Prerequisites are an important step in your nursing journey and must be completed to be eligible for certain nursing programs. What are the prerequisites for nursing school? While they vary across schools, most requirements include a mix of science and general education courses, such as Biology and English.
Your educational background plays a significant role in the transition to a nursing career. For those with a prior bachelor’s degree or 60 college credits, an accelerated nursing program is an efficient way to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
At Averett University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows students to earn their BSN in as few as 16 months. We offer nursing prerequisites and a curriculum designed to support students in their journeys to becoming highly skilled, practice-ready registered nurses.
But before you can enroll in an accelerated program, you will need to fulfill the prerequisite requirements. What are the prerequisites for nursing school? While the course guidelines vary from school to school, we will simplify the process and help you understand what to expect from nursing school prerequisites.
Now, let’s examine why prerequisites are important, how they prepare students to excel in their studies and which courses are required for nursing.
Why are Prerequisite Courses Important?
Prerequisites ensure that all students entering a nursing program are fully prepared to begin their studies. In accelerated BSN programs, the fast pace does not leave time for general education courses, so prerequisites enable students to participate in nursing courses right away.
Completing prerequisites before the program can benefit students who have invested a few years into their non-nursing careers before deciding to make the career change. They allow students to refamiliarize themselves with college studies and course workload. While prerequisites are a steppingstone toward nursing school, they are essential because they prepare students to excel in their nursing programs.
Common Prerequisites for Accelerated Nursing Schools
How many prerequisites are needed for nursing school? Specific numbers vary across schools, ranging from five to fourteen or more. However, depending on your educational background, many courses completed during your previous degree program may transfer.
While the type of courses you must complete also varies across programs, you will discover common themes. Many nursing programs require a similar mix of science courses, as they provide a solid foundation for nursing school.
Biology
Biology and sometimes microbiology are some of the most important required courses for nursing schools. In biology courses, you learn foundational concepts of life, reproduction, cell function, metabolism and genetics, all of which are required to understand the biology of human health.
In microbiology courses, you learn about human cells, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microscopic organisms that affect human health. Microbiology provides a backbone for understanding nursing topics such as infection control, antibiotic treatment and viral disease. Keep in mind that many biology courses may require a lab component.
Did you major in biology? Learn how you can use your prior undergraduate biology degree to become a nurse.
Anatomy and Physiology
The next key nursing school prerequisites are anatomy and physiology courses, which establish a foundation for clinical practice. In anatomy courses, students learn the structure and function of the human body and gain an understanding of how bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves and internal organs function and interact.
Physiology courses cover the systems of the body, such as respiration, metabolism, blood flow, neural circuits and detoxification. These courses allow you to enter nursing school with an understanding of human health so that you can explore advanced nursing concepts. Like biology, many schools require a lab component for anatomy and physiology courses.
Lifespan Growth and Development
Nurses care for patients across the lifespan and can even specialize in caring for specific populations, such as neonatal and gerontological nursing. As a result, nurses must have a solid grasp of how humans develop and change throughout their lives.
A lifespan development or developmental psychology course teaches you how the body and brain change over time, helping you understand each of your future patients’ unique needs.
Statistics
Statistics is another common prerequisite course required by nursing schools. In statistics, you learn the fundamentals of research, probability, population data and hypothesis testing and error so that you can apply this knowledge to healthcare research. With the ever-evolving nature of healthcare, nurses must know how to find and assess evidence-based research.
Other Liberal Arts Courses
Some schools also require students to complete general course requirements, such as English, psychology or communication, to ensure students have a well-rounded education before starting a nursing program.
Averett’s ABSN Prerequisites
While the list above includes many commonly required prerequisites, each program has a unique list specific to its nursing curriculum. What are the prerequisites for nursing at Averett? For our ABSN applicants, we require three lab science prerequisites and two non-lab courses, totaling five courses.
The specific prerequisites required for admission to Averett’s ABSN program include:
| BIO 204 | Anatomy & Physiology I (with Lab) | 4 credits |
| BIO 205 | Anatomy & Physiology II (with Lab) | 4 credits |
| BIO 301 | Microbiology (with Lab) | 4 credits |
| MTH 160 | Introduction to Statistics* | 3 credits |
| PSY 205 | Developmental Psychology | 3 credits |
*MTH 103 or equivalent coursework is a prerequisite to this course.
Other Nursing School Admission Requirements
Along with completing prerequisite course requirements, students must meet additional important admissions requirements to be considered for enrollment in accelerated nursing programs.
Grades
Simply enrolling and completing prerequisite courses is not enough to satisfy the prerequisite course requirements. Students must receive a passing grade and meet a cumulative GPA requirement established by the school to be eligible for enrollment in the program. At Averett, we require a grade of “C” or higher on prerequisites and science/math courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8.
Prerequisite Timing
Many schools require you to have taken the prerequisites within a specific timeframe before you apply, such as the past five years. Read through the prerequisite requirements of each program, so you know if you need to retake any older courses. At Averett, our admissions counselors will help determine which prerequisites you must take and help create an academic plan so you can meet the requirements in time for your target start date.
Advanced Standing
Averett’s ABSN program is also open to transfer students who meet the minimum number of non-nursing college credit requirements. Because transfer students do not have a completed bachelor’s degree, we require the following general education prerequisite courses in addition to the five listed above:
| BIO 101 | Introduction to Biology (with Lab) | 4 credits |
| ENG 111 | Introduction to Writing | 3 credits |
| ENG 112 | Introduction to Literature | 3 credits |
| ENG 390 | Origin & Structures of English OR TH 103 Human Communication | 3 credits |
| Fine Arts** | 3 credits | |
| Fine Arts** | 3 credits | |
| MTH 103 | Principles of Mathematics | 3 credits |
| Society 2A (Religion or Philosophy) OR Society 2C (Western Civilization) OR Society 2D (History, Political Science, Economics)*** | 3 credits |
** The following fine arts courses are available online: ART 103, MUS 103, TH 105, TH 220
*** The following courses are available online: REL 102, REL 201, HIS 101, HIS 102
Entrance Exams
Another factor to consider is that many nursing programs require you to pass a national entrance exam. Averett’s ABSN requires students to pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) V exam with a score of at least 65 within a year of applying.
Background Check
Most nursing programs also require passing a criminal background check before official admittance.
Nursing School Prerequisites FAQ
Below, we will cover some common nursing school prerequisite questions. If you have additional questions, contact our admissions team for more information.
Can I take my prerequisites through Averett?
Yes, you may take the prerequisite courses through Averett University. We even use the same e-learning platform for prerequisites as our online nursing courses, so you’ll develop learning strategies that will help you in nursing school.
Can I take Averett’s prerequisites online?
You can take many prerequisite requirements online; however, science lab portions must be completed in person.
Learn more about what online learning is like in Averett’s ABSN program.
Can I transfer my prerequisites from another school?
Prerequisites can be transferred from another accredited institution of higher education. When you speak to an admissions counselor at Averett, they will evaluate whether courses taken at another school will transfer.
How hard are prerequisites?
Prerequisite courses are rigorous but manageable. Many undergraduate students in scientific disciplines take them, so we’re confident you can succeed in them with hard work and focus.
Do I need to finish prerequisites before applying?
If you’d like to apply to the ABSN program before finishing the prerequisites, you may do so when final prerequisite courses are in progress at Averett University. We can offer provisional admittance and officially admit you upon successful completion of the prerequisites.
Launch Your Nursing Career with Averett University
With Averett’s ABSN, a meaningful nursing career is right around the corner. After completing the prerequisite classes required for nursing school, students enter the program with a strong foundation on which they build advanced nursing and science concepts.
Learn how to make a career change to nursing in 5 steps.
At Averett University in Norfolk, Virginia, our accelerated BSN program equips you to become a practice-ready registered nurse. Our hybrid curriculum contains a mix of online nursing courses, skills and simulation labs and diverse clinical rotations, preparing you to confidently take the NCLEX and earn your nursing license.
Thanks to Averett’s accelerated curriculum, you can achieve your career goals sooner and finish the ABSN program in as few as 16 months after completing prerequisite courses. With three start dates a year in January, May and August, you can earn your BSN and become a nurse fast. Contact an admissions counselor today to learn how you can start your nursing journey at Averett.