Recency
Science prerequisites frequently must be completed within a set period, commonly five years (sometimes seven or ten). Old Anatomy and Physiology credits may need to be retaken.
Lab requirements
Programs often require science courses with labs. Some accept virtual or at-home labs; others require in-person labs. This matters if you plan to take prerequisites online.
Where the course was taken
Some programs only accept prerequisites from regionally accredited colleges, and may not accept courses from alternative providers such as StraighterLine, Sophia or Study.com, even if the college as a whole does. Others accept them for some courses but not sciences. Check before enrolling.
Repeats
Some programs limit how many times you can repeat a prerequisite, or count the first attempt in their GPA calculation.
Completion deadlines
Some programs require all prerequisites completed before you apply; others allow one or two in progress, to be finished before you start.
Entrance exams
Many programs also require an entrance exam, most commonly the ATI TEAS or the HESI A2. These test reading, math, science and English. Your science prerequisites help directly with the science section, so plan the exam after Anatomy and Physiology if possible.
Step-by-step: planning your prerequisites
1. Choose two to four target programs
Requirements differ, so pick your target programs first. Make a table of each program's prerequisites, grade minimums, recency rules, lab rules, entrance exam and application deadline.
2. Find the overlap
Most programs share a core. Prioritize courses that satisfy all your targets.
3. Check what you already have
Collect your transcripts. Mark which prerequisites you've completed, with grades and dates. Note anything that may be too old or below the grade minimum.
4. Decide where to take each remaining course
Options include a community college, your target college, or an online provider. For each, confirm with the nursing program that the course will be accepted, especially for sciences with labs.
5. Sequence for success
A sequence that works for many students:
| Term | Courses |
|---|---|
| 1 | English Composition I, Introduction to Psychology, college algebra or statistics |
| 2 | Anatomy & Physiology I (lab), Chemistry (if required), Lifespan Psychology |
| 3 | Anatomy & Physiology II (lab), Statistics or Nutrition |
| 4 | Microbiology (lab), remaining courses; take TEAS or HESI |
Avoid taking A&P I, A&P II and Microbiology all at the same time: they're demanding, and your grades in them matter most.
6. Protect your science grades
- Treat A&P like a part-time job: daily review beats cramming.
- Learn terminology early; it's half the battle.
- Use active recall (flashcards, self-testing), not just rereading.
- Get help as soon as a topic doesn't click. Our nursing study support offers one-to-one tutoring in A&P, microbiology and chemistry.
7. Track deadlines
Application windows can be short and open only once or twice a year. Work backwards from each deadline.
Taking prerequisites online
Online prerequisites can be cheaper and more flexible, especially for working adults. Before enrolling:
- Confirm the nursing program accepts the specific course and provider.
- Confirm whether online or at-home labs are accepted.
- Check whether the program wants the course on a college transcript (some won't accept alternative-provider transcripts directly).
See our StraighterLine transfer guide, which covers many common nursing prerequisites.
Frequently asked questions
How long do nursing prerequisites take?
Usually two to four semesters part-time, depending on what you've already completed and how many science courses you need.
Can I take prerequisites at a different college from my nursing program?
Often yes, as long as the program accepts the transfer. Confirm first.
Do I need to retake old science courses?
If they're older than the program's recency limit, usually yes.
Is a C good enough?
It may meet the minimum, but competitive programs often rank applicants by prerequisite GPA, so higher grades improve your chances.
Get a personalized nursing plan
We'll compare your transcripts with your target programs' requirements, identify what's left, check recency and grade issues, and build a sequenced plan to the application deadline. We're an advisory and study-support service, not a nursing school; final admission decisions belong to each program.