Your Guide to a North Carolina Nursing License

Registered nurses (RNs) serve on the front line of the American health care system and are uniquely qualified to understand and communicate patient needs to the rest of the care team. North Carolina is among a number of states facing a critical lack of nursing professionals. Individuals interested in careers in nursing should consider obtaining a North Carolina nursing license to address that shortage.

To learn more, check out the infographic created by NCCU Online’s RN to BSN program.

A guide to a North Carolina nursing license from top to bottom.

North Carolina Nurse Salary and Responsibilities

As key members of the health care system, nurses are in high demand and command competitive salaries. Additional education can help them earn even more.

RN Duties

RNs perform various administrative and patient care duties, including the following:

Observing and recording conditions, symptoms, and medical histories
Performing and interpreting diagnostic tests and medical equipment readouts
Participating in developing and amending care plans along with other health care providers
Administering medications and treatments
Teaching patients and their families or caregivers how to continue treatment at home

Demand for Nurses

Nurses are the largest group of health care providers, outnumbering doctors by a ratio of 4-to-1. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job openings for RNs to increase by 6% between 2023 and 2033, resulting in about 194,500 open positions each year during the time period. North Carolina alone is expected to have a shortage of 12,500 nurses by 2033.

North Carolina Nurse Salary

RNs in North Carolina earned an average annual salary of $82,530 in 2023, according to the BLS. Nurses who want to enhance their careers can obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). By participating in an online RN to BSN program, RNs can:

Improve their prospects of landing a nursing job
Increase their earning potential
Qualify for leadership roles, such as nursing manager and nurse coordinator

Nursing Career Path

In late 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) acknowledged the tremendous need for additional nurses and established its Nursing Expansion Grant Program with $80 million in funding.

The program aims to:

Build public-private partnerships
Train nurses from underrepresented groups
Encourage supportive services
Promote workforce equity
Increase diversity in health care

HBCUs in Nursing

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are uniquely qualified to tackle this task. In fact, their strong connection with the nursing profession goes back to 1892, when Tuskegee University in Alabama launched the first HBCU nursing program.

More work remains to be done, however: Only 10.9% of health care providers are Black, and only 6.3% of RNs identify as Black. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has reported that Black patients with access to Black health care practitioners experience the following:

Lower infant mortality rates
Higher satisfaction
Better understanding of risk factors
Improved adherence to health guidelines

Levels of Nursing

There are four levels of clinical nursing and a fifth nonclinical category, each with different educational and licensing requirements. In North Carolina, nursing license applicants must also undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history check by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)

Requirements to become a CNA include completing a 4-to-12-week certification program and exam.

LPN/LVN (Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse)

Requirements to become an LPN or LVN include completing a 1-year diploma program, passing the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), and fulfilling other state requirements.

RN (Registered Nurse)

Requirements to become an RN include completing a 2-to-3-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year BSN and passing the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX -RN).

APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse)

Requirements to become an APRN include completing a 2-to-3-year postgraduate Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or 3-to-4-year Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a capstone project, fulfilling the required in-person clinical hours, and passing an exam in a specialty.

APRN graduates are qualified for more advanced roles, such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse midwife.

Nonclinical

Some nonclinical positions open to MSN, DNP, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) graduates include:

Nurse administrator
Nurse educator
Nurse informaticist
Nurse researcher

North Carolina License Renewal Requirements

RNs must renew their license every two years by the last day of their birth month. To renew, RNs in North Carolina must have an active license that will expire in 90 days or less and do the following:

Complete a renewal application on the NCBON website.
Choose the license type.
Select “Renewal/Reinstatement.”
Pay the $100 fee by credit or debit card.
Meet one of the continuing competence requirements:
15 hours of continued education plus completing a project, authoring an article or a paper, giving a presentation, or logging 640 hours of practice in the previous two years
Recertification by a national credentialing body
30 hours of continuing education
Two semester hours of nursing-related postlicensure education
Submit additional documents if charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

Keep Communities Healthy

Nurses play a vital role in keeping the nation healthy, especially nurses of color. RNs who want to move into management and leadership roles while furthering their nursing knowledge can pursue an RN to BSN degree to open up new opportunities.

The American Journal of Medicine, “Estimating Time Physicians and Other Health Care Workers Spend with Patients in an Intensive Care Unit Using a Sensor Network”

ANA Nursing Hub, Levels of Nursing

Economic Policy Institute, Racial Representation in Professional Occupations

The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity, “The Nursing Workforce in Context”

Indeed, How To Become an RN

Indeed, What Is a Registered Nurse

Journal of Nursing Regulation, “The 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey”

Indeed, How To Become an RN

Indeed, What Is a Registered Nurse

Journal of Nursing Regulation, “The 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey”

North Carolina Board of Nursing, RN/LPN Examination

North Carolina Board of Nursing, RN/LPN Renewal