Nursing Schools and Licensing Requirements in Kansas
| Staff Writers
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With over 26,000 registered nurses working in Kansas, it is the state’s most popular occupation that requires a college education. Like much of the rest of the country, however, Kansas could use more healthcare workers, including both RNs and advanced practice nurses. To find out how to join the ranks of the nursing workforce in the state, continue reading. You’ll be able to follow the steps to licensure, search for and compare nursing schools in Kansas, and analyze salary figures.
Top 10 Nursing Schools and Licensing Requirements in Kansas
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Methodology
To be considered for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria:
Accredited at the institutional level
Private nonprofit or public school
Minimum of 1 bachelor’s or master’s degree in subject area for 4-year schools
Minimum of 1 associate degree or certificate program in subject area for 2-year schools
Schools were then scored on factors such as:
Cost & Financial Aid
Number and variety of program offerings
Student-teacher ratios
Graduation rates (4-year schools only)
Placement and support services offered
Academic/Career counseling services
Employment services
Loan default rates
These factors were assembled for each school and rated using a peer-based-value (PBV) calculation. PBV compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or similar) qualitative score and cost. PBV denotes the overall value or “bang for your buck” of a college or degree program.
The Kansas State Board of Nursing licenses all nurses in the state. Guided by the Nurse Practice Act, the organization is charged with enforcing the rules and regulations required of nurses practicing in Kansas. Details of the initial licensure process are below:
Step-by-Step Initial Licensing Process
Earn a nursing degree approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing
Fill out an application, have it notarized and send it along with waivers, fingerprints and a $75 fee to the Kansas State Board of Nursing
Arrange for official transcripts to be sent to the nursing board
Register directly with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-RN, and pay a $200 testing fee. New graduates have up to two years from their graduation date to take the test without any additional requirements.
Wait for the authorization to test (ATT), then register online to take the exam within 90 days
Pass the exam and wait for the state to issue a license
License Renewal in KS
A Kansas nursing license is valid for two years. Applicants must renew it by the last day of their birth month, but they can begin the renewal process up to 90 days beforehand. The state will send an official Notice of Renewal before the expiration data, but if the nurse does not receive it for any reason a new one will not be resent and it is still his or her responsibility to complete the renewal process in time. The fee is $55. When advanced registered nurse practitioners renew their RN license, their ARNP license is automatically renewed. All RNs and APRNs must complete 30 hours of continuing education before renewing their license.
Printed license cards are no longer sent. Instead, applicants can go online to review expiration dates and other license information.
Requirements for Advanced Practice
Four groups fall under the title of advanced registered nurse practitioner in Kansas: nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists. The process of registering as an ARNP in Kansas is fairly streamlined and is not very different from applying for an RN license. ARNPs must complete all the same application steps as RN candidates, with the exception of NCLEX registration.
The following are the education requirements for each type of ARNP:
Nurse practitioners must have a master’s degree in a clinical specialty
Nurse midwives must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have completed formal educational training to become a nurse midwife
Clinical nurse specialists must have a master’s degree in a clinical specialty
Nurse anesthetists must have a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia
For forms and additional resources for RNs and advanced practice nurses, visit the Kansas Board of Nursing.
The Numbers: Kansas Nursing Salaries
At first glance, the Kansas nursing profession faces one big challenge: salaries. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas is one of the lowest-paying states for nursing professionals. However, the average Kansas worker across all occupations makes $32,930 a year, meaning that the cost of a nursing degree quickly pays for itself. For more salary and employment figures, see the tables below.
Top-Paying Areas for RNs in Kansas
Area
Hourly Median Wage
Annual Median Wage
Topeka
$29.06
$60,440
Lawrence
$28.62
$59,540
Manhattan
$27.91
$58,060
Wichita
$24.21
$50,350
Kansas nonmetropolitan area
$24.13
$50,190
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Kansas vs. National Numbers
Year
Annual salary(25th percentile)
Annual salary(median)
Annual salary(75th percentile)
Annual salary(25th percentile)
Annual salary(median)
Annual salary(75th percentile)
Registered Nurse
$46,390
$55,880
$66,650
$0
$54,620
$66,640
$81,080
Certified Nurse Midwife
$0
$0
$0
$0
$82,580
$96,970
$114,090
Nurse Anesthetist
$124,530
$136,190
$147,740
$0
$132,380
$153,780
$181,860
Nurse Practitioner
$74,380
$86,630
$96,000
$0
$82,720
$95,350
$113,470
Annual Salary (25th percentile)
Annual Salary (median)
Annual Salary (75th percentile)
Type
Kansas
National
Registered Nurse
26,380
2,687,310
Certified Nurse Midwife
0
5,110
Nurse Anesthetist
260
36,590
Nurse Practitioner
1,330
122,050
Type
Kansas
National
Registered Nurse
33,460
3,238,400
Certified Nurse Midwife
30
7,700
Nurse Anesthetist
620
43,900
Nurse Practitioner
1,420
147,300
Type
Kansas
National
Registered Nurse
1,050
105,260
Certified Nurse Midwife
0
290
Nurse Anesthetist
20
1,560
Nurse Practitioner
50
5,850
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014 and Projections Central
The Kansas Emergency Nurses Association provides advocacy services, scholarships and professional events for emergency nurses around the state. It is a state affiliate of the Emergency Nurses Association.
A state member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, KONL has 300+ members who benefit from networking and education opportunities. It also steers the Kansas Commission for Nursing Education and Practice.
The Kansas State Nurses Association works to ensure that nurses adhere to the highest professional standards. It is heavily involved in the Kansas APRN Task Force, which seeks to leverage the knowledge of advanced practice nurses to improve healthcare quality for patients.
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