I was asked whether or not you can become a nurse with a kinesiology degree the other day, and here’s my answer.

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Can You Become a Nurse with a Kinesiology Degree?

No, you can’t become a nurse with a kinesiology degree. You would have to go to nursing school and then pass the nursing licensure exam (NCLEX). It should be a little quicker since you’ll have a lot of the general education requirements with a kinesiology major.

Find Nursing Programs

Search our school database to find schools and get information on the right programs for you. (Don’t worry, it’s fast and free!)

Check out the video below on my YouTube channel for more information.

If you need more information or you don’t want to watch the video then keep reading below.

You’ll Still Need a Nursing Degree

As stated, to become a nurse, you’re still going to need to complete a nursing program.

This means you’ll need prerequisites for RN school or prereqs for LPN school, depending on which path you decide to take.

How to Become a Nurse with a Kinesiology Degree

a public health nurse working

1. You’ll Need to Complete Prereqs

The good thing about already having a kinesiology degree is that you would have had many of the classes required for nursing school. Kinesiology programs typically include:

  • General Chemistry or Inorganic Chemistry
  • College Alegebra (or equivalent math)
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology
  • General Education classes

While you’ll probably have many of the prereqs in all likelihood, there’s probably going to be some you don’t have. So you’ll have to go back and finish those.

To know for sure, I recommend you contact an academic advisor for a nursing program (you can go here to find a nursing program).

Every school is slightly different, so before attempting prerequisites, make sure you talk to one to ensure you’re taking the right classes.

2. Apply to Nursing School

After completing prerequisites, you’ll have to apply to a nursing program. You have a couple of options.

  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) / Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (Traditional)
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (Accelerated Program)

LPN & LVN Route

Personally, I wouldn’t go the LPN route unless you really had to. I would stick with the other routes that will get you a registered nurse (RN) licensure at the end.

Pro Tip:
If you’re wondering the reasons why you might go down the LPN route, the main one is if you’re looking for the quickest (and cheapest) pathway to becoming a nurse.

You will have more limited options. Check out this article comparing LPN vs. RN vs. BSN vs. ADN for more information.

Associate Degree in Nursing

An associate’s degree in nursing is an okay option, but something to keep in mind is that in many markets, nurses with only an associate’s degree are starting to become less competitive.

Even if you already have a bachelor’s in something else you’re still going to be a nurse with only an associate’s degree.

Advancing Your Education
Something else to keep in mind is if you ever decide you want to go back to graduate school and become a nurse practitioner.

You would need to go back and get that bachelor’s degree before moving forward and getting that master’s degree or doctorate in nursing.

BSN & ABSN

Lastly are the traditional and accelerated BSN programs. Either one is a good option and will land you in the same place.

The major difference is that the accelerated nursing program (ABSN) is condensed into about 13-16 months with very little breaks.

The traditional BSN is stretched across 24 – 30 months and follows the “traditional” school schedule.

Getting into an accelerated program is more competitive, and the program will be more stressful, but you’ll be done quicker.

Find Nursing Programs

Search our school database to find schools and get information on the right programs for you. (Don’t worry, it’s fast and free!)

3. Pass The Nursing Licensure Exam

Regardless of which nursing track you take, you’ll have to pass the nursing licensure exam.

If you go the LPN route, you’ll have to take the NCLEX-PN. If you go the RN route, you’ll have to take the NCLEX-RN.

You’ll take the NCLEX exam after graduating from your nursing program.

Check out my NCLEX resource page if you want to find out more information about the NCLEX or if you’re just curious about how hard the NCLEX is.

Learn More About Becoming a Nurse

a picture of a nurse

Becoming a nurse is a noble profession and a calling.

Here are some helpful articles to help you learn more about becoming a nurse.

If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comment section.

Find Nursing Programs

Search our school database to find schools and get information on the right programs for you. (Don’t worry, it’s fast and free!)

Frequently Asked Questions

They relate a little bit in that kinesiology is focused on the movement of the human body. In contrast, nursing is a profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities. Understanding biological sciences are essential to both, but their application is different.

Kinesiology is a specialized degree focused on exercises science, whereas nursing is a general degree focused on caring for individuals, families, and communities.

You can, but there are limited benefits to doing so. If you want to become a nurse, you would be better off just going to nursing school.

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