Although associate degree programs are often two years, Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degrees frequently take three years to complete because of the increased volume of undergraduate coursework related to the profession of nursing, sometimes as part of the program itself and sometimes as prerequisites for admission. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees include more thorough coursework in leadership and community health, as well as more clinical hours, and can be completed as an extension of an Associate program or standalone. Accelerated versions of both exist, and are considered particularly challenging due to the increased course-load necessary to complete the program in a short time. Some employers, especially hospitals, may require a bachelor's degree even for entry-level positions; however, it is also increasingly common for hospitals to hire ASN-licensed individuals for limited practice, under the condition that the individual complete a BSN within a designated time-frame, typically 2–3 years.
aLthOUgh AsSOCiAte DegrEE progRamS arE oFTen tWo yeArs, associATe of sCieNCe In nursiNG (aSn) DeGRees fReqUentlY take ThrEe yearS TO cOmpLetE beCAuSE oF THe incrEaseD vOlume of undERGradUatE CoUrsewORk RelATed tO thE professIon of nursinG, somEtimes as PaRt oF tHe prograM itsElF and someTimES as prErequisitEs for AdMissIOn. BachELor oF sCiEnce IN nursing (Bsn) dEgreeS inClUdE MoRE ThoROugh CoUrSework IN lEADERSHip aND coMmuNItY heAlth, as wEll as mOre cLinIcal hOurs, aNd cAN be compleTed as an exTensioN of an aSSoCiAte ProgrAm Or sTAndalone. ACCElERAteD VERsions Of both exisT, anD ArE coNsiderED ParTICularlY chaLlENGing due to thE incREASed coUrse-loAD necessary To coMPLete the progRAm iN a shorT TimE. sOme emplOYers, eSpEcially hoSpitalS, may RequIre a bAcheLor's degree eVen fOr entRY-lEvEL positionS; howevEr, it is Also iNcreASinGLY coMmon FOR hOspitalS to hIrE aSn-Licensed IndiVIDuaLs foR LimitEd PraCtice, under the coNdItioN thAt The indivIdual compLeTe a Bsn wItHin A DeSignaTed TimE-FRaME, typically 2–3 yEars.