Become a Nurse in District of Columbia - Licensure & Requirements

Nursing requirements change rapidly. Make sure to confirm licensing requirements with the DC Department of Health – Board of Nursing before applying for licensure. Last updated: 1/13/2020

Education Requirements for Nursing Licenses in District of Columbia
Nursing Licenses in District of Columbia	Master’s Required?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)	Yes
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)	Yes
Nurse Practitioner (NP)	Yes
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)	Yes
Registered Nurse (RN)	No
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)	No

Washington, D.C. Nursing Salaries

Washington, D.C. Nursing Salaries
DC Nurse Career	State-Wide Annual Mean Wage	Washington-Arlington-Alexandra, DC-VA-MD-WV Annual Mean Wage
Licensed Practical Nurse	$53,370	$54,260
Registered Nurse	$92,350	$81,470
Nurse Practitioner	$109,800	$112,330
Nurse Midwife	$95,730	$101,400
Nurse Anesthetist	Not Available	$169,550

Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates District of Columbia in January 2020.

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in the District of Columbia. 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 the District of Columbia, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of District of Columbia 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 Washington, D.C., please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

The District of Columbia is not a Nursing Licensure Compact state.

Prescriptive Authority in Washington, D.C.

Nurse practitioners may apply for prescriptive authority for Schedule II-V drugs. According to the Municipal Regulations for Nurse Practitioners, nurse practitioners must possess a valid controlled substance certification of registration from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and a District of Columbia controlled substances registration. Prescriptive authority for nurses in Washington, D.C. does not extend to prescription refills of controlled substances.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Washington, D.C.

Recognized APRN roles in Washington, D.C. include: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, and Nurse Practitioner.

Education: Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: National Certification as a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, or Clinical Nurse Specialist

Fees:

$230 APRN Authority Fee
$145 RN License Fee [if not licensed as a RN in D.C.]
$145 Additional APRN Authority Fee

Additional Information: An active District of Columbia registered nurse license is required for application.

Renewal: APRNs should complete 24 hours of continuing education — 15 must be in pharmacology, and nine of those hours must be specific to the APRN specialty. If certified in more than one APRN specialty, nurses may use the same course to count toward the continuing education requirements for each specialty certification. Renewal with the APRN’s national certification organization is also required.

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Washington, D.C.

Education: Completion of an approved registered nurse program.

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

$187 Application Fee
$200 Examination Fee

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a registered nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval. A $230 application fee is required.

Renewal: Registered nurses are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Washington, D.C.

Education: Completion of an approved licensed practical nurse program.

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

$187 Application Fee
$200 Examination Fee

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a licensed practical nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval. A $230 application fee is required.

Renewal: Licensed practical nurses are required to complete 18 hours of continuing education which must include two hours for LGBTQ and three hours of HIV/AIDS coursework.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information for the nursing careers above: advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse was retrieved from the DC Department of Health – Board of Nursing, as of January 2020.