[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To become a registered nurse (RN) in Arizona, you must be licensed through the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.azbn.gov/AdvancedPractice.aspx”]Arizona State Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link]. Nurses are either endorsed or licensed. Additionally, Arizona is a compact state, which means that a license from another compact state can be used in Arizona.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Entry-Level Practice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Arizona has higher than average pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for RNs and practical nurses. Yet, there is no official NCLEX preparation. However, help is available for those who have [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nclex/things-to-know-about-the-nclex-exam/”]failed the NCLEX[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 1 – Complete an approved nursing program.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are various entries into nursing. Generally, all programs will require prospective students to have completed high school or have a GED certificate. The programs will usually start with science classes and other prerequisites required by [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/arizona/”]Arizona nursing schools[/hen-ui-link]. Students can choose four different nursing options:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”number”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Become a [hen-ui-link href=”/cna/”]certified nursing assistant[/hen-ui-link] (CNA). There is a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/cna/salary/”]high demand for CNAs[/hen-ui-link] in the state due to the aging population.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Become a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/lpn-lvn/”]licensed practical nurse[/hen-ui-link] (LPN) , which takes just one year to complete. See [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/lpn-lvn/”]LPN salary outlook[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Become an RN through an associate degree, which takes around two years to complete. See [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”]RN requirements by state[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Become an RN through a bachelor’s degree, which takes around four years to complete and is much more advanced and in-depth than the associate option.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 2 – Become certified by passing the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN exam.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Advanced Practice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To become an advanced practice RN (APRN), Arizona has other requirements.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 1 – Gain a graduate degree at the master’s level or above.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//what-is-accreditation/”]nursing program must be accredited[/hen-ui-link] by the U.S. Department for Education. The national accreditation agencies are:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Nurses Credentialing Center[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The National Certification Corporation for Obstetric, Gynecological and Neonatal Nursing Specialties[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Association of Nurse Anesthetist’s Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Graduate programs must always include a minimum of 500 clinical practice hours. Additionally, they must include advanced pathophysiology, application of evidence to advanced practice, the advanced practice nursing role, and advanced health assessment.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If the Arizona nursing master’s program includes 45 contact hours of clinical management of drug therapy and/or pharmacology, graduates can also apply for prescriptive authority.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You must [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nursing-specialties-guide/”]choose a specialization as an APRN[/hen-ui-link], although you can choose multiple ones. The options for [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/how-to-become-a-np/”]nurse practitioner[/hen-ui-link] include adult, family, acute care, gerontological, pediatric, adult psychiatric and mental health, family psychiatric mental health, women’s health, and neonatal. Additionally, the state recognizes various clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). These are adult critical care, neonatal critical care, pediatric critical care, adult psychiatric and mental health, child/adolescent psychiatric and mental health, and gerontological and adult health. Finally, Arizona also recognizes the certified nurse midwife (CNM).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To become certified, your education must be no more than five years old.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 2 – Become nationally certified.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are four different categories you can choose from: CNM, nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). The program must be certified by a national agency. The available options are:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Nurses Credentialing Center, which recognizes adult nurse practitioners, acute care nurse practitioner, gerontological nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, adult psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, and the family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aanpcert.org/ptistore/control/index”]American Academy of Nurse Practitioners[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the adult nurse practitioner and the adult-gerontology primary care NP[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index”]Pediatric Nursing Certification Board[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes acute and primary care pediatric nurse practitioners[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nccwebsite.org/”]National Certification Corporation[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP) and the neonatal nurse practitioner[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.amcbmidwife.org/”]American Midwifery Certification Board[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the CNM[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aacn.org/DM/MainPages/AACNHomePage.aspx?pageid=1″]American Association of Critical-Care Nurses[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the pediatric critical care CNS, the adult critical care CNS, and the neonatal critical care CNS[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nbcrna.com/”]National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the CRNA[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 3 – Get your certification.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For this, you need to prove your citizenship status. You can use your social security card for this. Depending on your chosen category, you will need to follow the appropriate steps.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For NPs, you must use the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.azbn.gov/licensure-certification/advanced-practice/#”]Application for Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Midwife Certification[/hen-ui-link]. You must provide all necessary documentation and complete the section pertaining to prescriptive authority if you wish to have this.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For CNS, you must use the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.azbn.gov/licensure-certification/advanced-practice/#”]Application for Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Midwife Certification[/hen-ui-link]. Again, you must include all relevant documentation.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For CRNA, you must complete the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.azbn.gov/licensure-certification/advanced-practice/”]Application for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist[/hen-ui-link]. Again, you must include all relevant documentation and you must prove you have completed hours of pharmacology or clinical drug management education. You must also apply to the Drug Enforcement Agency if you wish to have prescriptive authority for controlled substances.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For all specializations, a full criminal history check will be done. You must also provide new fingerprints every two years. You will not receive your certificate until your fingerprint results have been returned.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 4 – Renew your certification every four years, together with your RN license.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Do this before April 1. You must prove that you are nationally certified at that time. During the four years, you must have completed 960 practice hours, whether paid or not.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you cannot demonstrate that you have completed the 960 practice hours, you must show evidence of 45 continuing education hours at advanced pharmacology, and a further 45 hours in your chosen specialty. Additionally, you must take part in a supervised precepted practice in your specialty area.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Do also check the continuous education requirements of your national certification agency.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Renewals can be [hen-ui-link href=”https://azbn.boardsofnursing.org/azbn”]completed online[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Arizona Board of Nursing1740 W Adams StreetSuite 2000, Phoenix, AZ 85007602-771-7800602-771-7888 Fax[hen-ui-link href=”mailto:arizona@azbn.gov”]arizona@azbn.gov[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ style=”text-align:center;”]Explore Registered Nursing Related Resources[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-grid columns=”2″ gap=”md”][hen-ui-article-card title=”The Best Online RN-to-BSN Programs” href=”/degrees/bsn/best-online-rn-to-bsn-programs/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-article-card title=”RN-to-MSN Degree Overview” href=”/degrees/rn-msn/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-article-card title=”Top RN-to-MSN Bridge programs” href=”/degrees/msn/best-adn-to-msn-bridge-programs/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-article-card title=”The Best RN-to-MSN Online Programs” href=”/degrees/msn/best-online-rn-to-msn-programs/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][/hen-ui-grid]