To work as a registered nurse in Arizona, candidates must first complete an accredited course from an institution approved by the Arizona Board of Nursing.
Candidates must complete a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree program before taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Upon graduation and passing the exam with the required minimum grade, students will become registered nurses in Arizona and may practice in their field.
Working as a registered nurse in Arizona is both challenging and rewarding.
Candidates working as registered nurses report high job satisfaction.
5 Registered Nurse Schools in Arizona
The following schools are approved by the Arizona Board of Nursing.
1. Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
The program may be completed in four and a half years or nine semesters of study.
The school also offers a career ladder program for qualified RNs who want to advance to a BSN qualification and an accelerated program.
These programs are offered in two formats: online and traditional.
In addition, a concurrent enrollment program is offered for students who opt first to pursue an associate degree in nursing.
Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) upon completion.
The school boasts an impressive 94.34% pass rate.
The annual in-state tuition at the school is $11,024.
2. Arizona College
Arizona College offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program.
The program is accelerated and may be completed in as little as three years.
Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) upon completion.
The school boasts an impressive 91.95% pass rate.
The BSN program is offered in a traditional classroom format, and a bridging program is available for students.
The annual tuition for the school is $13,200 and is not affected by the state where the students reside in.
3. Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University offers a Bachelor of Science program.
The BSN program is offered in a traditional format.
An additional program is offered online: the RN to BSN.
Both programs are open to enrollment, and there is no waiting period for acceptance of either of these programs.
Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) upon completion.
The school boasts an impressive 90.37% pass rate.
The annual tuition for the school is $16,500, which is not affected by student residency.
The school is fairly new but presents an excellent curriculum with outstanding faculty.
4. Carrington College
Carrington College offers an Associate Degree program in Nursing.
The program may be completed in two years or four semesters.
Students should remember that the Accreditation Commission initially credited the program for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
This applies to the Mesa, Arizona, campus.
The program prepares students with courses in pharmacology, maternal child nursing, medical surgical nursing, and community and mental health nursing.
Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) upon completion.
The school has an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 78.33% pass rate.
The Mesa, Arizona campus has the highest pass rate.
Tuition is very affordable at this school and is approximately $15,202 annually.
5. Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree program in nursing.
The four-year program may be completed in a traditional classroom format or online.
Students have access to an internationally accredited state-of-the-art facility where they can practice theory and gain clinical experience.
Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) upon completion.
The school boasts an impressive 88.39% pass rate. The annual in-state tuition for the school is $12,698.
The school has a good reputation and offers a well-balanced curriculum with excellent faculty.
Registered Nurse Schools in Arizona – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Arizona
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | S San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 |
| Arizona College | 4425 W Olive Ave #300, Glendale, AZ 85302 |
| Grand Canyon University | 3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017 |
| Carrington College | 8909 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826 |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ 85281 |
Salary
Registered nurses working in the capital city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are compensated based on their qualifications and years of experience.
The salary range for an RN, depending on the exact position in this city, is $58,259 to $104,480.
The salary will also depend on the facility that the RN is working in.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Registered Nurse (RN)s in Arizona
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | $65,600 |
| Tucson | $62,400 |
| Mesa | $65,610 |
| Glendale | $65,600 |
| Scottsdale | $65,610 |
| Chandler | $65,610 |
| Tempe | $65,610 |
| Gilbert | $65,610 |
| Peoria | $65,470 |
| Yuma | $65,470 |
Regional Salary in Arizona
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 1,050 | $80,670 | $38.79 | $96,500 | $63,240 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 40,240 | $87,410 | $42.03 | $105,580 | $66,630 |
| Prescott, AZ | 1,070 | $89,660 | $43.11 | $119,160 | $64,410 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 550 | $77,720 | $37.37 | $92,630 | $62,480 |
| Tucson, AZ | 7,980 | $83,590 | $40.19 | $101,900 | $65,060 |
| Yuma, AZ | 1,130 | $85,670 | $41.19 | $103,560 | $65,730 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a demand for RNs in Arizona?
Yes.
There is a high demand for RNs in Arizona due to the aging population.
In addition, Arizona is the 15th highest-paying state for RNs in the United States.
Furthermore, there is a 35% projected growth in this field.
Is Arizona a good state for nurses?
Yes.
Due to the higher wages paid for RNs in Arizona and the fairly good work-life balance, Arizona is a good state for RNs to work in.
Is working as an RN in Arizona stressful?
Working as an RN, regardless of which state you live or work in, is a very demanding job that creates a high amount of stress.
However, the competitive salaries paid in this field often mitigate the stress.
In addition, the facility that the RN works at will play a significant role in the amount of stress that the RN experiences daily.
How long is the Arizona RN license valid?
The license is valid for two years and needs to be renewed on or before the candidate’s birthday in the second year.
Do you need a license to work as an RN in Arizona?
Yes.
You must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and pass with a satisfactory grade to obtain licensure.
