It all begins with taking small steps. The very first step is to have a high school diploma with classes in English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Foreign language is also recommended. Start checking the prerequisites at the various nursing schools, as they vary from one to another. It is also possible to take the required courses at college in case you have not taken them during high school. It would be wise to seek the guidance of a high school counselor and take as many of the prerequisites during high school.

There are three options of pre-licensing nursing programs:

1. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) which is of 2-3 years duration.
2. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) which is of 4 years duration.
3. Masters Entry Level Program in Nursing which is of 1-2 years duration and for those who want to become Registered Nurses but have bachelors degree in another field.

Another alternative option is a LVN 30 Unit program – an ideal career oriented course with duration from 15 – 18 months to be a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California. On completion the <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.medacademy.org/programs/vocational-nursing-program”>LVN Program</a>, one can progress to get RN license.

California has over 100 nursing schools; you can select the college of your liking. Also, one needs to find out about the entry exams that the colleges conduct, like SAT or ACT. Look and apply for financial aid opportunities which might be in form of scholarships, loans and loan waivers.

You need to be licensed by the California State Board of Registered Nursing to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN), meeting the educational requirements, pass a criminal background check and pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX is computerized and can be availed 6 days a week. It is recommended to take the exam soon after graduating because the success ratio is quite higher than those who take the test later.

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