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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Board of Nursing, Division of Public Health Licensure Unit (402-471-4376, [email protected]), regulates and licenses advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) in the following roles:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (APRN-CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (APRN-NP)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (APRN-CRNA)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (APRN-CNM)
To be approved to work as an APRN in Nebraska, you must hold a valid, unencumbered Nebraska or Compact State-issued RN license:
Nebraska Job Statistics
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- If you are a graduate of a Department-approved registered nursing program, you can apply for Licensure by Examination.
- If you are foreign educated nurse, you may apply for Licensure by Examination, provided that your education is deemed comparable to registered nursing programs in the United States
- If you were previously licensed as an RN in Nebraska, you must request an Application for Reinstatement by contacting the Department at 402-471-2666 or [email protected].
- If you are licensed in another jurisdiction, you may apply for Licensure by Endorsement. *
*Nurse Licensure Compact
Nebraska is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. The Compact offers practice privileges for registered nurses in all compact states without new licensure: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Nebraska, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. If you are already licensed in a Compact State, you need only apply for licensure in Nebraska if you intend to make Nebraska your primary place of practice.
The following steps describe the process for becoming an APRN in Nebraska.
Step 1. Get Your Graduate Degree
To work toward your APRN licensure in Nebraska, you must complete an advanced practice registered nurse program. With the exception of women’s health and neonatal nurse practitioners, all applicants who graduated after July 19, 1996, must hold a master’s degree, post-master’s certificate or doctoral degree.
Qualified Programs
To work toward your APRN license in Nebraska, you must complete an advanced practice nursing education program (post baccalaureate) that is accredited by a national accrediting body. You can review institutional, programmatic, and specialized accrediting agencies listed in the United States Department of Education (USDE) database of recognized accrediting bodies to confirm that your master’s, post-baccalaureate certificate, or doctorate program meets accreditation standards.
Since national certification through a Board-recognized certifying body is a condition for APRN licensure, you may defer to your certifying body of choice to verify that your advanced practice nursing program of choice meets accreditation standards (see Step 2 for information on Board-recognized certifying bodies).
If you are applying for CNS licensure, you must either complete a master’s or doctoral degree program in a clinical nursing specialty or a master’s degree in nursing program with a graduate-clinical nurse specialist education component.
If you are applying for CRNA licensure, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia and Education Programs must have accredited the program.
Course Requirements
In accordance with the national APRN Consensus Model, advanced practice nursing programs must include the following core courses:
- Advanced pathophysiology/physiology (that includes general principles applicable across the human lifespan)
- Advanced health assessment (that includes assessment of all systems of the body, advanced assessment methods, techniques, and concepts)
- Advanced pharmacology (that includes pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of broad categories of agents)
You can expect graduate level coursework in nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist programs to cover the six main population foci:
- Family/individual health across the lifespan
- Adult health and gerontology
- Neonatology
- Pediatrics
- Women’s health and gender-related health
- Psychiatric mental health
Your advanced practice education must include both a didactic component and a preceptorship of at least 500 contact hours. Your program must include instruction in biological, behavioral, and health sciences that are relevant to your clinical specialty. You must also complete at least 30 hours of academic education in pharmacotherapeutics.
Step 2. Earn Your National Certification
After the successful completion of an advanced program in your APRN specialty, you must become certified in your advanced practice nursing role:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
The following certifying bodies for APRNs are recognized by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services:
- National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Specialist in Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Clinical Specialist in Gerontological Nursing
- Clinical Specialist in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
- Clinical Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Adult and Family)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- National Certification Corporation
- Ob/Gyn Nurse Practitioner (Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (in acute and critical care or in acute care)
- American Midwifery Certification Board
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
- Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Step 3. Apply for your License
CNS License
To apply for your CNS license, you must complete the Application for Clinical Nurse Specialist and provide the following information to the Department:
- Proof of your national certification
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
- Advanced practice licensure verification if you practice as an APRN in another state (the form must be sent directly to the original board of licensure for completion)
- Processing fee – Pay close attention to the fee schedule found in the application, as this will determine your processing fee. If the month in which you are filing for initial licensure falls in a “shaded area,” your fee for licensure is $68. If it falls in an “unshaded area,” your fee for licensure is $25. The fee schedule applies to licenses that fall either more than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($68) or less than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($25). Pay the processing fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to “DHHS, Licensure Unit.”
Mail the completed application and related documents and fee to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services System, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, P.O. Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-4986.
NP License
To apply for NP licensure, you must complete the Application for Nurse Practitioner and provide the following information to the Department:
- Your official transcript sent directly from your master’s/doctorate program to the Department – If your transcript does not show the 30 contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics, you must also provide verification of the completion of these hours through continuing education or supplementary course
- Proof of your national certification sent directly from the organization to the Department
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
- Advanced practice licensure verification if you practice as an APRN in another state (the form must be sent directly to the original board of licensure for completion)
- Processing fee – Pay close attention to the fee schedule found in the application, as this will determine your processing fee. If the month in which you are filing for initial licensure falls in a “shaded area,” your fee for licensure is $68. If it falls in an “unshaded area,” your fee for licensure is $25. The fee schedule applies to licenses that fall either more than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($68) or less than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($25). Pay the processing fee in a check or money order made payable to “DHHS, Licensure Unit.”
- Criminal Background Check by Fingerprint (instructions are included with the application)
- Integrated Practice Agreement – To qualify for APRN licensure in Nebraska, you must develop an Integrated Practice Agreement with a collaborating physician if:
- You have not practiced as an APRN for at least 2,000 hours under the supervision of a physician
- You have not completed separate coursework in pharmacotherapeutics, advanced health assessment, and pathophysiology or psychopathology to include 45 advanced academic contact hours each
- You do not have a master’s or doctorate degree
Mail the completed application and related documents and fee to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services System, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, P.O. Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-4986.
CNRA License
To apply for CRNA licensure, you must complete the Application for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and provide the following information to the Department:
- Proof of national certification
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
- Criminal Background Check by Fingerprint (instructions are included with the application)
- Processing fee – Pay close attention to the fee schedule found in the application, as this will determine your processing fee. If the month in which you are filing for initial licensure falls in a “shaded area,” your fee for licensure is $68. If it falls in an “unshaded area,” your fee for licensure is $25. The fee schedule applies to licenses that fall either more than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($68) or less than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($25). Pay the processing fee in a check or money order made payable to “DHHS, Licensure Unit.”
- Integrated Practice Agreement – To qualify for APRN licensure in Nebraska, you must develop an Integrated Practice Agreement with a collaborating physician if:
- You have not practiced as an APRN for at least 2,000 hours under the supervision of a physician
- You have not completed separate coursework in pharmacotherapeutics, advanced health assessment, and pathophysiology or psychopathology to include 45 advanced academic contact hours each
- You do not have a master’s or doctorate degree
Mail the completed application and related documents and fee to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services System, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, P.O. Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-4986.
CNM License
To apply for CNM licensure, you must complete the Application for Certified Midwife and provide the following information to the Department:
- Your official transcripts sent directly from the institution where you received your nurse midwifery course of study to the Department
- Verification of your national certification sent directly from the American College of Nurse Midwives to the Department
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
- Criminal Background Check by Fingerprint (instructions are included with the application)
- Advanced practice licensure verification if you practice as an APRN in another state (the form must be sent directly to the original board of licensure for completion)
- Certified Nurse Midwifery Practice Agreement – To qualify for CNM licensure in Nebraska, you must develop a Practice Agreement with a collaborating physician that has been approved by the Department. You and the collaborating licensed practitioner must have jointly approved protocols for all delegated medical functions. The protocols must be reaffirmed at least every 2 years.
- Processing fee – Pay close attention to the fee schedule found in the application, as this will determine your processing fee. If the month in which you are filing for initial licensure falls in a “shaded area,” your fee for licensure is $68. If it falls in an “unshaded area,” your fee for licensure is $25. The fee schedule applies to licenses that fall either more than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($68) or less than 180 days before the renewal cycle ($25). Pay the processing fee in a check or money order made payable to “DHHS, Licensure Unit.”
Mail the completed application and related documents and fee to: Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services System, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, P.O. Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-4986.
Temporary Permits
A temporary permit is valid for 60 days or when you know the results of your examination for national certification, whichever comes first. The temporary permit may be extended for up to 120 days due to unforeseen hardships.
You may apply for a temporary permit as an APRN if you are awaiting the results of your first national certification examination. To be eligible for a temporary permit you must show proof that you have registered to take the exam. If you are applying for a temporary permit as a new graduate, you must provide:
- A completion letter from your advanced practice program if you completed your program in the state, or your official transcript if you completed your program out of state
- Verification that you are authorized to take the certification examination
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
If you are applying for a temporary permit and you have a current advanced practice license in another state, you must provide:
- A notarized copy of your advanced practice licensure in another state
- A notarized copy of your proof of national certification
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
- Criminal Background Check by Fingerprint (instructions are included with the application), if applicable
If you are applying for a temporary permit and you have either not graduated or practiced within the last 5 years and you need to take a re-entry program, you must provide:
- Verification that you have registered for a re-entry program or have made arrangements for supervised practice and Board approval
- An official educational transcript
- Proof of your current RN license if you are licensed in a Compact state other than Nebraska
- Criminal Background Check by Fingerprint (instructions are included with the application), if applicable
Prescriptive Authority
If you are a licensed CNM, CRNA or NP, you will possess prescriptive authority in Nebraska as a matter of standard protocol.
CNMs can prescribe Schedule II Controlled Substances, although it is limited to pain control and only for as many as 72 hours. There is no legal requirement for direct supervision or for co-signature regarding prescriptive authority for CNMs prescribing in this capacity.
NPs are eligible for federal controlled substances registration. As an NP, you may prescribe controlled substances from Schedules II – V. If you are applying for initial licensure and you plan to prescribe controlled substances, you will be subject to a criminal background check.
CNRAs are authorized to deliver total anesthesia care, provided it is within consultation and collaboration with a licensed practitioner. CRNAs are eligible for federal controlled substance registration. As a CRNA, you may prescribe controlled substances from Schedules II – V.
If you are an APRN with intent to prescribe controlled substances, you must first obtain a federal controlled substance registration (Nebraska does not issue a state-controlled substance registration) by contacting the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at 1-888-219-8689.
Step 4. Renewing Your License
All APRN licenses can be renewed using the Online License Renewal system. All licenses expire on October 31 of every EVEN numbered year. APRN renewal is subject to a $68 fee. You can expect to receive a renewal notice in the mail around the first of August of your renewal year.
If you do not want to renew your APRN license, you may request that your license be placed on “lapsed” status by checking the appropriate box on your renewal notice and returning it to the Department.
If you fail to renew your license before the expiration date, you must pay the renewal fee and an additional late fee of $25 within 30 days of the expiration date, or the license will be considered lapsed.
Continuing Competency
To meet the requirements for continuing competency as an NP or CNS in Nebraska, you must:
- Provide proof of national certification/recertification
- Have completed your APRN program in the previous 5 years or practiced as an APRN in a specific advanced practice role in the last 5 years
- Complete at least 2,080 hours of practice as an APRN in the last 5 years; 500 hours of which must in a clinical role in which there is a direct nurse/patient relationship
- Provide proof of at least 40 contact hours of CE in your clinical specialty with the last 2 years, 10 contact hours of which must be in pharmacotherapeutics.
There are no continuing education requirements for CNMs in Nebraska, although a letter of reference from a licensed practitioner or CNM stating that your competency to practice as a CNM is required for license renewal.
There are no specific continuing education requirements for CRNAs in Nebraska, although the Council on Certification/Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists requires continuing education and practice.
Reinstatement
If you fail to renew your license by October 31, your license will automatically expire. You will be required to reinstate your license by submitting a reinstatement application, paying the reinstatement fee of $103, and submitting proof of continuing competency.
Application for CRNA Reinstatement
Application for NP Reinstatement
Contact the Board directly for CNM and CNS reinstatement.
Mail the completed application and related documents and fee to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services System, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, P.O. Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-4986.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Associations in Nebraska
There are a number of professional organizations that support APRNs in Nebraska:
- Nebraska Nurses Association
- Nebraska Emergency Nurses Association
- Nebraska Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- The Nebraska State Student Nurses Association
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association – Nebraska Chapter
- The Nebraska Nurse Practitioner
- The Nebraska Association of Perianesthesia Nurses
- Nebraska School Nurses Association
- Nebraska Association for Occupational Health Nurses
Nebraska Nurse Practitioner Salary
For a low-cost state, NPs make very good money in Nebraska. In this state, the average yearly income for NPs stands at $107,330. NPs in the top 10 percent earn a pretty penny as well, pulling in around $135,680 per year.
Registered Nurse Salary
Being an RN in Nebraska pays well in Nebraska – an average annual salary of $69,480. As your experience builds, so too will your income. The top 10 percent of RNs in this state report earning at least $90,220 per year.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers Salary
Training the next generation of nurses will set you up well. On average, nursing instructors in Nebraska make $72,570 a year.
Nurse Administrator Salary
(Includes Nurse Managers, Directors, and Chief Nursing Officers)
Have what it takes to manage people? Nurse administrators in Nebraska report earning a generous $124,080 per year, on average. Those in the top 25 percent gross at least $135,080 annually. Either salary will get you far in this state.
Nurse Anesthetists Salary
Nurse anesthetists in Nebraska make a very good living, especially for such a low-cost state. The average salary for these professionals is $176,880 per year. What are the top 25 percent making? More than what the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes in its reports.
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.