Nurse Practitioner Programs in North Dakota: Facts & Figures

North Dakota has the second smallest population of any state in the U.S., in spite of its large geographic area. North Dakota has not been especially hard-hit [PDF] by the national nursing shortage that has been caused by an aging workforce and rising demand for nurses, but there are still educational opportunities and jobs for nurses in the state. The North Dakota Nursing Board handles all the licensure needs for nurses in the state, and offers licenses for the standard nursing tracks, including:

• Registered Nurses
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, such as Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Anesthetists, and Clinical Nursing Specialists.
• Certified Nurse’s Assistants and Aides (CNAs)
• Licensed Practical Nurses

Nursing Licensure in North Dakota

North Dakota is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, which means that under certain conditions, a nurse license from another Compact state may be valid in North Dakota, or vice-versa. The requirements for becoming a licensed RN or nurse practitioner in the state are as follows.

1. Register for and complete the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) created by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
2. Submit an online or paper application, depending on the type you are applying for.
3. Submit your fingerprints for verification (you may or may not be required to do this, depending on the type of license you apply for and whether it is your first time applying.)
4. Prove that you have met education requirements for nurses in the state. For renewals, RNs and LPNs must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education every two years.
5. Applicants for some license-types may be able to submit their applications online, but some actual paper forms will be required for most license-seekers.

The North Dakota Nursing Board website offers more detailed information about how to obtain or renew licenses, continuing education requirements, and the condition of the nursing profession in the state.

Average Nursing Salaries in North Dakota

All salary data is as of May, 2011.

The mean annual wage for nurses in North Dakota is $57,600, which is well below the national mean for RNs. The table below shows a comparison between the U.S. mean wage for nurses, versus the state of North Dakota and its metropolitan areas.