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Yes. WCU’s accelerated online nursing programs are built for working nurses. Your coursework is 100% online and available 24/7, so you’ll watch lectures and complete assignments when and where it works for you. Due dates and assignments help keep you on track. You’ll also find multiple start dates throughout the year, and several programs offer a Working Professional pace that spreads coursework across more trimesters if you’re balancing a job.

How fast you’ll finish depends on your program, your pace, and your specialization. At the Accelerated Plus pace, you can earn your RN to BSN as few as 8 months, and the MSN Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader tracks in as few as 8 months. At the Accelerated pace, the RN to BSN takes 20 months, while MSN tracks can be completed in as few as 12 months. The Working Professional pace gives you more time to balance school with work and life. For timelines specific to your program, explore the pages below:

• RN to BSN
• RN to MSN
• MSN
• Post-Master’s Certificate

Several programs and tracks require clinical placements to gain real-world, hands-on experience. Most MSN tracks include on-site intensive clinical experiences and clinicals, though the Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader tracks don’t include on-site intensives. If your program requires clinical experiences, WCU’s Clinical Placements team supports you through the clinical site search: whether you need help finding a facility and preceptor that meets your program requirements or getting a site approved. Any in-person clinical or practicum components are arranged locally.

Yes, all coursework is available 24/7. Your courses come with mobile-friendly video content, audiobooks, simulations, adaptive quizzing, and on-the-go resources, so you can learn from wherever you are. You’ll choose from multiple start dates throughout the year, plus self-paced or structured options depending on the program. Any in-person clinical or practicum components are arranged locally.

WCU offers four accelerated online nursing programs: RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), and the Post-Master’s Certificate. If you’re a licensed RN, the RN to BSN helps you earn your bachelor’s degree online. The RN to MSN program takes you straight into master’s-level courses. The MSN is a graduate degree focused on clinical or administrative roles, with six specialization tracks to choose from. And if you already hold an MSN, the Post-Master’s Certificate helps you advance your credentials online.

WCU offers up to three paces for its online nursing programs, so you can match your schedule to your goals. Accelerated Plus is the fastest option and is available for select programs. For example, you could earn your RN to BSN in as few as 8 months, or finish the MSN Nurse Educator or Nurse Leader track in as few as 8 months. The Accelerated pace is the standard accelerated track. At this pace, the RN to BSN takes 20 months. The Working Professional pace spreads your coursework across more trimesters, giving you more time if you’re balancing a job and family. Keep in mind that not every pace is offered for every program or track.

You can choose from six specialization tracks across WCU’s online MSN, RN to MSN, and Post-Master’s Certificate programs: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Educator, Nurse Leader, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader tracks center on teaching and leadership roles, while the nurse practitioner tracks help prepare you for advanced clinical practice. Availability and program length vary by track and by pace.

WCU’s distance education programs are delivered out of its California and Texas campuses, which means enrollment is open to students across the country, though not every state is currently supported. Before you apply, it’s worth confirming that the program you want is available to residents in your state. An admissions advisor can help you check, or you can schedule an information session to get answers specific to where you live.