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In North Dakota, the Board of Nursing issues licenses to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
There are several APRN designations due to different roles and population focus.
North Dakota recognizes four roles of APRN:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Midwife
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
According to the Board, the APRN can specialize in the following population focuses:
- Adult-Gerontology
- Family (Lifespan)
- Neonatal
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatric/ Mental Health
- Women’s Health or Gender-Related
APRN earn their licenses due to graduate education and national certification.
In North Dakota, there is a temporary permit option for new graduates.
Furthermore, the prescriptive authority is granted separately.
Licensure Requirements for In-State and Out-of-State Nurses
North Dakota regulations state that ARPN need to hold RN licenses in the North Dakota, or in some other state, that is the party of the Nurse License Compact.
Nurses who are residents of states that are not a party to the Nurse License Compact apply for RN reciprocity simultaneously with the advanced practice status application.
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Educational Requirements
Future APRNs need to complete a graduate degree program in the nursing field, with an advanced specialization track.
The program needs to be nationally accredited to make the student eligible for the APRN status in North Dakota.
Additionally, an APRN may earn an advanced license in North Dakota although he or she doesn’t meet the current educational requirements.
This exception applies to the nurses who were first licensed when lower requirements were in place in North Dakota.
Certification Options
Nurse anesthetists need to apply to the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists to schedule the examination and earn the certification.
The American Midwifery Certification Board is in charge of the certifying process for nurse-midwives.
On the other hand, nurse practitioners apply to one of five approved certifying agencies in North Dakota.
Further, the area of practice determines the proper agency.
Therefore, neonatal and women’s health/gender-specific nurse practitioners are certified through the National Certification Corporation.
Family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Next, family nurse practitioners and adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners can choose between the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Likewise, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners are certified either through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Nurse practitioners with pediatric focus can be certified through the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board of the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Clinical nurse specialists have three certifying agencies.
Pediatric and adult-gerontology CNS are certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Further, clinical nurse specialists with the neonatal focus can earn certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
The Board of Nursing in North Dakota accepts certification from the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board issued to the Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist or PMHS.
The certification list accepted by the Board may change.
Therefore some certifications that were accepted in the past are no longer available for new APRNs.
However, older certifications are still approved for license renewal.
Aspiring APRNs who are waiting for the examination or the results may apply for temporary permits.
An APRN with temporary permit practices under a limited scope of practice.
The temporary permit expires after 90 days and becomes invalid if the candidate fails the examination.
Requirements for Prescriptive Authority
APRNs who apply for the prescriptive authority need to show evidence of coursework in pathophysiology, physical assessment, and advanced pharmacology.
The Board accepts 30 contact hours in pharmacology completed in the last three years.
Additionally, the Board will accept the pharmacology coursework as part of the educational program completed by new graduates.
Application Process
All applicants need to pass state and federal criminal background check.
Those who completed it in the last 90 days and submitted it to the Board of Nursing are exempted.
Applicants can have their fingerprints made at the local agency or apply for electronic fingerprint or traditional cards.
The fee for the fingerprinting is $42.75.
All application forms are available for the download on the Board of Nursing website.
Next, RNs registered in North Dakota need to note their license numbers, while those coming from other compact states need to submit a copy of the license.
Transcripts and verification of certification status need to be sent to the Board from the primary source – school and certifying agency.
Additionally, the application packet has an educational verification form, with a purpose to document all educational pathways.
There are several fees APRNs have to pay.
The license fee is $100, the prescriptive authority fee is $50, and the background check is $20.
All documentation needs to be sent to the Board of Nursing office in Bismark.
Renewal Requirements
To renew their licenses, APRNs need to complete 15 hours of pharmacology coursework every two years.
Schools
Aspiring APRNs in North Dakota has two schools that offer suitable educational programs.
DNP programs are available at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
The program is conducted online and has a Family specialization track.
Next, the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks offers two graduate certificate programs and three MSN programs.
All programs are in the online form.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of North Dakota | 430 Oxford St Stop 9025 Grand Forks, ND 58202, (701) 777-4174 |
| North Dakota State University | 1301 Administration Ave. Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 231-7981 |
Salary
The salary of nurse professionals is calculated using factors such as education level, certifications, location, facility, etc.
A nurse practitioner in North Dakota earns an annual average salary of $102.756.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fargo | $102,668 |
| Bismarck | $102,001 |
| Grand Forks | $95,577 |
| Minot | $100,359 |
| Mandan | $102,001 |
| Dickinson | $100,359 |
| Jamestown | $100,693 |
| West Fargo | $102,668 |
| Williston | $100,359 |
| Wahpeton | $101,027 |
Regional Salary in North Dakota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 70 | $126,670 | $60.9 | $164,500 | $104,000 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 300 | $131,130 | $63.04 | $159,360 | $106,240 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 100 | $127,530 | $61.31 | $157,960 | $104,160 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Nurse Practitioner by State