Nursing requirements change rapidly. Make sure to confirm licensing requirements with the California Board of Registered Nursing before applying for licensure. Last updated: 1/1/2020
Become a Nurse in California – Licensure & Requirements
| Nursing Licenses in California | Master’s Required? |
|---|---|
Clinical Nurse Specialist | Yes |
Nurse Anesthetist | Yes |
Clinical Nurse-Midwife | Yes |
Nurse Practitioner | Yes |
Public Health Nurse | No |
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse | No |
Registered Nurse (RN) | No |
California Nursing Salary Average
| CA Nurse Career | State-Wide Annual Mean Wage | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Annual Mean Wage | Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade Annual Mean Wage | San Diego-Carlsbad Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Licensed Practical Nurse | $56,200 | $54,000 | $57,420 | $56,820 |
Registered Nurse | $106,950 | $99,930 | $120,530 | $98,440 |
Nurse Midwife | $139,990 | $129,130 | Not Available | Not Available |
Nurse Practitioner | $133,780 | $135,230 | $130,040 | $121,670 |
Nurse Anesthetist | $212,210 | $187,930 | $233,940 | Not Available |
Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates California in January 2020.
There are many paths to becoming a nurse in California. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.
In addition to nursing salaries in California, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of California nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in California, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!
Sponsored online nursing programs
Simmons University
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Georgetown University
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
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Compact State Status
California has pending Nurse License Compact legislation, as of September 2021.
Prescriptive Authority in California
Nurse midwives and nurse practitioners may apply for prescriptive authority for Schedule II-V drugs in collaboration with a physician for a $400 fee. Completion of a nurse practitioner advanced pharmacology course worth three semester units is required. In order to furnish (prescribe) drugs and devices to patients, you must submit an application for a Nurse Practitioner Furnishing Number together with your nurse practitioner application.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in California
Education: Master’s degree in a clinical field related to nursing.
Fees: $500 Application Fee
Experience: Applicants must have a clinical supervisor complete a clinical nurse specialist clinical experience verification form.
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Renewal: For CNSs, a renewal fee of $150 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a CNS endorsement is also renewed.
Learn more on how to become a clinical nurse specialist.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in California
Education: Master’s degree or higher from a nurse anesthetist program accredited by the Council On Accreditation Of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Examination: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) exam from the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
Fees:
- $500 Application Fee
- $700 Certification Examination FeeExperience
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Certification Required: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) from the NBCRNA
Renewal: For CRNAs, a renewal fee of $150 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a CRNA endorsement is also renewed.
Learn more on how to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Nurse Midwife in California
Education: Master’s degree or higher from a nurse-midwife program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.
Examination: Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
Fees:
- $500 Application Fee,
- $500 Certification Examination Fee
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Experience: Applicants who completed a nurse-midwife program more than one year ago and who do not hold national certification must provide proof of clinical work in the past five years.
Certification Required: Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) from the AMCB
Renewal: For nurse-midwives, a renewal fee of $150 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a nurse midwife endorsement is also renewed.
Learn more on how to become a nurse midwife.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) in California
Education: Master’s degree or higher from an approved nurse practitioner program
Examination: Varies for Different Certifications
Fees: $500 Application Fee
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Experience: The education requirement may be waived if applicants prove clinical competency through experience, additional experience requirements may be needed for some certifications.
Certification Required: Nurse Practitioner Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), or the National Certification Corporation (NCC)
Renewal: For nurse practitioners, a renewal fee of $150 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a nurse practitioner endorsement is also renewed.
Learn more on how to become a nurse practitioner.
Public Health Nurse (PHN) in California
Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher from a nursing program approved by the national league for nursing, which must either include or be supplemented with child abuse training.
Fees: $300 Application Fee
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Renewal: For public health nurses, a renewal fee of $125 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a public health nurse endorsement is also renewed.
Learn more on how to become a public health nurse.
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse (PMH) in California
Education: Completion of an approved psychiatric/mental health nursing program (masters degree required for national certification option).
Examination: Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS) xxam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Fees: $350 Application Fee
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Experience: Two years of clinical nursing experience (not required if certification requirement is met).
Certification Required: Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS) from the ANCC
Renewal: PMH certificates are automatically renewed in conjunction with an RN license; there is no additional fee or continuing education required.
Learn more on how to become a psychiatric and mental health nurse.
Registered Nurse (RN) in California
Education: Completion of an approved registered nurse program.
Examination: NCLEX-RN
Fees:
- $300 Application Fee by Examination – California Graduate
- $350 Application Fee by Examination – Out of State Graduate
Renewal: Registered nurses must complete 30 contact hours from board-approved continuing education providers per renewal period. Renewal fees are $190.
Endorsement: Individuals licensed as registered nurses in other states may apply for licensure through endorsement. To qualify for endorsement, applicants must have completed an educational program meeting all California requirements, have passed the national council licensure examination (NCLEX-RN) or the state board test pool examination, and must pay an application fee and fingerprinting fee. Applicants may opt for on-site live scan fingerprinting, in which case fees will vary
Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.
Information for the nursing careers above was retrieved from the California Board of Registered Nursing – Publications, as of January 2020.
Fees for the above nursing careers in California were retrieved from the California Board of Registered Nursing – Fee Schedule, as of January 2020.
Sponsored online nursing programs
Simmons University
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Georgetown University
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
SPONSORED