Already Have a Bachelor's? Become an RN in 12 to 20 Months
Accelerated, second-degree BSN programs credit the degree you already earned and take you to the same Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the same NCLEX-RN®, and the same RN license as the four-year route.
What Is Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN?
An accelerated BSN, also called a second-degree BSN or ABSN, is a full-time prelicensure nursing degree built for people who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. Because your general education is already on the transcript, the program covers only the nursing curriculum and clinicals, compressed into roughly 12 to 20 months of continuous study.
Graduates are academically eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN® and practice as Registered Nurses. The credential awarded is a full BSN, identical to the one earned through a traditional four-year program, including the leadership, research, and public health coursework that graduate programs and management tracks require.
What You'll Learn in Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN Training
Core Skills
- Health assessment and clinical judgment
- Pharmacology and medication administration
- Pathophysiology and disease processes
- Adult, pediatric, maternal, and mental health nursing
- Community and public health nursing
- Nursing leadership and evidence-based practice
Safety & Compliance
- Patient safety and infection prevention
- HIPAA and patient privacy
- Professional ethics and legal scope of practice
- Basic Life Support (BLS) and emergency response
Tools & Technology
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems
- High-fidelity simulation labs
- Medication administration and barcode scanning systems
- Telehealth and remote monitoring platforms
Admissions Requirements for Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN Training
Most Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN programs have accessible entry requirements designed to help motivated students start their career.
Requirements vary by program and training provider. Career-Bond partners will confirm specific requirements during enrollment.
Certifications for Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN
This program prepares you for nationally recognized certifications that employers value.
NCLEX-RN® (eligibility upon graduation)
NCSBN (administered by state Boards of Nursing)
Exam Focus: Safe and effective care environment; health promotion; psychosocial and physiological integrity
BLS Certification
American Heart Association
Exam Focus: Adult, child, and infant CPR; AED use; team-based resuscitation
Certification requirements vary by state and employer. Career-Bond partners will help you understand the requirements in your area.
Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN Salary & Job Outlook
BLS projects roughly 193,100 RN openings per year on average over the decade, driven by an aging population and workforce replacement needs.
Career Outlook for Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN
Work Settings
Hospitals, ambulatory care, specialty clinics, home health, public health agencies, and schools.
Advancement Path
Because you finish with a BSN rather than an associate degree, you are immediately eligible for BSN-preferred hospital roles, Magnet facilities, leadership tracks, and graduate study toward NP, CRNA, CNS, or DNP.
What Is the Difference Between Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN and Traditional four-year BSN?
TL;DR: The accelerated BSN awards the same degree in 12 to 20 months by crediting the bachelor's you already hold, while the traditional BSN includes the general education those four years cover.
Both routes end in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, eligibility for the NCLEX-RN®, and the same RN license. The accelerated track is only open to people who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, and it moves fast: coursework and clinicals run continuously with few breaks, and most programs expect students not to work full time during the program. The traditional BSN spreads the same nursing content across four years alongside general education, which leaves far more room for outside work and a lighter term-by-term load.
Career changers who already hold a bachelor's in another field
Students without a prior bachelor's degree
12 to 20 months full time
About 4 years
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Eligible for NCLEX-RN®
Eligible for NCLEX-RN®
Continuous terms, heavy clinical schedule
Standard semesters with breaks
Most programs discourage full-time work
More room for part-time or full-time work
Direct pathway to MSN, NP, CRNA, DNP
Direct pathway to MSN, NP, CRNA, DNP
Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN
Choose the accelerated BSN if you already hold a bachelor's, can study full time, and want the degree in under two years.
Traditional four-year BSN
Choose the traditional BSN if you do not yet hold a bachelor's degree or need a lighter, longer schedule alongside work.
Benefits of Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN Training
Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN Student Reviews
"I had a business degree collecting dust. Sixteen months later I was licensed and working nights in the ER."
"It's intense, and nobody pretends otherwise. But it beats starting a four-year degree over at thirty-two."
"Having the bachelor's already meant my first job offer was on a BSN-required unit, not a stepping stone."
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Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN FAQs
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