Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

LS
By Lindsay Smith, AGPCNP
Updated September 5, 2026

Reviewed for clinical accuracy · Methodology: NIH, NCBI, AANP guidelines

Looking to jumpstart your career in nursing as quickly and inexpensively as possible? Getting your Associate of Science in Nursing might be a good option for you. The two-year Associate Degree in Nursing is the shortest route to becoming a Registered Nurse.

Roughly a third of ADN-prepared nurses use the degree as a stepping-stone to a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). The NCSBN’s 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey, the largest dataset available on the profession, puts it precisely: 34.2% of RNs entered the profession through an associate degree, but only 22.8% still hold the ADN as their highest nursing qualification. The gap between those two figures is the share who kept going. Getting an ADN is a good option if you have not worked as an LPN and would like to start your career as a registered nurse (RN). If you’re weighing the two degrees against each other, our ADN vs BSN comparison breaks down cost, timeline, salary, and long-term career ceiling, and our guide on whether an associate degree in nursing is worth it walks through the return on investment.

What is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)?

The associate degree in nursing offers the shortest route to becoming a registered nurse. With an ADN you have the education and clinical training necessary to take the NCLEX-RN exam, obtain a license within the state you plan to practice and begin working in an entry-level position in healthcare. 

An ADN will also give you the base of knowledge and skills required to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) while still making a good salary.

What can you do with an associate degree in nursing?

First and foremost, you can become an RN and start earning a good living. You can also begin pursuing a BSN while you work and begin exploring different specialties.

Within the clinical environment, you can administer medication, discuss symptoms and offer guidance on treatment plans with attending physicians and patients, monitor vital signs, and generally be a part of shaping and delivering the patient’s treatment plan.

Where can you work with an ADN?

Registered nurses with an ADN can work in a number of healthcare settings. Doctors’ offices, hospitals, surgery centers, nursing homes, and schools are just some of the places you can work. You could even deliver care directly in a patient’s home or through a community center.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most RNs (60%) work in hospitals, whether state, local or private. Ambulatory healthcare services – a category covering physicians’ offices, home healthcare and outpatient care centers – account for 18%. Nursing and residential care facilities and government each employ 6%, and educational services 4%.

What is the curriculum and what are the requirements for an ADN?

ADN programs commonly run to around 60–72 credits in total, and the exact count varies by school. Most require students to complete the college’s liberal arts core before entering the nursing sequence. The core curriculum usually includes:

  • English composition
  • Communications
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Human anatomy and physiology
  • Statistics

Once you have completed all of the courses above, you will be able to enter the Associate Degree in Nursing program which includes courses in the following subject areas. 

  • Microbiology and immunology
  • Medical-surgical nursing
  • Introduction to the nursing profession
  • Nursing health assessment
  • Professional issues in nursing
  • Pediatric nursing
  • Psychiatric nursing
  • Maternal-newborn nursing
  • Community health nursing

Practical hours and job training

One of the most important aspects of becoming a nurse is practical hours, or hands-on experience. The associate degree in nursing provides theoretical knowledge alongside supervised clinical training in real care settings.

ADN programs typically require 500 to 750 clinical hours across the curriculum. There is no national accreditor minimum – ACEN, the main accreditor for associate-level nursing programs, sets no clinical-hour floor – so the binding requirement comes from your state board of nursing. California’s Board of Registered Nursing, for instance, mandates 500 direct patient care hours in a board-approved setting, with at least 30 hours in each of five specialty areas. Check the requirement in the state where you intend to be licensed rather than assuming a national standard exists. Our guide to nursing school clinical hours requirements breaks the numbers down by program type.

Note that clinical hours mean supervised direct patient care. Skills labs, simulation and volunteering may appear on a program’s schedule, but they are counted separately and most state boards cap how much simulation can substitute for time on a real unit.

Are there any online ADN programs?

When it comes to getting an associate degree in nursing online, a significant portion can be completed this way. Most of the core curriculum and theoretical classes can be completed online. However, the hands-on training required through labs and on-the-job training must be done in person.

Programs by state

For states not listed above, use our nursing schools by state directory to find accredited ADN programs near you.

What if I’m already a medical assistant, CNA or LPN?

Someone working as a Medical Assistant can take a course from a school that offers an MA to ADN path. Likewise, some schools offer LPN-to-ADN programs you can take. If you already hold a CNA or LPN credential, see our guides on CNA-to-RN bridge programs and LPN-to-RN bridge programs for the fastest routes into RN licensure. Just ensure that the school you choose is accredited and meets all the educational quality standards required. This can be checked through the US Department of Education.

What are the admission requirements?

Admission requirements vary by school. Most of them require math, science, and liberal arts, which are part of the school’s core curriculum. Apart from that, typically a written test, interview, and a review of your prior school grades and ACT or SAT scores are general requirements. Sometimes passing exams like HESI, ATI TEAS, and NLN-PAX are also required.

GPA requirements vary, but most ADN programs expect a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to 3.0. If your GPA falls below the typical threshold, there are programs designed for your situation – see our guide on low GPA nursing schools for options including conditional admission programs and schools with more flexible requirements.

How much does getting an ADN cost?

The fees range from $10,000–$25,000 a year. Once you’re licensed as an RN, the national median wage is $97,550 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1141, May 2025). BLS projects about 180,800 RN openings a year on average through 2035 – most of that figure is replacement demand as nurses retire or move on rather than newly created posts, which is why hiring volume stays high even though the occupation is growing at a moderate 5% over the decade.

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