A Simple Guide on How to Become an RN in Nevada

Are you planning to become an RN in Nevada? Congratulations! 

Nevada is one of the states that enjoy a higher-than-average annual salary for registered nurses. On average, an RN’s annual income can be as much as $88,800 - 7% higher than in other states. 

Although Nevada isn’t expected to have a shortage with its current pool of RNs, there are still a lot of career opportunities for those who graduate in the next few years. 

This post will help you navigate through the application process of how to become an RN in Nebraska and what requirements you need before you can be granted a license in the state. 

We also added a short FAQ section to answer your common questions. 

Let’s begin!

How to Become a Registered Nurse in Nevada in 4 Steps

Every aspiring registered nurse has to complete a set of requirements starting with a nursing education program. While this takes a few years, the process of becoming an RN is not that complicated. 

Here are the steps to becoming a registered nurse in Nevada:

1. Graduate from a Nursing Education Program
2. Complete the Online Application for an RN License 
3. Apply for and Pass the NCLEX-RN
4. Pass the Criminal Background Check

Each step will be explained in the following sections. 

How to Become an RN in Nevada Step #1: Graduate from a Nursing Education Program

This is the first and the longest step in the process. 

Just like any medical professional, you need to complete certain programs to gain the knowledge and skills you need to be equipped for your career. 

If you’re an aspiring RN, you can choose one of two options - to take an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 

ADN vs. BSN: Which One is For You?

There are many differences between the ADN and BSN, but the most obvious is the length of time it takes before you graduate. 

ADN only takes two years, while BSN takes four years. If you are studying part-time, it might take longer to graduate.

But other than the length of time, ADN and BSN differ in the courses they have in their curriculum. 

For example, ADN teaches basic health procedures surrounding outpatient treatments and patient monitoring. It also has more focus on technical tasks such as record-keeping. 

On the other hand, the BSN curriculum covers all the courses in the ADN curriculum plus laboratory classes, evidence-based research, public health, and other general subjects such as math, language, and management. 

In other words, the BSN curriculum can mold more holistic RNs because they teach a range of subjects that not only covers the medical field. 

This makes the BSN program more ideal for RNs who want to do further studies, want to specialize in a certain medical field, or want to work in a hospital. Most hospitals in Nevada require a BSN to be eligible to apply.

Nonetheless, the ADN is ideal for people who want to focus on patient care and record-keeping. 

And since the ADN is shorter, you will be able to apply for a license in just two years.  

How to Become an RN in Nevada Step #2: Complete the Online Application for an RN License 

After graduation, you can already apply for a license online at the Nevada Nurse Portal. You must create a new account if you don’t have one yet. 

You will be asked to fill in all your basic and education information in this portal. There will also be questions about your background, so make sure to fill in all of the required fields.  

This online application will require a $100 application fee to be paid online using your credit or debit card. 

The second part of the application is sending documents to the Nevada State Board of Nursing Office. Here are the two main documents to send if you’re a Nevada graduate: 

1. Transcript of Records from the school where you took the nursing education program
2. Affidavit of graduation to be sent by your school to the office

Once you submit these documents and your application is accepted, you will be given an Authorization to Test (ATT). 

How to Become an RN in Nevada Step #3: Apply for and Pass the NCLEX-RN

After you complete the online application, you can now proceed to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses. This exam tests your knowledge and readiness to become an RN. 

Since this is a nationwide exam, there are no specific questions about your state. Instead, the questions are more focused on the subjects you studied in your nursing education program. 

To take the NCLEX, you must first apply online via PearsonVue. PearsonVue is the company that administers the exam. Take note, though, that the NCLEX is done in person. 

Create an account at PearsonVue and select your test schedule. Pay the exam fee of $200 using a credit or debit card. 

After paying, you will be sent an email that finalizes your exam date and venue. 

During the exam day, remember to arrive early and prepared. There is an online practice exam that you can take on the NCLEX website. 

To know if you passed or failed, you will be emailed or mailed your exam results. 

If you fail, you will be able to retake the exam after 45 days. If you pass, you can proceed with the next step. 

How to Become an RN in Nevada Step #4: Pass the Criminal Background Check

If you passed the NCLEX-RN, the final step would be to submit a criminal background check. 

To do this, request online via the Nevada Nurse Portal. You will have to pay $40 for the packet. 

Once you receive the packet by mail, pass the completed forms and documents to the Nevada State Board of Nursing office. 

If there are no issues with your application, you will be given your license in a few days. 

License by Endorsement

If you already have an RN license from another state, you can skip the long process above and apply by endorsement. 

Here are the steps to complete this application: 

• Fill up an application for endorsement at the Nevada Nurse Portal. If you don’t have an account yet, create an account. 
• Pay $105 for your application. 
• Ask your previous school, where you graduated from your nursing education program, to send your diploma and official transcript to nursingboard@nsbn.state.nv.us.
• Get your original RN verification from Nursys. If your state is not part of Nursys, you can fill up this form and ask your previous state of licensure’s nursing board to fill this up. 
• After you’ve completed the documents, complete a criminal background check at the Nevada Nurse Portal.

Helpful Resources for Nevada RNs

• Nevada Board of Nursing Website (Official)
• Information for RN Applicants (Official)
• Nevada RN Continuing Education Requirements (Official)
• Associate Degree Programs (ADNS) Approved by Nevada BON
• Baccalaureate Degree Programs (BSNs) approved by Nevada BON

List of Associate Degree Programs (ADNs) in Nevada

Here’s a list of ADN programs approved by the Nevada BON:

Visit the Nevada BON website for updates.

List of Baccalaureate Degree Programs (BSNs) in Nevada

Here’s a list of BSN programs approved by the Nevada BON:

Visit the Nevada BON website for updates.

In Summary

Nevada RNs enjoy higher-than-average annual salaries, making the state a great option for becoming a registered nurse. 

While the whole process takes a few years, the application will only take a few weeks. 

And if you follow the steps in this article, there’s a high chance that you will finish the application without any delays.