Become a Nurse in Rhode Island – Licensure & Requirements

^{Role definitions and education requirements for CRNA, CNP, CNS, RN, and LPN licensure above are set under Rhode Island's nurse licensing regulation; nursing assistant (CNA) training requirements are set under Rhode Island's nursing assistant regulation. *All U.S. nurse anesthesia education programs are now offered at the doctoral level; entry to practice currently requires doctoral-level education, not a master's degree alone, per the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.}

Rhode Island Nursing Wages

^{Nursing wage estimates above are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Rhode Island statewide, Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT, and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in Rhode Island. The one you take will mostly depend on the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The more education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in Rhode Island, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Rhode Island nursing licenses on this page. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in healthcare, it’s sometimes difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Rhode Island, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Rhode Island rejoined the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) effective January 1, 2024, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. The NLC Commission records Rhode Island's implementation date — when multistate license applications became available — as January 8, 2024.

Prescriptive Authority in Rhode Island

Prescriptive authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Rhode Island is role- and population-specific, under the Licensing of Nurses and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs Regulation. Certified nurse practitioners (CNPs) may prescribe legend medications and controlled substances in Schedules II through V. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) may be granted prescriptive privileges under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-34.2. Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) have narrower prescriptive authority that varies by population focus; psychiatric/mental-health CNS authority does not extend to the same range of controlled-substance schedules as a CNP's.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Rhode Island

APRNs in Rhode Island are defined as certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse practitioners.

Education: Completion of an APRN graduate or post-graduate program accredited by a nursing accredited body, including coursework in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment.

Examination: Varies according to prerequisite national certification.

Certification: Varies according to specialty area.

Fees: $145 Initial Application

Renewal: APRN renewal occurs every even or odd year, dependent on your license number. APRNs must provide proof of 10 continuing education hours as accepted or approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), its local chapter, any department of school of nursing approved by the board, or other professional organization.

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

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) in Rhode Island

Education: Completion of a midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) or the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC).

Examination: Certification examination administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), the certifying body for CNMs.

Certification: CNM licensure in Rhode Island requires certification as a nurse-midwife by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

Fees: $80 Initial Application

Renewal: CNMs renew on every odd-numbered year with a $145 renewal fee and proof of 20 hours of continuing education, including four hours of pharmacology.

CNM education, examination, certification, and renewal continuing-education requirements above are established under Rhode Island's regulation on midwives; the renewal fee is set under Rhode Island's consolidated fee-structure regulation.

Learn more on how to become a certified nurse midwife.

Professional Registered Nurse (RN) in Rhode Island

Education: Board-approved basic professional nursing education program.

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $135 Initial Application by Examination or Endorsement
• $200 Examination Fee

Endorsement: Endorsement is available to Registered Nurses in Rhode Island.

Renewal: Registered Nurse licenses in Rhode Island expire biennially, with 10 hours of continuing education required for renewal, including 2 hours on substance abuse, per the Rhode Island Department of Health. Separately, every Rhode Island nurse must complete a one-time, one-hour Alzheimer's disease training course at some point in their career, not on each renewal cycle. The renewal fee is $135.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Rhode Island

Education: Approved program of practical nursing.

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $45 Initial Application by Examination or Endorsement
• $200 Examination Fee

Endorsement: Endorsement is available to Licensed Practical Nurses in Rhode Island.

Renewal: Licensed Practical Nurse licenses in Rhode Island expire biennially, with 10 hours of continuing education required for renewal, including 2 hours on substance abuse, per the Rhode Island Department of Health. Separately, every Rhode Island nurse must complete a one-time, one-hour Alzheimer's disease training course at some point in their career, not on each renewal cycle. The renewal fee is $45.

Information Disclosure:

Information on the above nursing careers in Rhode Island was retrieved from the Rhode Island Code of Regulations TItle 216, Chapter 40, Subchapter 5 current as of September 2026.

Sources

• Rhode Island Department of Health. "Nurses." Retrieved September 23, 2026, from health.ri.gov/licensing/nurses
• Rhode Island Department of Health. "Nurse Licensure Compact Information." Retrieved September 23, 2026, from health.ri.gov/licensing/nursing/nurse-licensure-compact-information
• Nurse Licensure Compact Commission. "NLC Implementation Map." Retrieved September 23, 2026, from nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf
• Rhode Island Department of State. "Licensing of Nurses and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs," 216-RICR-40-05-3. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-3
• Rhode Island Department of State. "Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health," 216-RICR-10-05-2. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-10-05-2
• Rhode Island Department of State. "Midwives," 216-RICR-40-05-23 (effective January 4, 2022). Retrieved September 23, 2026, from rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-23
• Rhode Island Department of State. "Nursing Assistants, Medication Aides, and the Approval of Nursing Assistant and Medication Aide Training Programs," 216-RICR-40-05-22. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-22
• NCLEX (National Council of State Boards of Nursing). "Fees & Payment." Current U.S. registration fee $200; increasing to $350 effective February 1, 2027. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from nclex.com/fees-payment.page
• Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. "Requirements to Practice as a Nurse Anesthetist in the United States." Retrieved September 23, 2026, from coacrna.org/about-coa/requirements-to-practice-as-a-nurse-anesthetist-in-the-united-states
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — Rhode Island: data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/4400000/2025; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT: data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0035980/2025; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA: data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0039300/2025. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
• Rhode Island Department of State. Rhode Island Code of Regulations, Title 216, Chapter 40, Subchapter 5 (regulation index). Retrieved September 23, 2026, from rules.sos.ri.gov/organizations/subchapter/216-40-05