Steps to Becoming an APN in Nevada

nevada nursing

1Get your Graduate Degree in Nevada
2Earn your National Certification in Nevada
3Apply for your Certificate of Recognition in Nevada
4enew your Certificate of Recognition in Nevada
Nevada Job Statistics

  • As of May 2020, NPs in Nevada earn an average of $119,890 per year.
  • NPs in Nevada earn about 98% more than the state’s median household income.
  • RNs working in Nevada make $89,750 on average, annually.
  • 2020 NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates for nursing school graduates in Nevada: 93.2%
  • Approximately 23,420 RNs and 1,290 NPs are licensed in Nevada.

The Nevada State Board of Nursing (phone: 702-486-5800, nursingboard@nsbn.state.nv.us) regulates and certifies advanced practice nurses in the following two categories:

  • Advanced Practitioner of Nursing (APN)
    • Nurse Midwife
    • Nurse Psychotherapist
    • Nurse Practitioner
    • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

To be approved to work as an advanced practice nurse in Nevada, you must hold a valid, unencumbered Nevada RN license. If you do not hold an active RN license in Nevada, you can obtain one by completing one of the following steps:

  • If you are a new graduate who has never been licensed in Nevada or any other state or jurisdiction, you may apply for Licensure by Examination.
  • If you are currently licensed in another state or jurisdiction, you may apply for Licensure by Endorsement.
  • If you are a graduate of a nursing program outside of the United States, you must have your professional credentials evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools before you can apply for Licensure by Examination.
  • If you once held an RN license in Nevada, you must follow the steps for RN Renewal.

With an active RN license, complete the following steps to become an APN or CRNA in Nevada.


 

Step 1. Get Your Graduate Degree

APN Education Requirements

If you wish to work toward a certificate of recognition as an APN in Nevada, you must do so in one of the following medical/clinical specialties:

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  • Nurse Midwife
  • Nurse Psychotherapist
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist

You must complete a program designed to prepare an advanced practitioner of nursing. In accordance with Nevada State Board of Nursing rules as of June 1, 2005, you are required to complete a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing or in a related field.

The program must be at least one academic year in length, and it must include at least 4 months of instruction in the classroom and clinical experience with a qualified physician or APN.

All APN educational programs must include advanced courses in the following:

  • Assessment of the health of patients
  • Pathophysiology
  • Preparation for practice as an APN

The coursework must include a concentration of courses in at least one medical specialty; it must include clinical experience that emphasizes your chosen medical specialty; and it must include training in making clinical decisions, including diagnosing medical conditions and providing appropriate medical care.

CRNA Education Requirements

If you wish to work toward a certificate of recognition as a CRNA in Nevada, you must complete a program for nurse anesthetists that is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and recognized by the Board. If you graduated after June 1, 2005, you must possess a master’s degree in nursing or anesthetic care.


Step 2. Earn Your National Certification

After the successful completion of an education program, you must become certified through a national certifying body in your advanced practice nursing role:

  • Advanced Practitioner of Nursing (APN)
    • Nurse Midwife
    • Nurse Psychotherapist
    • Nurse Practitioner
    • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

The Nevada State Board of Nursing recognizes the following certifying bodies and patient population/subspecialty certifications:


Step 3. Apply for your Certificate of Recognition

APN Application Instructions

To apply for an APN certificate of recognition, you must complete the Application for Advanced Practitioner of Nursing Certificate and submit the following items to the Nevada State Board of Nursing:

  • A processing fee of $200 (in a money order, cashier’s check, or personal check, or with a MasterCard, Visa, Discover or debit card) made payable to “NSBN”
  • Completed fingerprint cards, if applicable (you must submit fingerprint cards unless you have submitted them for your RN license within the past 6 months) – Call 1-888-590-6726 to receive your fingerprint cards, instructions and submission form. You can also review the fingerprint instructions here
  • A copy of your current certificate or recognition from another state, if applicable
  • Your official transcripts sent directly from your advanced nursing education program to the Board
  • Documentation of accreditation or approval of your APN education program from a nationally recognized accrediting body or the state board of nursing where the program was offered
  • A completed collaborating physician agreement with protocols or a supervising practitioner agreement if you haven’t worked for at least 800 hours as an APN in the past 5 years
  • If you are applying for prescribing privileges, you must complete an Application for Advanced Practitioner of Nursing Prescribing Privileges (you must also register with the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy at 1-800-364-2081)

Return the completed application and the related documents and fee to the Nevada State Board of Nursing, 5011 Meadowood Mall Way, Suite 300, Reno, NV 89502-6547.

CNRA Application Instructions

To apply for a CRNA certificate of recognition, you must complete the Application for Initial Certification Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and submit the following to the Board of Nursing:

  • A processing fee of $200 (in a money order, cashier’s check, or personal check, or with a MasterCard, Visa, Discover or debit card) made payable to “NSBN”
  • Completed fingerprint cards, if applicable (you must submit fingerprint cards unless you have submitted them for your RN license within the past 6 months) – Call 1-888-590-6726 to receive your fingerprint cards, instructions and submission form. You can also review the fingerprint instructions here
  • A notarized copy of your certificate of completion or diploma from the institution where you received your CRNA education – If you do not have a notarized copy of your certificate of completion or your notarized diploma, you must contact the school and request that they send your official transcript directly to the Board.
  • Documentation of your current AANA certification
  • An official transcript sent directly from the institution where your received your master’s in nursing or anesthetic care (or bachelor’s degree if you graduated before June 1, 2005) to the Board

Return the completed application and the related documents and fee to the Nevada State Board of Nursing, 5011 Meadowood Mall Way, Suite 300, Reno, NV 89502-6547.

Temporary Approval to Practice

You may apply for temporary approval to practice as an APN or CRNA if you are awaiting results of your initial examination for national certification. During temporary approval to practice, you must practice under the direct supervision of a physician. Your temporary approval to practice expires at the time you pass your examination, fail your examination, or fail to take the first possible examination. Contact the Board directly for information on how to apply for temporary approval to practice.

Prescribing Privileges

You must contact the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy at 800-364-2081 to request an application for prescribing privileges.

To be eligible for prescribing privileges as an APN, you must complete at least 2 semester credits (or equivalent quarter hours) in advanced pharmacotherapeutics. You can achieve your advanced pharmacotherapeutics requirements either through your advanced nursing program or separately within the last 24 months.

If you completed your advanced practice nurse program before June 1, 2005, and you do not hold a master’s degree in nursing or a related field, you must also document 1,000 hours of active practice under a collaborating physician within the two years prior to applying for prescribing privileges.

Collaborative Agreement

All APNs in Nevada must develop a collaborative agreement with protocols that detail an ongoing, collaborative relationship between you and the physician. It must be specific to your role and subspecialty and a physical or electronic copy must be maintained at your place of practice and available for review by the Board. A sample form that can be used in outlining a collaborative agreement can be found here. You can view the Record of Practice and Guidelines for Protocols here. If you haven’t worked for at least 800 hours as an APN in the last 5 years, you must also have a supervising practitioner agreement in place.


Step 4. Renew your Certificate of Recognition

Your APN or CRNA certificate of recognition will expire at the same time as your RN license, regardless of the original date issued. Renewal for your RN license is $100 every two years, and renewal for your APN or CRNA certificate of recognition is $200. There is no grace period for licenses and certificates in Nevada. If you fail to renew you certificate before the expiration date, you must also pay a late fee of $100.

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Continuing Education and Practice Hour Requirements

As an APN, you must complete at least 45 hours of continuing education (30 hours for your RN license and 15 hours directly related to your APN specialty) within each two-year renewal cycle, and show evidence of current national certification.

As a CRNA, you must complete at least 40 contact hours of continuing education within each two-year renewal cycle, and show evidence of current national certification.

Your RN license and APN/CRNA certificate of recognition can be renewed through The Nevada State Board of Nursing’s online renewal system. You may also download and print paper applications on the online renewal system page, if desired.

If you have not practiced as an APN for at least 800 hours during the last 5 years, or you wish to return from inactive to active status, you must apply for renewal through the Board’s online renewal system and provide the Board with the following information:

  • Proof that you have completed your continuing education requirements during your inactive or lapsed period of time
  • Proof that you have entered into an agreement with a collaborating physician or APN who will closely supervise you during a period of 800 hours

If you want to reinstate your CRNA certificate, you must provide proof that you have completed at least 30 contact hours of continuing education within the last 2 years.

Inactive Status

If you want to place your APN or CRNA certificate of recognition on inactive status, you must submit a written notification to the Board or by checking the appropriate box on your online renewal application. There is no fee for this service.

Advanced Practice Nurse Associations in Nevada

Consider joining some of the professional organizations that support advanced practice nurses in Nevada through continuing education opportunities and general advocacy:


Nevada Nurse Practitioner Salary

As an NP, you’ll make a solid living in Nevada. NPs in this state report earning an average of $119,890 per year. If you work your way into the top 10 percent, you could end up making, at minimum, $159,490 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Carson City
90
126810
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
940
115520
Nevada nonmetropolitan area
70
123160
Reno
190
136920

Registered Nurse Salary

RNs earn a very respectable income in Nevada. In this state, the average annual salary for this role is $89,750 per year. Those in the top 25 percent break six figures at $104,560 annually, while the top 10 percent earn at least $121,100 per year.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Carson City
820
81930
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
17660
92720
Nevada nonmetropolitan area
890
80840
Reno
4050
80310

Nursing Instructors and Teachers Salary

Have a passion for education? Nursing instructors in Nevada make an average of $82,560 per year.

Area Name
Employment
Annual median wage
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
340
80090
Reno
130
74350

Nurse Administrator Salary

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

It pays well to be in a management position, and nurse administrators are no exception. In Nevada, nurse admins report earning an average $121,420 per year. The top 10 percent bring in more than $178,420 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Carson City
140
115900
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
1990
122290
Nevada nonmetropolitan area
110
113740
Reno
470
121120

Nevada Nurse Anesthetist Salary

The salary for nurse anesthetists in Nevada is off the charts. Literally. The average pay for Nevada’s anesthetists is $223,680 per year. That means the top 25 percent are making far beyond what the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes in its reports.


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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