Nursing Careers and Education Requirements

Before you can decide which nursing certificate, diploma or degree to pursue, it’s important know what the educational requirements are for each different nursing career path.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most popular nursing fields and career specialties. To learn more about a specific nursing career just click on the title in the left hand column. Directly to the right of each nursing career we’ve listed the minimum education requirements for entry-level nurse positions.

Please note that the education and licensing requirements for different nursing careers may vary by state – so you’ll want to check with your state nursing board before deciding on a particular nursing program.

Featured Nursing Programs

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More >

Kaplan University Kaplan University's campus locations provide the facilities, faculty, staff and career programs to help you achieve your personal goals. You can learn from professionals specializing in identifying career opportunities and preparing students for a brighter future. Learn More >

Grand Canyon University (GCU) With a spotlight on intellectual creativity and innovation for the 21stcentury, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GCU provides a job focused education. It blends the study of traditional humanities in a modern context. Through academic inquiry and beyond the box thinking, the college advances our society and its accomplishments. Learn More >

South University For over a century, South University has given students the personalized attention they need to achieve their career goals. With small class sizes and faculty with real-world experience, we prove to our students that when they commit to us, we commit to them. You'll find that our students are as serious as you are about taking their lives in a new direction, and we're serious about making that happen. Learn More >

Ross College At Ross Medical Education Center, our goal is simple: to provide the highest quality education to motivated individuals seeking an exciting, fulfilling career in the healthcare industry. And what truly sets us apart is the way we go about achieving that mission each and every day. Learn More >