Steps to Becoming an APRN in Hawaii

hawaii nursing

1Get your Graduate Degree in Hawaii
2Earn your National Certification in Hawaii
3Apply for APRN Recognition in Hawaii
4Renewing Your APRN Recognition in Hawaii

The Hawaii Board of Nursing (808-586-2695 or nursing@dcca.hawaii.gov) recognizes qualified registered nurses as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).

Four categories of APRN are recognized in Hawaii:

  • Nurse practitioners
  • Certified nurse midwives
  • Clinical nurse specialists
  • Nurse anesthetists
Hawaii Job Statistics

  • As of May 2020, nurse practitioners (NPs) in Hawaii earn $118,730 per year, on average.
  • NPs in Hawaii earn about 46% more than the state’s median household income.
  • Registered nurses (RNs) working in Hawaii make an average of $104,830 annually.
  • 2020 NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates for nursing school graduates in Hawaii: 91.3%
  • Approximately 11,260 RNs and 390 NPs are licensed in Hawaii.

You must hold an unencumbered Hawaii RN license prior to applying for APRN recognition.

With your active RN license, you may follow these steps to become a recognized APRN in Hawaii.


 

Step 1. Get Your Graduate Degree

You must complete an accredited graduate-level program that results in at least a master’s degree in clinical nursing or nursing science.

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Qualified Graduate Programs

The program you choose must be accredited by an institutional, specialized, or programmatic accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), and its curriculum approved by the Hawaii Board of Nursing.

Course Requirements

In order to meet standards of the APRN scope of practice in Hawaii, you must take coursework in the following areas:

  • Advanced assessment
  • Diagnosing, prescribing, choosing, and administering therapeutic measures
  • Advanced pharmacology

Prescriptive Authority

After being recognized as an APRN in Hawaii, you may apply for prescriptive authority. This requires that you have taken additional coursework in advanced pharmacotherapeutics as part of your graduate program.

To maintain prescriptive authority, you must take coursework in advanced pharmacology and advanced pharmacotherapeutics every two years.


Step 2. Earn Your National Certification

The Hawaii Board of Nursing recognizes four types of APRN. You must become nationally certified within the category you wish to work before the board will legally recognize you as an APRN. Independent national certification agencies exist to facilitate this process. You must meet the agency’s educational, experience, and examination requirements in order to become nationally certified.

The Hawaii Board of Nursing recognizes the following APRN titles:

  • Nurse practitioner (NP)
  • Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)
  • Nurse anesthetist (NA)
  • Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

Certification Programs

If you complete an APRN national certification program from one of the following agencies, the Hawaii Board of Nursing will recognize you as an APRN generalist or specialist in the state:

Once nationally certified by one of the above agencies, you may pursue APRN recognition in Hawaii.


Step 3. Apply for APRN Recognition

You must provide your US social security number on your application for APRN recognition, as required by both federal law and Hawaii Revised Statutes. If you do not have a social security number, contact the Board at 808-586-2695 before proceeding.

Complete the Application for APRN Recognition.

  • Have your graduate nursing school send an official transcript directly to the Board
  • Have your national certification agency send verification of your certification directly to the Board
  • Include application fee payable to Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Send all of the above to the Hawaii Board of Nursing, P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801.

Prescriptive Authority (APRN-RX)

After receiving APRN recognition, you may apply for prescriptive authority. This may be done by filing the Application for APRN Prescriptive Authority (APRN-RX) and attaching the proper fees. Have your graduate school send another copy of your transcript, and have your national certification agency send verification of certification.

If you wish to also prescribe controlled substances, you must first obtain a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) number and Narcotics Enforcement Division Registration Number, by completing the Application for APRN Prescriptive Authority for Controlled Substances.


Step 4. Renewing Your APRN Recognition

Your Hawaii RN license and APRN recognition expire biannually on June 30 of all odd numbered years. Renewing each requires filing a separate renewal form and fees as described below.

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Licensure status may be checked online via this link.

Continuing Education

To maintain prescriptive authority as an APRN-RX, you must take five hours of coursework in advanced pharmacology and advanced pharmacotherapeutics during each two-year renewal cycle.

Hawaii’s APRNs are not required to fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain recognition. However, you must fulfill the requirements of your national certification agency to maintain certification. Maintaining national certification is mandatory to maintaining APRN recognition in Hawaii. Check with your certification agency for more details on continuing education:

Proof of national certification will be required at the time of license renewal.

License Renewal Notice

The Hawaii Board of Nursing will mail you a postcard renewal reminder as your license renewal date approaches.

  • Complete  the Renewal Application, one for renewal of your RN license and one for APRN recognition renewal
  • Attach the proper renewal fees for each license type/recognition, payable to DCCA
  • Attach proof of your current national certification

Mail all of the above documents to DCCA PVL-Renewal, P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801.

Expired and inactive RN License/APRN Recognition Renewal Application

If your RN license and APRN recognition has expired, you may use the same renewal form above. However, you must pay a late renewal fee as specified on the form.

If your RN license/APRN recognition is inactive, you may use the Inactive Status Renewal Form and pay the proper fees as indicated on the form.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Associations in Hawaii

Consider becoming a member of one of these professional organizations that work in support of APRNs in Hawaii:


Hawaii Nurse Practitioner Salary

Those seeking to become nurse practitioners (NPs) in Hawaii can expect to make a good salary: $118,730 per year, on average. The most experienced NPs in the state in the top ten percent earn at minimum $163,520 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area
60
110520
Urban Honolulu
300
121520

Registered Nurse Salary

Registered nurses in Hawaii make a very comfortable living. On average, RNs pull in $104,830 annually. The top-earning RNs in the top ten percent pull at least $134,660 – more than enough to afford a comfortable living in the Aloha State.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area
1730
97950
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
1160
101080
Urban Honolulu
8370
106770

Nursing Instructors and Teachers Salary

If your passion lies in educating the next generation of nurses, Hawaii is a good state to work in. Nurse instructors in this state make an average $76,540 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual median wage
Urban Honolulu
250
63080

Nurse Administrator Salary

(Includes Nurse Managers, Directors, and Chief Nursing Officers)

Nurse administrators are some of the most well paid professionals in the state, earning $139,650 per year, on average. Those in the top 25 percent report earning at least $159,360 annually. That’s a great living on the islands.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area
180
114570
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
70
131930
Urban Honolulu
1400
143300

Nurse Anesthetists Salary

Want to afford a home with one of the stunning views Hawaii has to offer? Becoming an anesthetist could get you there. The average salary for this profession is $201,930 per year. Again, that’s the average. Those with more experience earn more than the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ reporting threshold of 208,000.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Urban Honolulu
NA
201930


2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for 1)
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives; 2) Medical and Health Services Managers (Nurse Administrators); 3) Registered Nurses; and 4) Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. 2019 US Census Bureau figures for state median household income provided for comparison. Data Accessed December 2021.

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