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Let us help you land on your dream job here in Minnesota! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in Minnesota, and more!
Through this article, you will be able to know the following:
Fees for the licensing
Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
Licensing and certification
Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Minnesota
Popular hospitals in Minnesota
Nursing associations in Minnesota
Contact details
Fees for the Licensing
The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license. For more details, visit the Minnesota licensing page.
*Fees may change without any notice.
Licensing Renewal Process
Check when your license expires by visiting the Minnesota Board of Nursing website. Minnesota has a Verification page for you to verify your license.
Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.
Apply for your renewal process by going to the Minnesota Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Information page for more specific information.
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in Minnesota.
For RN, you must obtain 24 hours every 2 years.
For LPN, you need to have 12 hours every 2 years.
For APRN, 24 hours every 2 years is required.
The Minnesota Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.
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Licensing and Certification
Step 1: Education
To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career
Step 2: Licensing
Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.
The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance; (2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.
Step 3: Experience
This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.
Step 4: Certification
Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.
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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Minnesota
Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is $84,030.
Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if Minnesota is the right place for you.
Popular Hospitals in Minnesota
Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in Minnesota or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in Minnesota. Here are some of them:
Mayo Clinic – (Rochester, MN):
Regionally ranked #1 in Minnesota
Ranked No. 1 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll
Nationally ranked in 14 adult and 8 pediatric specialties
Rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 16 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Diabetes & Endocrinology (#1 in the nation), Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#1 in the nation), Gynecology (#1 in the nation), and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (#1 in the nation)
Abbott Northwestern Hospital - (Minneapolis, MN):
Nationally ranked in 2 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 6 adult specialties and 14 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Neurology & Neurosurgery (#37 in the nation), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#44 in the nation), and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital - (Saint Cloud, MN):
Regionally ranked #3 in Minnesota
Nationally ranked in 3 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 14 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Urology (#33 in the nation), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#35 in the nation), and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (#39 in the nation)
Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center - (Duluth, MN):
Regionally ranked #4 in Minnesota
Rated high performing in 11 adult procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility
Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.
Mercy Hospital - (Coon Rapids, MN):
Rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 11 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility
Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.
*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.
Nursing Associations in Minnesota
Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in Minnesota.
Minnesota Black Nurses Association: “The advancement of the nursing profession and elimination of health issues is supported and facilitated by this nursing institution. They do this by delivering competent quality care to patients.”
Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses Association: “The association envisions to be recognized and respected as the Leaders for LPNs in Minnesota, so as promoting value, respect and pride.”
Minnesota Nurses Association: “The main goal of this group is to give emphasis to professional, economic and personal well-being of nurses.:
For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.
Contact Details
Minnesota Board of Nursing
The offices are open but please conduct business through the mail, email, or fax.
Nursing.Board@state.mn.us
Phone: (612) 317-3000
Fax: (651) 688-1841
Website: https://mn.gov/boards/nursing/
1210 Northland Drive, Suite 120
Mendota Heights, MN 55120