How long does it take to become a registered nurse (RN)?
The length of time it takes to become a registered nurse with a BSN can vary depending on the program and your educational background. Bachelor’s degrees often take four years to complete, but with our three-year BSN program, you can complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in as few as three years.
If you have completed some college credits or have a degree in another field, qualifying transfer credits can shorten your program length. To learn more about the pathway to become an RN with a BSN degree in Ohio, contact an admissions representative at our Columbus campus.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Nursing Degree in Ohio
Registered Nurses in the Columbus area of Ohio have a median nursing salary of $82,520 per year.
As you enter the workforce, it’s important to know that you will not likely start at the median rate but will likely increase your earnings with experience. To view our Columbus nursing market outlook click here.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that RNs in Ohio range from a low rate of $66,060 per year to the highest-paid Registered Nurses earning as much as $103,650 per year for their nursing salary.
Updated August 2025. Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1141.00?zip=43235
One of the great benefits about RN nursing jobs in Ohio is that you have many different options for work environments. As of 2023, registered nurses held about 3.3 million nursing jobs.
The largest employers of registered nurses were as follows:
Hospitals (58%)
Ambulatory healthcare services (19%)
Nursing and residential care facilities (6%)
Government (5%)
Educational services; state, local, and private (3%)
Updated 2025. Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-3
Employment opportunities for RNs in the United States are projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, creating approximately 189,100 new registered nurse jobs annually.
RN nursing jobs in Ohio are projected to grow by 3% between 2022 and 2032.
As of 2022, there were 131,390 RNs employed in Ohio.
Updated August 2025. Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/29-1141.00?st=OH
Nursing Program Questions at Arizona College of Nursing – Columbus
Transfer credits can be a way to help you earn a nursing degree in Ohio sooner and at a lower cost. Students can progress through our BSN program in three years or less with qualifying general education transfer credits.
For questions about transfer credits, including credits associated with college-level credit test scores, connect with a local admission advisor for details. Our admissions team will review your current transcripts and give you specific feedback on how past education might be eligible to be applied toward a BSN degree.
Read more about Arizona College of Nursing’s credit transfer requirements.
Students of all ages and backgrounds who qualify may be eligible for a variety of financial aid programs and payment options including:
- Federal student loans for nursing students
- Federal PELL and SEOG grants for nursing school
- Eligible State-based grant programs
- Private educational loans
In addition to financial aid, Arizona College of Nursing offers BSN scholarship opportunities. For more information on financial aid and scholarships, visit https://www.arizonacollege.edu/admissions/financial-aid/.
Yes. We offer general education courses in the evening because we know students are busy and often can’t immediately change their entire schedule when starting nursing school.
While every student’s schedule may vary due to academic experience, you’ll start your BSN degree program with evening general education courses. In addition, some general education courses are offered in a convenient on-campus/online hybrid format.
Once you begin your core nursing courses, your schedule will shift to daytime classes.
Our BSN program curriculum covers important topics such as clinical thinking, community health, critical care, gerontology, leadership, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatric care, and surgical care.
Arizona College of Nursing had an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 87.48%* across all campuses in 2024. As a new campus, Columbus does not yet have NCLEX-RN outcomes available for this location.
*Nevada NCLEX Pass Rate Data, Florida NCLEX Pass Rate Data, Texas NCLEX Pass Rate Data, California NCLEX Pass Rate Data, Michigan NCLEX Pass Rate Data, Utah NCLEX Pass Rate Data, Arizona NCLEX Pass Rate Data, Virginia NCLEX Pass Rate Data
National NCLEX Pass Rate Data
Arizona College of Nursing – Columbus does not offer an LPN to BSN or an LPN to RN bridge program. However, you still have the ability to enroll in our Columbus nursing program and earn your BSN degree in just three years!
Your prior LPN nursing experience will serve you well as you complete the nursing classes, and it will be especially helpful during the clinical training portion of your program.
We encourage you to contact our admissions team and mention your prior nursing experience. They’ll tell you more about how your LPN experience can help you in your BSN program.
Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) – Columbus is not a 100% online nursing program in Ohio. However, most of our campuses offer some registered nurse classes online. The AZCN curriculum includes a mixture of in-person, online, and blended classes. At the majority of our campuses, many non-clinical courses are offered asynchronously and delivered fully online, while nursing courses with a clinical component are held in person.
Our general education courses also incorporate a blended learning experience, including night classes for nursing and virtual classes, providing student flexibility. Contact our admissions team to learn more about our online nursing course formats at AZCN Columbus and how you can earn a BSN degree in just three years.
General FAQs for Nursing Colleges in Ohio
Recognizing the differences between a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is essential to planning your nursing career path. LPN/LVN programs prepare you to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (sometimes called Licensed Vocational Nurse in certain states), while BSN programs prepare you to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
An LPN program generally takes about one to two years to complete and is designed to prepare students for entry-level nursing roles providing basic nursing care under the supervision of RNs and physicians.
BSN programs typically take three to four years to complete and are structured to prepare you for a career as a registered nurse. The programs provide a comprehensive nursing education that allows you to work in a variety of nursing jobs in Ohio. While BSN programs take more time, they put you on a path to more career growth opportunities as an RN.
Click here to read our blog post comparing an LPN Program with a BSN Program.
To become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Columbus, you must complete a state-approved nursing program. After graduation, your program director must send a verification letter to the Ohio Board of Nursing. You must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam and complete a criminal background check to receive licensure.
Source: https://www.nursinglicensure.org/state/nursing-license-ohio/
There are multiple parts of the cost to become a nurse in the state of Ohio. First, you must complete an accredited nursing program. Next, RNs in Ohio must pay $75 for Initial Licensure by Examination. Ohio nurses renew every two years and pay $65 for renewal fees.
Source: https://nursing.ohio.gov/licensing-and-certification/fees
There isn’t a limit to how many times you can retake retake the NCLEX-RN in Ohio, but all applicable exam fees are required each time. You must wait 45 days from the date of exam administration to retake the Ohio NCLEX-RN. After that, you can schedule another exam attempt; however, before this, the candidate must first obtain a new Authorization to Test (ATT) from the Ohio Board of Nursing. Once the ATT is provided, the candidate may begin the process of rescheduling the NCLEX-RN.
Source: https://nursingexams.org/nclex/taking-the-nclex-in-ohio/
Nursing schools in Columbus, Ohio can vary depending on the program and the student’s prior educational background. A typical Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program takes four years to complete when starting from scratch.
At Arizona College of Nursing in Columbus, you can earn your BSN degree in just 3 years. If you’ve completed prior college classes, you may be able to use transfer credits and complete your Ohio nursing degree even faster.
Our admissions team can give you a more specific answer on how long our BSN program would take for you, given your education background. Contact us to get started.
For more information, visit: https://www.arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/
The comparison of an LPN vs. RN primarily comes down to education and scope of practice. An LPN generally focuses on providing basic nursing care under the supervision of an RN or physician.
RNs have a wider scope of practice, including patient care planning and diagnostic testing. An RN generally requires an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Choosing between these roles depends on your career goals. RNs generally have more opportunities for advancement and a higher nursing salary in Columbus.
Contact our admissions team to learn more about how our three-year BSN program in Columbus can help prepare you for a career as an RN.
To become a nurse in Ohio, you first need to choose the type of nursing role you want to pursue, such as a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or nurse practitioner (NP). Typically, you will need to complete the relevant nursing program in Ohio and obtain the necessary certification for licensure. For example, RNs generally need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Each type of nurse has specific educational and licensing requirements, so it’s important to know what applies to your chosen nursing career path.
To become an RN in Ohio, you need to complete an accredited nursing program, such as our BSN program at Arizona College of Nursing – Columbus, which includes nursing classes, clinical experience, and NCLEX-RN exam preparation in the curriculum. After graduating, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain your RN license. For detailed steps and specific requirements, please contact our admissions office.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is an undergraduate college nursing degree designed to prepare students with the training and studies needed for a successful career in nursing. To increase your chances of finding a nursing job in Columbus, Ohio, you should consider earning a BSN (bachelor’s of science in nursing). The BSN curriculum includes both general education and advanced nursing course studies.
The primary difference between an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Columbus is the level of training and education. Earning a BSN offers a more extensive educational foundation and practical clinical exposure compared to an ADN. Key benefits of the BSN are its appeal to employers and access to additional job growth opportunities such as employment with Magnet-designated hospitals.
Magnet hospitals, which earn their designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), are highly sought after for their excellence in nursing, patient care, and professional development. These prestigious healthcare institutions only hire nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher as part of their commitment to achieving better patient outcomes and maintaining the highest standards of care.