Nursing Schools and Licensing Requirements in Michigan
| Staff Writers
With over 90,000 practicing RNs, Michigan has the eighth-largest nurse workforce in the country. But with 38 percent of them above the age of 54, and 43 percent planning on retiring by 2025, according to the Michigan Center for Nursing, the state needs plenty of new graduates to replace them. Advanced practice nurses are needed too and the number of students in MSN and doctorate programs has all increased over the past 10 years. This comprehensive guide compares nursing schools in Michigan, explains the steps to licensure, and gives prospective students an idea of what to expect in terms of salary.
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.
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In order to earn a professional license in Michigan, nurses must adhere to the standards set forth by the Michigan Board of Nursing. This agency is responsible for regulating nursing school programs, investigating professional infractions, and revoking licenses when necessary.
Earning a License by Exam or Endorsement
Nurses seeking licensure to practice in Michigan need to do four things:
Graduate from a nursing program approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing, either in or out of the state
Fill out an application and send $54 to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, under which the nursing board falls
Submit fingerprints and have a background check conducted
Register for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson VUE, pay a $200 exam fee and pass the test within 90 days of receiving an authorization to test (ATT)
Those who already hold an RN license in another state, but move to and want to practice in Michigan must follow a slightly different set of steps:
Verify their existing licensure
Fill out an application and send $54 to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Submit fingerprints and have a background check conducted
License Renewal Requirements in Michigan
Initial RN licenses are only good for four months to one year, depending on when they are granted. During this initial licensure period, no continuing education is required. After that, licenses must be renewed every two years at a cost of $74. Over the course of those two years, RNs must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education, one hour of which must be in pain and pain symptom management.
Advanced Practice Specialty Licensure in MI
There are three types of advanced practice registered nurses in Michigan: nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives. To practice as an APRN, nurses must:
Be licensed as a Michigan RN
Be nationally certified (for nurse midwives, certification must come from the American Midwifery Certification Board; for nurse anesthetists, it comes from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Council on Certification or the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists)
Fill out the Nurse Specialty Certification application and pay a check for either $52 (for RNs with licenses expiring in less then four months or more than 13) or $38 (for RNs with licenses expiring in between five and 12 months)
The number of available nursing jobs in the US is expected to increase 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of that growth will be generated by just ten states, one of which is Michigan. The advanced practice nursing areas are also expected to expand in the state at a steady pace, growing by more than 11 percent in just a decade. To get in-depth data on what Michigan pays its sizable nursing workforce, check the figures below.
Top-Paying Areas for RNs in Michigan
Area
Hourly Median Wage
Annual Median Wage
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills MI Metropolitan Division
$33.81
$70,330
Ann Arbor
$33.31
$69,280
Detroit-Warren-Livonia
$33.29
$69,240
Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MI Metropolitan Division
$32.70
$68,010
Bay City
$32.68
$67,970
Flint
$31.88
$66,300
Battle Creek
$30.95
$64,370
Kalamazoo-Portage
$30.90
$64,260
Jackson
$30.40
$63,220
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North
$30.00
$62,400
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Michigan vs. National Numbers
Salary
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Employment
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Professional Resources for Michigan RNs
Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists By its own count, MANA represents 2,300 nurse anesthetists and students. It runs both a scholarship fund to grow the profession and a political action committee to finance lawmakers’ campaigns.
Michigan Association of School Nurses The Michigan Association of School Nurses works to advance the school nursing profession and protect the health and well being of Michigan’s school children. Nursing students and recent graduates can use the association’s website to search for jobs, while school nursing veterans can network and get involved in MASN’s advocacy campaigns.
Michigan Board of Nursing The Michigan Board of Nursing is the state’s licensing body for the profession. Its website is designed to convey everything students, recent graduates and practicing nurses need to know about the licensure process.
Michigan Emergency Nurses Association With five regional chapters, the Michigan Emergency Nurses Association has acted as the voice of emergency nurses in the state since 1985. Its national organization is the Emergency Nurses Association, which has nearly 40,000 members across the U.S.
Michigan Nurses Association The Michigan Nurses Association addresses the professional and political issues registered nurses face in the state. As a union, it protects workers’ rights and advocates the state legislature for pro-nursing policies.
Michigan Nursing Students Association The Michigan Nursing Students Association provides a strong professional community for those studying nursing. It offers multiple scholarships each year, which are awarded at its annual convention.
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