What are the prerequisites for nursing? Can you take prerequisites online? Prerequisites are courses that you complete before starting nursing school to ensure you have the necessary foundational knowledge. You can often complete them online. The number of courses you’ll need to complete depends on your prior academic credits.
If you’re reading this, you have probably decided to answer the call of nursing and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). With the rapid evolution of nursing roles and the many career opportunities in healthcare, enrolling in a BSN program is a wise choice.
If you have previous non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, a nursing degree is closer than you might think. With Concordia University Texas’s (CTX) Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track, you can graduate ready to sit the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) in as few as 16 months.
Before you can enroll in nursing school, you must complete several nursing prerequisites. What are the prerequisites for nursing? These courses teach the foundational knowledge necessary to take on the nursing school curriculum—especially on an accelerated timeline, and lays the foundation for your career as a registered nurse.
Before you embark on your nursing school journey, completing the prerequisites will introduce you to Concordia University Texas’s mission and vision, and improve your confidence in the fundamentals of science and math.
You probably have a few questions before getting started. How many prerequisites are needed for nursing? Where can I take prerequisite courses for nursing? How long will it take? Don’t worry—based on your existing education, our admissions counselors will help you map out which courses you need to complete before you’re eligible to enroll. They can help to clarify how Concordia Texas offers prerequisite courses and review the admissions process.
What Nursing Prerequisites Do I Need to Complete?
The prerequisite courses you’ll be required to take largely depend on two factors:
- Your previous non-nursing college education (e.g., which classes you took)
- How many transferable credits you have, with a minimum of 60 necessary to enroll without taking additional prerequisite courses
Regardless of any other factors, you must complete all prerequisites with a grade of C or higher, while maintaining both cumulative and science GPAs of 3.0 and above.
Before starting the admissions process, be sure to speak with an admissions counselor. They will help guide you through the process, develop a personalized academic plan, and identify the exact courses you need to complete. They can even recommend the order to take the courses.
Which Prerequisites Do I Need with a Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Degree?
What are the prerequisites for nursing if you already have a degree? If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited school, you’ll need to complete a series of prerequisite courses to ensure you have the skills and knowledge necessary to begin nursing school. These courses can refine your study abilities and allow you to transfer skills into practice later during the ABSN track.
With a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can expect to complete the following prerequisites:
- Chemistry I with Lab
- Microbiology with Lab
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with Lab (two courses)
- Nutrition
- Intro to Statistics
- Lifespan Development
- Medical Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
- Introduction to Psychology
Additionally, Concordia Texas requires the following courses, which exemplify our Christian mission and values:
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Life and Leadership
- Leadership Theory and Practice
You can start nursing school before completing the last two courses, but you must complete them no later than the first two semesters.
Which Prerequisites Do I Need with a Minimum of 60 Transferrable College Credits?
How many prerequisites are needed for nursing without a previously completed degree? If you apply to the ABSN track with at least 60 credits, then you must complete all the courses listed above. Additionally, you must complete the Concordia Texas Common Experience core courses:
- Academic Research and Writing
- Fundamentals of Communication
- Fine Arts
- U.S. History
- Government
- Introduction to Literature
Completing these prerequisite courses will ensure that you are as academically well-rounded as possible. During your prerequisites, you’ll build a general education foundation, learn about the structure and functions of the human body, discover how to interpret multiple types of data, become familiar with human growth and development at all life stages, and be introduced to Concordia Texas’s Christ-centered curriculum.
Learn how to make a career change to nursing in just five steps.
Nursing Prerequisite FAQs
It’s natural to have plenty of questions about nursing prerequisites. The prerequisite process depends on multiple factors and is unique to each student’s academic status and history. Here, we’ll look at some of the most frequent questions.
How Many Prerequisites Are Needed for Nursing?
This depends on whether you have a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree or only a minimum of 60 college credits. If you have a completed degree, you’ll likely need to take fewer prerequisite courses. Check with your admissions counselor to determine which courses you need to complete.
Where Can I Take Prerequisite Courses for Nursing?
You won’t have to look far to find a school that offers all the required prerequisites. You can complete each of them at Concordia University Texas. Taking your prerequisites at Concordia Texas offers some advantages:
- You’ll become familiar with our online learning platform
- You’ll explore our Christ-centered curriculum
- You’ll start nursing school on an equal footing with other students
- Your admissions counselor can keep an eye on your progress and assist as needed
Can You Take Nursing Prerequisites Online?
At Concordia Texas, our nursing school curriculum is available in a hybrid format. It blends online coursework and in-person learning through skills and simulation labs, as well as clinical placements. Because of our emphasis on online learning, we offer our prerequisites through an online format as well.
Can you get a nursing degree online? It’s a common question. Learn the answer here.
How Long Does It Take to Do Prerequisites for Nursing?
Each student’s nursing school journey is different. The length of time it takes depends on the number of prerequisites you must complete and your class schedule.
You can complete the nursing prerequisites online in eight-week increments. This gives students a faster path toward admittance into the ABSN track and lets them quickly pursue a rewarding career in nursing. However, we remain flexible and dedicated to finding the best option for each student.
Our admissions counselors do their best to help students find an option through Concordia Texas first. For students missing core classes, we offer many online eight-week sessions.
However, Concordia Texas has more applicants with completed degrees than those with a minimum number of college credits. Consequently, we are occasionally unable to offer certain prerequisites online. When this happens, we always have 16-week in-person courses available at our nursing satellite campus in Austin.
Why Are Prerequisite Courses Important?
There are a few reasons why nursing prerequisite courses are important.
- You can refamiliarize yourself with higher education
- You’ll acquire an important base of knowledge
- You'll become familiar with online learning
- You'll get into the nursing mindset
What Classes Are Required to Be a Nurse?
Now that you know the answers to questions like, “Can you take nursing prerequisites online?” and “How long does it take to do prerequisites for nursing?” you may wonder about the classes required to become a nurse. Again, the prerequisites will help you to develop a firm foundation of the academic knowledge and skills that allow you to succeed in the nursing school curriculum.
Once in nursing school, you can expect to explore topics such as:
- Adult health theory and skills
- Pharmacology
- Professionalism in nursing
- Maternal/newborn theory and skills
- Child/family theory and skills
- Nursing leadership and management
- Community and global health
- Nursing research
- NCLEX preparation and review
How Can I Be Accepted into Concordia Texas’s ABSN Track?
Once you have completed the prerequisite coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, you’ll be eligible to apply for our ABSN track. Applications will include your transcripts, a personal essay explaining why you want to earn a BSN from Concordia Texas, and three professional recommendations.
Our admissions counselors will guide you through the process — with their help, you’ll feel confident about your chances of admission.
Start Completing Your Prerequisite Courses Today
Now that you understand the nursing school prerequisites and how to complete them, it’s time to move forward and open a dialogue with the dedicated admissions counselors at Concordia Texas.
Contact an admissions counselor today. They will review your transcripts and recommend the best course of action for you to complete the prerequisites and quickly become a nursing student. Take the first step toward fulfilling your calling with a nursing education at Concordia University Texas.