Applying for nursing school can be a very complicated process, and one mistake could land your application in the trash can instead of the “accepted” pile. Luckily, some mistakes can be prevented simply by understanding some of the basic terminology used during the application process. If you understand these two terms, then deciphering which classes you’re supposed to take before applying and which classes you can take after being accepted become much simpler.
Nursing Prerequisites
“Prerequisites” are classes that you are required (aka: “requisites”) to take before (aka “pre”) starting nursing school. Although these classes have to be successfully completed before attending your first official nursing class, you might be allowed to apply to nursing school even if you are currently taking some of these prerequisites, though, so make sure to check with your school for their policy.
Nursing Corequisite
“Corequisites” are classes that you are allowed, or even required, to take at the same time as your nursing classes. For example, in some ADN nursing programs, Microbiology is a corequisite. This means that Microbiology could be taken after you are accepted into the nursing program, at the same time as you begin taking nursing classes.
However, it’s also important to remember that you don’t necessarily have to wait to take your corequisite classes for nursing! Sometimes it’s better to get those corequisite classes completed before you begin nursing classes, so that you have one less class to worry about.
Nicole is a Professional Nursing Tutor with over 15 years experience, and the founder of Your Nursing Tutor. She has a BSN, and an MA in Clinical Psychology. Nicole specializes in providing easy-to-follow, proven study methods (like the Silver Bullet Study System) that transform frustrated nursing students into calm, confident nurses! When she’s not helping students through her Live Tutoring Membership, Nicole loves spending time with her husband, homeschooling their 6 kids, and staring at sunflowers.