Can You Earn a Nursing Degree Online?

A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at CTU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path

Online nursing degree programs may be a good option for registered nurses (RNs) who are looking for a more flexible alternative to traditional, in-person instruction. While the clinical component of nursing school, often referred to as “clinicals,” must still be completed in the real world, the convenience of being able to take non-clinical courses virtually and at your own pace in an online nursing program may nevertheless make pursuing bachelor’s degree feel more within reach.

What Are the Benefits of Online Nursing Programs?

One of the benefits of online nursing degree programs is their flexibility. Online RN-to-BSN programs that allow candidates to take classes and complete coursework according to their own schedules may make pursuing a nursing degree more feasible. Registered nurses often work long shifts, work overnights or have irregular schedules. Because of this, BSN programs that offer self-paced, online nursing classes may offer more than just convenience—for some RNs, such programs may be the only way to advance their education.

Another potential benefit of online nursing degree programs derives from the online learning format itself. Candidates can watch and rewatch lectures, virtually collaborate and network with fellow candidates located across the country or even listen to their lectures while on the go.

Additionally, even though online nursing clinicals are not currently an option, pursuing an online nursing degree program could nevertheless make satisfying the clinical hours requirement more convenient by freeing up more time in your schedule. How so? Distance learning programs eliminate the need to spend time commuting to and from school—a school that could be located far from home. Because nursing clinicals can be completed in the candidate’s local community, any time not spent commuting outside your local community is, in a sense, time gained.

How Do Clinicals Work in Online Nursing School?

In addition to traditional assignments and coursework, nursing students typically must complete clinical experiences, or “clinicals” for short. Clinicals provide a way for candidates to get practical, hands-on experience in working with others in real-world healthcare settings. While certain nursing degree courses may utilize online nursing clinical simulations to enhance candidates’ learning experience, there are currently no online or virtual nursing clinicals that count toward fulfilling a program’s clinical requirements.

Candidates in Colorado Technical University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) online degree program must complete hands-on nursing clinical hours in addition to regular coursework. These clinical hours can be completed within a candidate’s local community but not in their current workplace.

What Steps Are Needed to Become a Registered Nurse (RN)?

The precise path to becoming a registered nurse (RN) may look a bit different for everyone, but in general, it involves the following steps:

Step 1: Pursue nursing education. Aspiring RNs typically pursue one of several education paths: a nursing diploma program (RN diploma program), an associate degree program in nursing or a bachelor’s degree program in nursing.¹

• Completing a registered nurse diploma program was once the most common path to becoming an RN,² but nowadays, they are outnumbered by associate and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. The length of RN diploma programs tends to vary by school, generally taking between two to three years to complete.¹
• Completing an in-person or online associate degree in nursing program is a common first step on the path to licensure. Because associate degree programs are typically designed to be completed in two years, this educational path could be a good fit for those who are eager to obtain RN licensure and pursue entry-level RN career opportunities in less time than it would typically take to earn a bachelor’s degree.
• Completing a BSN program prior to obtaining licensure is sometimes possible. However, a number of bachelor’s degree programs are actually RN-to-BSN degree completion programs, meaning that candidates must already be actively licensed registered nurses in order to enroll in the program. (One of the admission requirements for CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing online degree program is that candidates must possess an active and unencumbered RN license.)
• For some aspiring nurses, enrolling in a pre-nursing program is the first step taken on the path to pursuing licensure. A pre-nursing program is not a nursing diploma or degree program but rather a program that serves to lay a basic foundation for pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing later on. Completing a prenursing program does not satisfy the educational requirements necessary for seeking RN licensure.

Step 2: Study, study, study in preparation to sit for the nurse licensing exam, i.e., the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Step 3: Pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

Step 4: Obtain licensure in the state you plan to practice in. Note that licensing requirements vary by state, and therefore you should familiarize yourself with your particular state board of nursing’s requirements.

Other Types of Nurses

In addition to registered nurses, there are licensed practical nurses (LPNs) (called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some states) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).

The process to become an LPN/LVN or a CNA typically takes less time than the process to become an RN because RNs receive more training

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs)

LPNs/LVNs provide basic medical care to patients or to persons with disabilities. Their responsibilities may vary depending on the type of facility or state they work in. Whereas having a nursing diploma or associate degree in nursing is a prerequisite for pursuing RN licensure, LPNs/LVNs need to have a high school diploma and complete a state-approved educational program (which typically takes about a year) in order to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).³

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)

Nursing assistants, nursing aides or certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide basic hands-on care and help patients with activities of daily living. They must complete a state-sanctioned postsecondary certificate program or diploma program and then pass a state certification exam.⁴

Clinicals for LPNs/LVNs and CNAs

Like RNs, LPNs/LVNs and CNAs must fulfill certain hands-on, real world clinical practice requirements as part of their nursing education. In other words, even if a candidate enrolls in online LPN classes, they will not be able to complete their program without completing an offline clinical component.

Pursue an Online Nursing Degree at Your Own Pace

Colorado Technical University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing online degree program is designed for working nurses who want the convenience of self-paced study. Candidates can work to develop knowledge and skills relevant to a range of clinical and administrative leadership activities and which can help them to manage change in a diverse and ever-evolving healthcare industry.

The online nursing degree (RN-to-BSN) program is programmatically accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and was developed by experienced nurse educators. Classes are 100% online, and candidates can complete the program’s clinical hour requirements in their local communities.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Registered Nurses,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (last visited Jan. 7, 2025).
² American Nurses Association (ANA), “How to Become a Nurse,” nursingworld.org, http://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/how-to-become-a-nurse/ (last visited Jan. 7, 2025).
³ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocationalnurses.htm (last visited Jan. 7, 2025).
⁴ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Nursing Assistants and Orderlies,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm(last visited Jan. 7, 2025).

Colorado Technical University cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2097036 1/2025