Prerequisites
The first requirement is an RN license. Every nurse informaticist holds and maintains an active RN license, so your first step is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), followed by passing the NCLEX. Even if you later earn a bachelor's in a non-nursing field, you still need to be a licensed RN, and you need to meet your state's renewal requirements to keep that license in good standing.
Beyond licensure, prerequisites depend on the program. Undergraduate programs require a high school diploma or GED, and many expect prior coursework in science and technology. Graduate programs generally require a bachelor's degree, though some schools offer RN-to-MSN bridge options, and many ask for a minimum GRE score.
Degree Levels
You can reach RN licensure through a diploma, an associate degree, or a bachelor's in nursing. Be realistic about the associate route, though: a bachelor's is generally the practical minimum in this field, and most informaticists hold a master's.
Master's Degrees
A master's is becoming the go-to degree for a reason. A BSN covers a broad range of nursing topics; an MSN in nursing informatics trains you specifically for the specialist role and prepares you for high-level work.
Entrance exams. Programs vary, but two exams come up. The GRE is computer-delivered and measures analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) measures analytical thinking through analogies across academic subjects. Many programs require one or the other; some waive the requirement, often for applicants with a high undergraduate GPA. Confirm with the admissions department.
GPA. Most MSN programs want an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Schools often weigh relevant experience, and many invite applicants with lower GPAs to submit personal statements.
Clinical hours. Expect to complete clinical hours (typically 130 to 150), a practicum, or an internship. Find out which hospitals and facilities your school partners with, since that is usually where you will fulfill these requirements. Some schools let you choose your own site.
Other requirements. Many programs ask for letters of recommendation, a goals statement, an admissions interview, and sometimes one or two years of relevant work experience.
Bachelor's Degrees
A bachelor's is the entry point. Unlike most nursing roles, informatics does not lock you into a BSN. You can earn a traditional BSN or a bachelor's in a related field such as health information technology, healthcare informatics, or healthcare administration. Any of these has to be paired with an active RN license. A non-nursing bachelor's is rarely the right call if you are just starting out, but it can fit an experienced RN who wants a bachelor's with an informatics or administrative focus, especially where no local BSN program offers that.
Associate Degrees
Some informaticists work with an associate degree, but they tend to have years of experience and specialized computer knowledge, and many entered the field before informatics-focused degrees existed. This is a young field, so requirements keep shifting upward.
What You'll Study
You build on your clinical skills and learn to apply them to data analysis and the rollout of new systems: how technology affects patient outcomes and how to put it to use well. Coursework centers on health information systems, and commonly includes health law and ethics, data design and management, healthcare system optimization, advanced health assessment, nursing research methods, strategic planning, networking, and project management.
A bachelor's curriculum depends on whether you pursue a BSN or a non-nursing health information degree. An MSN is far more focused, with classes such as:
- Health law and ethics: patient rights, professional liability, data security
- Healthcare organizations and delivery systems: organizational structure, financial and regulatory management
- Health information systems: IT in healthcare, working with IT staff, security
- Measuring performance standards: quality improvement, the role of data, meeting accreditation requirements
- Systems life cycle: choosing and implementing a system from planning through evaluation
- Data management and design: databases, information systems, and operations
Certification
Certification is not universally required, but some employers mandate it, and it helps you stand out. The main options:
- Informatics Nursing Certification (NI-BC), ANCC: the credential was renamed from RN-BC to NI-BC in 2021. It requires an active RN license, a BSN or higher, at least two years of full-time RN experience, and one of ANCC's practice pathways, such as at least 2,000 practice hours in informatics nursing plus 30 hours of continuing education in informatics within the prior three years, or 12 graduate credit hours in informatics. Confirm the current pathways with ANCC before you apply.
- CAHIMS, HIMSS (entry level): requires at least 45 credit hours in health-information-related courses. No degree required.
- CPHIMS, HIMSS (professional level): with a master's, three years of experience; with a bachelor's, five years; without a bachelor's, 10 years of informatics experience.
Accreditation
Accreditation is one of the first things to check. An accredited program has met standards that protect the quality of your education, and it matters no matter which track you choose. It is also tied to money: only students at accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid, and credits from accredited schools transfer more reliably if you continue toward a master's or doctorate. You can sometimes sit for the NCLEX after a state-approved but unaccredited program, but that choice tends to slow you down later.
Two bodies accredit these programs. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits associate, diploma, bachelor's, and master's nursing programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits bachelor's and master's nursing programs.
How Long It Takes
- Master's: about two years
- Bachelor's: four years
- Accelerated BSN: 12 to 20 months
- Associate: about two years
Part-time study is usually available, but it extends the timeline.
Online Programs
Online options exist. Keep in mind that a nurse informaticist is still a nurse, so most programs require clinical hours you complete in person at a local hospital or facility. BSN and MSN programs both require clinical hours; requirements for a non-nursing bachelor's depend on the program.
Jobs by Degree Level
Your degree shapes which roles you can hold. Entry-level and bachelor's-level jobs include nursing informatics specialist, clinical analyst, clinical applications specialist, and nursing informatics consultant. Roles that typically require at least an MSN include manager of clinical informatics, chief nursing informatics officer, and nurse educator or instructor. As a rule, leadership and administrative roles call for an MSN or doctorate. Those leaders run teams and departments, work with hospital administrators on large changes, manage projects, educate staff, implement systems, and measure outcomes.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track nurse informaticists separately. It groups them under "health information technologists and medical registrars," where the median wage is $67,310 (May 2024) and the top 10% earn above $112,130. HIMSS and other salary data suggest nurse informaticists frequently land in that top tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do you need to become a nurse informaticist?
You need at least a bachelor's degree paired with an active RN license. A BSN is the most common route, but a bachelor's in a related field such as health information technology can work for a licensed RN. Master's degrees are increasingly the standard, with HIMSS survey data placing about two-thirds of informaticists at the master's level.
Do you have to be a registered nurse first?
Yes. Every nurse informaticist holds and maintains an active RN license, so the first step is an ADN or BSN followed by passing the NCLEX. Even with a later non-nursing degree, you still need to be a licensed RN.
How long does a nursing informatics degree take?
A master's runs about two years, a traditional bachelor's about four, an accelerated BSN roughly 12 to 20 months, and an associate degree about two years. Part-time study extends each of these timelines.
What certifications are available?
The main options are ANCC's Informatics Nursing Certification (NI-BC), renamed from RN-BC in 2021, plus HIMSS's CAHIMS for entry level and CPHIMS for the professional level. Certification is not always required, but it helps you stand out and some employers mandate it.
Why does accreditation matter for informatics programs?
Only students at accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid, and credits transfer more reliably toward a later master's or doctorate. Two bodies accredit these programs: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Can you study nursing informatics online?
Yes, online options exist, but a nurse informaticist is still a nurse, so most BSN and MSN programs require clinical hours completed in person at a local hospital or facility. Requirements for a non-nursing bachelor's depend on the program.