How long does a nursing course take?

There are several different routes you can take to become a nurse. You can enter a diploma program which requires general courses and about 20-24 months of actual nursing classes. Diploma programs have the highest number of clinical hours as well. You can also attend a community college for an Associate's Degree in nursing. Again, you must complete your general courses, and nursing courses usually take 24 months. Or, you can attend a four year school and attain your Bachelor's Degree in nursing, which will take four years. So, overall it depends on how fast you'd like to be finished. All three programs allow you to take your NCLEX exam and become a registered nurse.