How to Become a Nurse in the District of Columbia

Once you have graduated high school, becoming a nurse in the District of Columbia is a three part process which begins with nursing prerequisites, continues with nursing education, and culminates with a nursing licensure examination.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs only take a year and sometimes do not require prerequisite training. However, the vast majority of nursing students opt for either a two year Associate Degree, Nursing (ADN), or a four year Bachelor Degree, Nursing (BSN), both of which lead to licensure as a Registered Nurse—and both of which usually require a handful of prerequisite undergraduate college courses before applying. Nursing education prerequisites take around 6 months to complete, and focus on topics like biology, physiology, communications and statistics.

Once prerequisites are complete, one must apply to their college of choice. It is worth considering numerous options, as tuition costs, graduation rates, and acceptance standards vary from school to school. And once accepted, both ADN and BSN training prepare nurses for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, with BSNs allowing more time to delve into specialized topics and advanced learning of nursing theory, research, management, patient care and beyond.
The NCLEX is the final step for aspiring DC nurses. A comprehensive test of nursing skills and knowledge, it is a nationally-standardized test. Rest assured that close to 90 percent of graduating students pass the test—if you study diligently, you should pass the test and become a nurse in the District of Columbia.

More Information on DC Nursing

For detailed Information on Nursing in the District of the Columbia, visit our in depth state page that covers jobs, salaries, training, education and more at all levels of nursing.