Become a Nurse in Utah – Licensure & Requirements

Utah Nursing Salaries

^{Mean annual wage figures above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for Utah, Salt Lake City-Murray, Provo-Orem-Lehi, and Ogden, May 2025.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in Utah. 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.

Utah nursing licenses are issued through the Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), part of the Utah Department of Commerce — the agency some searchers look for as the state's “board of nursing.” In addition to nursing salaries in Utah, you'll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Utah 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 Utah, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Utah is a Nursing Licensure Compact state, per the official Nurse Licensure Compact list of participating jurisdictions, confirmed by Utah DOPL.

Prescriptive Authority in Utah

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Utah may apply for prescriptive authority to prescribe or administer prescription drugs, including Schedule II-V controlled substances, subject to the conditions in subsection (2) of the statute. CRNAs are subject to CRNA-specific conditions under subsection (2), including five-day pre- and post-procedure prescribing limits. A $90 individual controlled-substance application fee is required.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in Utah

Education: Graduate degree in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing for APRNs or a graduate degree in nurse anesthesia for CRNAs

Examination: Varies according to specialty area

Certification Required:

• For APRNs: Varies according to specialty area, but must include current Registered Nurse license in good standing.
• For CRNAs: National certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

(Current requirements: Utah DOPL.)

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee
• $90 Controlled Substance License Fee – for Prescriptive Authority (CRNAs must apply for a controlled substance license)

Additional Information: If applying for APRN specialization in psychiatric mental health nursing, applicants must document at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice and 1,000 hours of mental health practice under DOPL's supervised post-graduate experience requirements (Utah Admin. Code R156-31b-302e(2)).

Renewal: APRN licenses expire on January 31 of every even year. Renewal requires current specialty certification or re-certification (or the DOPL grandfathered alternative for APRNs licensed before July 1, 1992) and at least one suicide prevention training; APRNs with a controlled-substance license must also complete four hours of controlled-substance prescribing CE per renewal period.

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse or how to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) in Utah

Education: Accredited Nurse Midwife program

Examination: American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council Examination

Certification Required: Current certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) and active Registered Nurse license

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee

Renewal: CNM licenses expire on even years on January 31st. Renewal requires current AMCB certification; a CNM license cannot be renewed if that certification has expired.

Learn more on how to become a certified nurse midwife.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Utah

Education: Approved Registered Nursing education program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $60 Application Fee
• $200 Examination

Endorsement: RNs moving from another Nursing Licensure Compact state must apply for a Utah multistate license within 60 days of establishing Utah as their primary state of residence. Utah separately allows up to 90 days of continued practice under a nurse's former multistate license while that application is processed — a practice-continuity allowance, not an application deadline.

Renewal: RN licenses in Utah expire in odd years on January 31. RNs must also provide proof of at least 400 hours of practice, 200 hours of practice with 15 hours of continuing education, or 30 hours of continuing education with at least one online suicide prevention training.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Utah

Education: Approved Licensed Practical Nursing education program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $60 Application Fee
• $200 Examination

Endorsement: LPNs moving from another Nursing Licensure Compact state must apply for a Utah multistate license within 60 days of establishing Utah as their primary state of residence. Utah separately allows up to 90 days of continued practice under a nurse's former multistate license while that application is processed — a practice-continuity allowance, not an application deadline.

Renewal: LPN licenses in Utah expire in even years on January 31. LPNs must also provide proof of at least 400 hours of practice, 200 hours of practice with 15 hours of continuing education, or 30 hours of continuing education with at least one online suicide prevention training.

Information on the above nursing careers in Utah was retrieved from the Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing – Nursing in September 2026.