Nearly 91,000 registered nurses currently practice in Tennessee, including approximately 8,200 working in advanced nursing roles. Although that figure may seem high, it is projected to reach even greater heights between 2012 and 2022. Tennessee’s health care industry is under pressure to provide adequate nursing care due to increasing population demands and an aging population and nurse workforce. Learn more about the occupational outlook for nurses in Tennessee and what it takes to earn a license to practice in the state.
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Top Nursing Schools in Tennessee
4 - Year Colleges
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Union UniversityLocation
Jackson, TN
Graduation Rate66%
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Vanderbilt UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate93%
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Southern Adventist UniversityLocation
Collegedale, TN
Graduation Rate52%
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Lincoln Memorial UniversityLocation
Harrogate, TN
Graduation Rate47%
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Belmont UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate70%
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Carson-Newman UniversityLocation
Jefferson City, TN
Graduation Rate48%
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Lipscomb UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate62%
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East Tennessee State UniversityLocation
Johnson City, TN
Graduation Rate43%
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Baptist College of Health SciencesLocation
Memphis, TN
Graduation Rate43%
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University of MemphisLocation
Memphis, TN
Graduation Rate44%
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Freed-Hardeman UniversityLocation
Henderson, TN
Graduation Rate52%
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Tennessee Technological UniversityLocation
Cookeville, TN
Graduation Rate49%
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Milligan CollegeLocation
Milligan College, TN
Graduation Rate58%
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The University of Tennessee-MartinLocation
Martin, TN
Graduation Rate47%
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Tennessee State UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate42%
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Tennessee Wesleyan CollegeLocation
Athens, TN
Graduation Rate43%
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Middle Tennessee State UniversityLocation
Murfreesboro, TN
Graduation Rate46%
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Christian Brothers UniversityLocation
Memphis, TN
Graduation Rate55%
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Austin Peay State UniversityLocation
Clarksville, TN
Graduation Rate37%
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Fisk UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate40%
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Cumberland UniversityLocation
Lebanon, TN
Graduation Rate37%
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Trevecca Nazarene UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate51%
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Martin Methodist CollegeLocation
Pulaski, TN
Graduation Rate45%
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Tusculum CollegeLocation
Greeneville, TN
Graduation Rate36%
2 - Year Colleges
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Walters State Community CollegeLocation
Morristown, TN
Graduation Rate20%
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Columbia State Community CollegeLocation
Columbia, TN
Graduation Rate16%
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Motlow State Community CollegeLocation
Smyrna, TN
Graduation Rate22%
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Roane State Community CollegeLocation
Harriman, TN
Graduation Rate19%
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Nashville State Community CollegeLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate12%
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Dyersburg State Community CollegeLocation
Dyersburg, TN
Graduation Rate13%
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Cleveland State Community CollegeLocation
Cleveland, TN
Graduation Rate16%
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Northeast State Community CollegeLocation
Blountville, TN
Graduation Rate18%
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Chattanooga State Community CollegeLocation
Chattanooga, TN
Graduation Rate11%
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Jackson State Community CollegeLocation
Jackson, TN
Graduation Rate11%
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Pellissippi State Community CollegeLocation
Knoxville, TN
Graduation Rate15%
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Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeLocation
Memphis, TN
Graduation Rate5%
Tennessee Requirements for RN Licensure
The Tennessee Board of Nursing is an office working under the state’s Department of Health and issues licenses to registered and advanced practice nurses. All nurses who want to practice legally in the state must hold a valid and active license. Take a look at the process for licensure by examination in Tennessee.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a license, candidates must meet the following requirements. Candidates should also note that the Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts scores from both the State Board Test Pool Examination and the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
- Graduate from a Board-approved school of nursing
- Complete and pass a criminal background check
- Submit an application for licensure by examination alongside a passport-sized photo and a $115 application fee
- Have the application signed and notarized in front of a Notary Public
- Out-of-state students must formally request an application packet and submit an education verification form from their nursing school
- Register for the National Council Licensure Examination with Pearson VUE and pay a $200 testing fee
- After the Board of Nursing approves the application, an Authorization to Test (ATT) will be sent and the applicant can set a testing date
License Renewal in Tennessee
Tennessee registered nurses must renew their licenses every two years. The Board of Nursing sends out renewal notices at least 45 days before the nursing license expires, but it is the responsibility of nurses to ensure their license is renewed on time, even if notification is not received. Nurses are able to renew their license up to 60 days before they expire. The fee for renewal is $100.
Licensure for Tennessee APRNs
The Board of Nursing issues licenses to advanced practice nurses in four specialty roles: nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. The basic qualifications include at least a master’s degree in the specialized area, a national certification, demonstration of skills in the specialization, and three-quarter hours of study in pharmacology. Advanced practice nurses must apply for and obtain a DEA number and register with the Controlled Substance Monitoring Data website in order to prescribe medications. All applications must be notarized by a Notary Public. Additional application requirements include:
- Complete and submit application along with a $100 advanced practice certification fee and a $10 state regulatory fee
- Download and submit practitioner profile questionnaire along with application
- Complete and submit notice of formulary form
- Provide a passport-sized photograph with a signature on the front
- Submit an official nursing transcript that confers graduate nursing practice directly to the Board of Nursing
- Submit advanced practice certificate specialty program information, which must be completed by the Dean or Director of the student’s graduate program of study
- Submit notarized Declaration of Citizenship
Visit the Tennessee Board of Nursing for more information regarding advance practice registered nurses.
Career Outlook for Nurses in Tennessee
Nursing dominates the healthcare industry in Tennessee and is expected to account for 33 percent of the state’s healthcare job openings between 2010 and 2020. These figures, compiled in a report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, also project that Tennessee will have the fifth highest national concentration of nurses by 2020. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, demand for skilled nursing professionals is only expected to increase as the state works to serve numerous regions that are underserved and understaffed. Learn more about these occupational projections and the overall outlook for the nursing industry in Tennessee below.
Top-Paying Areas for RNs in Tennessee
| Area | Hourly Median Wage | Annual Median Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis TN-MS-AR | $28.32 | $58,900 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin TN | $28.30 | $58,870 |
| Chattanooga TN-GA | $27.72 | $57,670 |
| Clarksville TN-KY | $27.69 | $57,600 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27.07 | $56,300 |
| Johnson City | $26.43 | $54,980 |
| Knoxville | $26.11 | $54,310 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $25.32 | $52,670 |
| Cleveland | $25.20 | $52,420 |
| Western Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $25.09 | $52,190 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Tennessee vs. National Numbers
Salary
| 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 | $47,970 | $56,370 | $65,830 | $0 | $54,620 | $66,640 | $81,080 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | $60,490 | $68,980 | $76,400 | $0 | $82,580 | $96,970 | $114,090 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $125,660 | $142,180 | $163,190 | $0 | $132,380 | $153,780 | $181,860 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $78,640 | $90,040 | $103,800 | $0 | $82,720 | $95,350 | $113,470 |
| Type | Tennessee | National |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 55,560 | 2,687,310 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | 40 | 5,110 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 | 36,590 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 4,350 | 122,050 |
| Type | Tennessee | National |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 64,290 | 3,238,400 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | 100 | 7,700 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 2,770 | 43,900 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 5,560 | 147,300 |
| Type | Tennessee | National |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 1,880 | 105,260 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | 0 | 290 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 110 | 1,560 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 230 | 5,850 |
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014 and Projections Central
Registered Nursing Resources
Nursing in Tennessee is comprised of the Deans and Directors from nursing schools and programs in the state. They provide guidance to current and prospective students, highlight information about different nursing specializations, and offer advice on choosing the right type of training.
Tennessee Association of Student Nurses
TASN is a membership-based organization that supports nursing students preparing for initial licensure as a registered nurse. From NCLEX preparation to legislative action, the association offers a variety of resources to students entering the profession.
The Tennessee Board of Nursing is a regulatory government body responsible for overseeing the practice of nursing in the state. The Board of Nursing sets licensing standards, manages the licensing and renewal process, and deals with complaints against practicing nurses.
This association is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association and serves as the primary professional organization for registered nurses in Tennessee. The TNA offers support through public policy lobbying, scholarships, career resources, networking events, and conferences.
TAC is an advocacy group comprised of the AARP and University of Tennessee College of Nursing. Founded in 2010, the coalition advocates for improvements in health care and is primarily focused on the practice of nursing. It has relationships with multiple colleges of nursing and supports students through scholarship programs.