CNA to ADN
Turn your CNA experience into an associate nursing degree. The fastest route to RN licensure.
Your path
The fastest route to RN licensure. You enroll in CNA training first, start working in patient care, and use that experience and the prerequisite courses to get into an Associate Degree in Nursing program. After the ADN you sit for the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse.
- Listed timeframe
- 2 years
- Programs to explore
- 1 ADN program
- School locations
- Georgia
Before you start
- 18 or older
- High school diploma or GED
- US citizen or eligible to work in the US
- Social Security number
- Criminal background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations and TB test
- Physical exam
- CPR or BLS certification
- Entrance exam (TEAS or HESI)
- Prerequisite courses (anatomy and physiology, microbiology)
- Minimum GPA
More about this path
Requirements. ADN programs typically require anatomy and physiology with a C or better and a TEAS or HESI score.
Timeframe. 2 years is the timeframe listed for this path. Confirm the full timeline, including prerequisites and application waits, with your schools.
Locations. Locations refer to the schools linked to this path, not availability in every state. Check each school’s attendance and residency requirements.
Annual pay by credential. Catalog averages for each credential, not one salary range.
- CNA-associated roles: $34,000/year
- ADN-associated roles: $79,000/year
Tuition, admission requirements and total time vary by school. Completing this path does not guarantee admission.
Programs on this path
Compare programs and keep your application steps in one place.
Albany State University
Albany, Georgia
ADN Associate Degree in Nursing
How this path works
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Compare ADN programs
Compare the connected programs and check prerequisites, costs and dates.
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Complete your CNA training
Pick a provider and finish the program and credential steps.
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Meet entry requirements
Prepare the experience, exams, and prerequisites your chosen programs require.
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Apply
Gather your documents and check each program’s requirements before you apply.
Completing this path does not guarantee admission. Each program sets its own requirements.
Common questions
What is the difference between an ADN and a BSN?
Both lead to the same RN license. An ADN takes about two years and a BSN about four. Many hospitals prefer a BSN for some roles, and an RN-to-BSN bridge lets you finish it later while working.
Do I have to work as a CNA first?
You do not have to, but it helps. Healthcare experience is a plus on most ADN applications and lets you earn while you finish prerequisites.
How competitive are ADN programs?
Very, at most community colleges. Strong prerequisite grades and a good entrance exam score matter more than anything else.
What does it cost?
CNA training runs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars. ADN tuition at a public college is usually a fraction of a university BSN. Each program's page lists what we know.
Similar paths
Other routes students explore alongside this one.