What are the Requirements to Become a Nurse in the United States?
To become a nurse in the United States, you must obtain a nursing license for the state you want to work in. All nursing candidates must meet specific education and experience criteria to be eligible to complete the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass this exam. The educational criterion for US trained candidates is a minimum 3-year degree or diploma in nursing studies from an accredited nursing school. Acceptance into an accredited nursing school requires graduation from high school and advanced credits in English, biology, science and math. There are two options in nursing education; registered nurse and practical nurse or nursing assistant. As part of their training, everyone wanting to become a nurse must have between 40 to 80 clinical experience hours in pediatrics, obstetrics and psychiatry. These hours are required in addition to the standard hours for medical, surgical and community nursing rot
