✅ Quick Answer: Yes, you can complete nursing prerequisites in one year, but it requires careful planning, strategic course selection, and often taking multiple courses simultaneously. Success depends on your academic background and time availability.
Is One-Year Completion Realistic?
Completing nursing prerequisites in 12 months is achievable but challenging. It depends on several factors:
- Your starting point: Do you need remedial math or English?
- Time commitment: Can you dedicate 30-40 hours per week to studies?
- Course format: Are you using accelerated online courses or traditional semester-based classes?
- Your academic strength: Are science courses easy or difficult for you?
- Work obligations: Are you working while studying?
One-Year Timeline Examples
Scenario 1: Full-Time Student, Online Accelerated Courses
Realistic completion: YES (6-12 months)
- Months 1-2: A&P I + Psychology (accelerated online)
- Months 2-3: A&P II + English Composition
- Months 3-4: Microbiology + Statistics
- Months 4-5: Chemistry + Nutrition
- Months 5-6: Any remaining courses + TEAS prep
Scenario 2: Part-Time Student, Traditional Semester Courses
Realistic completion: MAYBE (12-18 months)
- Fall Semester: A&P I, Psychology, English I
- Spring Semester: A&P II, Microbiology, English II
- Summer: Chemistry, Statistics, Nutrition
- Fall (Year 2): Any remaining courses + TEAS
Scenario 3: Working Full-Time, Online Courses
Realistic completion: CHALLENGING (12-18 months)
- Months 1-3: A&P I (online, self-paced)
- Months 3-5: Psychology + English (online)
- Months 5-7: A&P II (online)
- Months 7-9: Microbiology (online)
- Months 9-11: Chemistry + Statistics
- Month 12: Final courses + TEAS prep
Strategies for One-Year Success
1. Use Accelerated Online Courses
Traditional semester-based courses (16 weeks) make one-year completion difficult. Accelerated online courses (5-8 weeks) compress the timeline significantly. StraighterLine offers self-paced nursing prerequisites that allow you to move through material faster if you're prepared.
2. Take Multiple Courses Simultaneously
Instead of one course per term, take 2-3 courses at once. Pair difficult sciences with easier general education courses to manage workload.
3. Maximize Summer and Winter Sessions
Take 1-2 courses during summer break and winter break. This adds 4-8 weeks of additional study time per year.
4. Test Out of General Education
Use CLEP exams to test out of Psychology, Sociology, or English Composition. Each exam you pass saves 4-6 weeks of coursework.
5. Start with Your Strongest Subjects
Begin with courses where you have background knowledge or natural aptitude. This builds momentum and confidence for more difficult courses later.
Challenges of One-Year Completion
Grade Quality Risk
Rushing through prerequisites can result in lower grades. Nursing schools prefer strong grades over speed. A "C" completed in 6 months is worse than a "B" completed in 12 months.
Burnout and Stress
Studying 30-40 hours per week for a full year is mentally and physically exhausting. Many students experience burnout, which affects both grades and well-being.
Limited Time for TEAS Preparation
If you finish prerequisites at month 12, you have minimal time to study for the TEAS exam. Many programs require TEAS scores with applications, so you need buffer time.
Difficulty Balancing Work and Study
If you're working full-time, one-year completion is extremely challenging. Most working students need 18-24 months.
When One-Year Completion Makes Sense
- ✅ You're a full-time student with no work obligations
- ✅ You have strong science and math background
- ✅ You're using accelerated online courses
- ✅ You're applying to ADN programs (fewer prerequisites)
- ✅ You're an ABSN applicant (only science prerequisites needed)
When You Should Take Longer
- ❌ You're working full-time or part-time
- ❌ You struggled with science or math in the past
- ❌ You need remedial coursework
- ❌ You're applying to highly competitive BSN programs
- ❌ You want to maintain a strong GPA (3.3+)
The GPA vs. Speed Tradeoff
The most important consideration is your GPA, not speed. Nursing schools would rather see:
- ✅ 18-month completion with 3.5 GPA
- ❌ 12-month completion with 2.8 GPA
Don't sacrifice grades for speed. A slightly longer timeline with strong grades will serve you better in nursing school admissions.
💡 Complete Your Prerequisites Faster with StraighterLine
StraighterLine's self-paced nursing prerequisites let you complete courses in 5-8 weeks instead of 16 weeks. With affordable tuition and credits accepted at 180+ partner schools, you can achieve your one-year goal without sacrificing quality.