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Louisiana Job Statistics
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The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (225-755-7500 or [email protected]) licenses RNs qualified to work as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in four general roles: nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse midwife (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), and clinical nurse specialists (CNS).
Before pursuing APRN licensure in Louisiana, you must hold a Louisiana State Board of Nursing RN license.
- If you currently hold an RN license in another state, you must apply for RN licensure by endorsement in Louisiana. Use the Application for Licensure as a Registered Nurse by Endorsement.
- If you have never been licensed as an RN in Louisiana or any other state, use the Application for Initial Licensure by Exam.
- If you completed nursing training in another country, you must take and pass the CGFNS Qualifying Examination given by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
- If you have an expired Louisiana RN license, use the RN Reinstatement Packet to reinstate it.
Take the following steps to become a licensed APRN in Louisiana.
Step 1. Get Your Graduate Degree
For the full standards maintained by the Louisiana Board of Nursing for APRN education programs, review Chapter 45, section 4509 of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing Professional and Occupational Standards.
Qualified Graduate Programs
To be eligible for APRN licensure in Louisiana, you must complete a graduate, post graduate, or doctoral degree program in your chosen advanced practice nursing role. The program must be delivered through a regionally accredited college or university. The institution must offer nursing as a major, or offer a concentration in the APRN role and specialty for which you will pursue national certification and state licensure.
A list of Board-approved in-state and out-of-state graduate schools of nursing is available here.
If you graduate from a program that does not appear on this list, the Board will likely grant approval if the school is nationally or regionally accredited. Review national, regional, and hybrid accreditation agencies, as well as specialized and programmatic agencies listed in the United States Department of Education (USDE) database of accreditation agencies.
Course Requirements
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing mandates that all APRN education programs include the following courses:
- Advanced pathophysiology
- Advanced pharmacology
- Advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning
- Management of health care status
- Preceptorship involving 500 supervised clinical hours in direct nurse/client care (if you are on a specialty track that will prepare you to work with multiple patient population groups, you will be required to have more than 500 hours)
Prescriptive Authority
Licensed Nurse Practitioners in the state of Louisiana hold prescriptive authority. If you are not a recent graduate, you must document 45 contact hours (3 credit hours) of advanced pharmacotherapeutics coursework and 45 contact hours (3 credit hours) of physiology/pathophysiology coursework.
Specialization
Specialized tracks are available in the form of degrees with concentrations in various disease types and population foci within Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Ph.D. in Nursing programs.
You may pursue other advanced degree options including nursing education, nursing leadership, and nursing administration.
Step 2. Earn Your National Certification
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing requires that you become nationally certified within your APRN role prior to licensure. All national certification agencies maintain independent eligibility standards required to sit for their national exams.
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing recognizes the following general APRN roles:
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Certification Programs
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing recognizes the following agencies for granting certification in the general APRN roles, as well as certification in specializations and patient population foci:
- ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center):
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner PNP)
- Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child & Adolescent Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing (PMHCNS-BC )
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing (PMHCNS-BC)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontological Nursing (GCNS)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Nursing (PCNS)
- AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners):
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- AACN Certification Corporation (American Association of Critical Care Nurses):
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Acute and Critical Care, Neonatal, Pediatric and Adult (CCNS)
- NCC (National Certification Corporation):
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Women’s Health OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
- PNCB (Pediatric Nurse Certification Board):
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (ACPNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (PCPNP)
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC):
- Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS)
- Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP)
- American Midwifery Certification Board:
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- National Board of Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA):
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Contact the appropriate national certification organization representing the specialty in which you wish to become certified.
Step 3. Apply for your License
Licensure by Examination
If you are applying for initial licensure, download the Application for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Initial Licensure by Examination. Along with your completed, notarized application:
- Include money order or bank cashier’s check for $142.50 payable to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (includes $100 application fee and $42.50 fingerprinting fee – an additional fee of $10 applies if fingerprinted in person by LiveScan, bringing the total to $152.50 – explained below)
- Include completed criminal history background check (Forms CBC1 and 2 included in the application) (details on fingerprinting and submission process is explained below)
- Include completed Verification of Advanced Practice Education filled out by your graduate institution (Form AP2 included in application)
- Include completed Verification of National Certification or original letter from certification organization verifying your national certification (Form AP3 included in application)
Mail all documents to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.
Adding an Additional APRN Role
If you are already licensed as an APRN in Louisiana, and are interested in becoming licensed in an additional advanced practice role, complete the Request for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure in an Additional APRN Role/Population Focus/Specialty.
Licensure by Endorsement
If you are already licensed to practice as an APRN in another state, use the Application for APRN Licensure by Endorsement.
Criminal History Background Check
As part of the APRN licensure process, you must complete a criminal history background check. Fingerprinting can usually be facilitated by your local sheriff’s office or police station. Instructions are included within your application packet. If your local law enforcement agency does not have blank FBI fingerprint cards, the Application for Licensure by Examination includes the form necessary to request two blank FBI fingerprint cards. These cards can be taken to your local law enforcement agency for fingerprinting. Submit fingerprint cards along with the two Criminal Background Check (CBC) Authorization forms included in the APRN application packet. The cost of the background check is $42.50, included in the total application cost of $142.50.
You also have the option of having your fingerprints taken by LiveScan in person at the Louisiana State Board of Nursing office. This is subject to an additional fee of $10.
Collaborative Practice Agreement and Prescriptive Authority
Nurse practitioners in Louisiana hold prescriptive authority and therefore require a collaborative practice agreement (CPA) with a state-licensed physician or dentist.
Complete and submit the Collaborative Practice Agreement form detailing your mutual agreement specific to parameters of collaborative practice, clinical practice guidelines, your responsibilities and those of the physician, and methods of patient care including prescriptive authority over legend drugs and controlled substances. This collaborative agreement must be on file with the Board before you may legally practice as nurse practitioner in Louisiana.
To add controlled substances to your prescriptive authority privileges, submit Form#CON 1A (Request for Addition of Controlled Substances for Prescriptive Authority.
Temporary Permit
When applying for APRN licensure in Louisiana, you may wish to request a Temporary Permit. This requires that you complete the application for licensure and submit proof of completion of APRN education, plus proof that you have applied for and been approved to take your national certification examination. Temporary permits are valid for 90 days. For details on attaining a temporary permit, review page 2 of the Application for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Initial Licensure by Examination.
Step 4. Renewing Your License
Your APRN license in Louisiana is valid for one year, and must be renewed annually at the time of your RN license renewal. The Louisiana State Board of Nursing will send you an email reminder as your licensure expiration date approaches. You must renew your APRN license and pay all renewal fees online. You may be asked to submit proof of national certification at the time of renewal as well.
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing does not issue paper licenses, but you may verify your license online at any time.
Continuing Education
As a licensed APRN in Louisiana, you must maintain national certification to maintain licensure. In addition, if you have prescriptive authority, you must complete six contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics each year. A comprehensive list of approved continuing education providers is available here. You will not have to submit proof of CE completion unless the Board selects you for audit. In the event that you are selected for an audit, you’ll be required to complete the CE Audit Verification Checklist Prescriptive Authority.
In order to maintain national certification, you must fulfill the continuing education mandates of your national certification organization. Contact that organization for information on their continuing competency mandates:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- National Certification Corporation
- Pediatric Nurse Certification Board
- National Board of Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists
- American Midwifery Certification Board
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
Expired License Renewal Application
If your APRN license has expired, you must apply for its reinstatement to legally practice in Louisiana. If you have not worked in five years or more, you must undergo another criminal background check. Information on requirements and fees may be found in the Reinstatement Packet.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Associations in Louisiana
Consider becoming a member of an organization in Louisiana that supports APRNs though continuing education and advocacy services:
- Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners
- Louisiana State Nurses Association
- Louisiana Midwives Association
- Louisiana Affiliate of National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Salary
If you’re hoping to make six figures sometime in your career, don’t worry. Nurse practitioners in Louisiana make an average $111,880 per year. Top earners report grossing at least $158,170 annually.
Registered Nurse Salary
You won’t go hungry as a registered nurse (RN) in Louisiana. RNs in this state make an average of $68,010 per year. Those at the top of the proverbial food chain make even more: a minimum $84,070 per year. That goes a long way in a low-cost state like Louisiana.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers Salary
Have a passion for teaching? If you choose to explore this avenue, you’ll set yourself up well. In Louisiana, nursing instructors report an average annual income of $71,050 per year.
Nurse Administrator Salary
(Includes Nurse Managers, Directors, and Chief Nursing Officers)
Think you’re management material? Nurse administrators do well for themselves in Louisiana. On average, these professionals make $105,790 per year. Seasoned admins make a whopping $162,350 annually – a huge jump from the average.
Nurse Anesthetists Salary
If you’ve thought of becoming a nurse anesthetist, you’ll command a great living in Louisiana. The average salary for anesthetists in this state is $161,310 per year. What’s more, the top earners in this role report making over $200,000 annually.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for 1) Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives; 2) Medical and Health Services Managers (Nurse Administrators); 3) Registered Nurses; and 4) Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. 2019 US Census Bureau figures for state median household income provided for comparison. Data Accessed December 2021.