Nevada Nursing Schools And Programs

Nevada pays nurses among the highest wages in the country, and its nursing programs post strong NCLEX-RN pass rates. The Nevada Health Workforce Research Center reports the state's registered nurse (RN) count grew 24% over the past decade. This guide covers the state's programs, what nurses earn, and how to get licensed.

Nursing Schools in Nevada

Limit your search to accredited programs, then compare tuition, length, financial aid, and NCLEX pass rates. Those last two numbers tell you the most about whether a program actually prepares students for the workforce.

Las Vegas College (Henderson) is a two-year school offering three nursing paths: a practical nurse certificate, an RN-to-BSN, and an associate degree in nursing (ADN). You can enter the ADN directly or move into it after the practical nurse certificate. The fully online RN-to-BSN takes 15 months and lets working RNs keep their jobs while they study.

• Program: ADN, BSN, licensed practical nursing certificate
• Campus: Henderson, NV
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $43,250 per year for Nevada residents
• Admission Requirements: Varies by program; RN-to-BSN candidates need a current RN license and an ADN
• Minimum Time Commitment: 15 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 70.19% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $72,649 for associate graduates (College Scorecard)

Carrington College (Reno) runs a 72-credit ADN across six campuses. The two-year program requires 795 lecture hours, 240 lab hours, and 495 clinical hours, and covers community and mental health, maternal-child, and pediatric nursing. Students take an NCLEX prep course before graduating.

• Program: Associate degree in nursing
• Campus: Reno, NV
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $19,938 per year for Nevada residents
• Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED; ATI TEAS score of at least 58%; proof of immunization; drug screening and background check
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 86.30% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $66,852 for associate graduates (College Scorecard)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) offers undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees on traditional and accelerated tracks. The traditional BSN takes 16 months and 122 credits, covering physical assessment, evidence-based practice, complex care management, and population-focused nursing. UNLV admits in fall, spring, and summer.

• Program: BSN, MSN, Ph.D. in nursing, doctor of nursing practice
• Campus: Las Vegas, NV
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $263-$323 per credit for Nevada residents; $551-$676 out-of-state
• Admission Requirements: Varies; undergraduates meet with a Health Sciences advisor; minimum 3.0 GPA in 13 general core units plus SAT/ACT scores or a Nevada advanced diploma for first-years; minimum 2.5 GPA and at least 24 transferable credits for transfers
• Minimum Time Commitment: 16 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 87.82% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $75,313 (bachelor's) and $99,683 (master's) graduates (College Scorecard)

University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) runs the Orvis School of Nursing, founded in 1956. Options include a BSN, accelerated BSN, online RN-to-BSN, MSN, and doctor of nursing practice. Licensed nurses can finish the 120-credit RN-to-BSN in three to five semesters, with rolling admission in fall, spring, and summer.

• Program: BSN, MSN, doctor of nursing practice, post-master's certificates
• Campus: Reno, NV
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $256-$314 per credit for Nevada residents; higher for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: Varies; the RN-to-BSN accepts students with an RN license and a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited program, or students concurrently in an ADN with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 94.56% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $69,161 (bachelor's) and $104,192 (master's) graduates (College Scorecard)

Truckee Meadows Community College (Reno), founded in 1979, offers a fulltime ADN and an RN-to-BSN. The ADN runs six semesters and 69 to 72 credits, covering anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and cultural aspects of care. Veterans and Nevada residents get preferred admission to the Maxine S. Jacobs nursing programs.

• Program: ADN, BSN
• Campus: Reno, NV
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $115-$189 per credit for Nevada residents; $242-$398 out-of-state
• Admission Requirements: Varies; the ADN requires official transcripts, an advising meeting, a minimum 2.75 GPA for lower-division courses, and 3.0 GPA for prerequisites
• Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 92.54% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $66,653 for associate graduates (College Scorecard)

Why Nurse in Nevada

The pay is the headline. Nevada RNs, LPNs, and nurse practitioners all earn well above the national median for their roles. Nevada nursing students also post strong NCLEX-RN results, with first-time pass rates among the highest in the country in recent years.

Salaries and Job Outlook

Nevada RNs average about $102,280 a year, well above the national median of $93,600 and among the top-paying states (BLS, May 2024). Nurse practitioners do even better, averaging roughly $148,670, second-highest in the nation. Pay clusters in the populous south (Las Vegas, Henderson, Paradise) and west (Carson City, Reno), with employment concentrated in those metros since much of the state is desert. National APRN employment is projected to grow about 35% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), so demand for nurse practitioners should stay strong.

Becoming a Nurse in Nevada

Complete a program approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN before applying for licensure. After gaining experience, RNs who finish an approved graduate program can apply for APRN licensure. Both RNs and APRNs must meet continuing education requirements to keep their licenses.

RN Requirements

Earn an ADN or BSN from a board-approved program, online or inperson. ADN programs run about two years and BSN programs about four; parttime students take longer. Pass the NCLEX-RN, then complete a criminal background check and submit transcripts and proof of graduation to the board. RNs renew every two years with 30 continuing education credits.

APRN Requirements

Hold an active Nevada RN license, then earn an MSN or doctor of nursing practice from an accredited program. Pass a certification exam for your role: nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist. The board accepts certifications from bodies including the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, American Nurses Credentialing Center, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, National Certification Corporation, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and American Midwifery Certification Board. APRNs renew every two years with 45 continuing education hours: 30 for the RN license and 15 tied to the APRN specialty.

Licensing by Endorsement

Nevada is not yet an operating Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so out-of-state nurses transfer their license through endorsement rather than a multistate license. Legislation to join the compact has been under consideration. To apply by endorsement, licensed LPNs and RNs must have graduated from an accredited program. The board issues a temporary license valid for six months, and the nurse must complete a background check before it expires to receive a permanent license. Anyone who lets the temporary license lapse before finishing the background check cannot reapply.