While an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) can prepare you for an entry-level nursing position, a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) is fast becoming the minimum requirement for positions at major hospitals, mental health facilities, and physicians’ offices. In fact, because BSN degree programs feature in-depth coursework and more clinical experience, they offer better preparation for high-level positions such as critical care nurse, occupational health nurse, psychiatric nurse, and nurse manager. In addition, a BSN or higher is almost always a requirement for nursing career advancement.
There are two common paths to obtaining a BSN: (1) prelicensure programs that prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and (2) RN-to-BSN programs which enable licensed professional nurses to earn a bachelor’s degree in a shorter amount of time. BSN prelicensure programs typically require four years to complete fulltime and may include up to seven clinical rotations (98 clock hours). RN-to-BSN programs typically require 30 credit hours to graduate and can take as few as three semesters to complete.
To accelerate your education search, we’ve compiled below a list of accredited California schools that offer the state’s top BSN programs.