How to Become a Registered Nurse in Florida

Florida map

Registered Nurses play a vital role in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.

If you become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Florida, you could be providing patient care, working alongside doctors, and even working to educate the public about health conditions.

Learning how to become an RN can help you get started quickly.

5 Registered Nurse Schools in Florida

You’ll find that there are a lot of schools in Florida where you can get the education needed to become a Registered Nurse.

Explore the various programs to see which one works best for you, your budget, and your schedule.

Florida Southwestern State College

Florida Southwestern State College Logo

FSW offers a nursing program where you can earn an AS in approximately two years – and there are both on-campus and virtual options available.

Additionally, practicum and clinical experiences will take place at various partner sites.

There are day and evening/weekend schedules available for you to choose from.

Regardless of what you choose, you’ll gain access to classroom instruction as well as simulation education.

The total cost of the program over the four semesters will cost around $15,300 and that includes books, lab fees, and simulation fees.

Jersey College

Jersey College Logo

Located in Sunrise, Florida, the Jersey College School of Nursing offers an RN program for “generic nursing” that will earn you an associate degree.

You’ll participate in classroom theory, skill labs, and clinical experiences.

The holistic approach to nursing education allows you to explore the ever-changing needs of society in relation to the physical, emotional, economic, social, and spiritual needs of the patient.

You can actually choose to take courses across many campuses including Brooksville, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Largo, Naples, Port Charlotte, and Tampa.

You can estimate tuition to be around $12,445 for in-state residents per year.

Herzing University

Herzing University Logo

Herzing University offers an Associate in Nursing (ASN) to help you become an RN in Florida.

The program is offered at various campus locations and a number of classes are also offered online.

The program is between 20 and 24 months and you will need 72 credits to be able to graduate.

Once you graduate from the program, you’ll also be eligible to take your NCLEX-RN exam.

The cost is approximately $14,200 per year, though it will depend on the campus you choose to attend as well as the financial aid you qualify for.

Seminole State College

Seminole State College Logo

Seminole State College helps you to prepare to become an RN by offering an AS in Nursing.

There are full-time and part-time programs.

And upon graduation, if you decide you want to earn your BS, you can transfer into the RN to BSN program.

You’ll have classes taught by industry-experienced faculty and also have the flexibility to take some web-enhanced courses.

The curriculum has been carefully considered.

The program offers job placement after graduation.

If you take the classes full-time, it will take you two years to graduate with the AS in Nursing.

The cost of the tuition is approximately $3131 for in-state residents per year.

South Florida State College

South Florida State College Logo

You’ll find that there are some incredible options at South Florida State College.

You can earn an AS in Nursing by completing a full-time day program that will take two years and consist of 72 credit hours.

If you already have an LPN, you can also take on a “transition nursing” program to become an RN.

This will take 13 months and while you will still complete 72 credit hours, you likely have some of those credits already.

Both programs will allow you to sit for your NCLEX-RN exam upon graduation so that you can become a Registered Nurse.

The tuition for in-state residents is approximately $3165 per year.

Registered Nurse Schools in Florida – Summary Table

Top 5 Schools in Florida

School NameAddress
Florida Southwestern State College8099 College Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Jersey College7775 W Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33351
Herzing University1865 FL-436, Winter Park, FL 32792
Seminole State College100 Weldon Blvd, Sanford, FL 32773
South Florida State College600 W College Dr, Avon Park, FL 33825

Salary

The salary of an RN in Florida can vary depending on the type of department, such as pediatrics, oncology, or geriatrics.

Additionally, experience, education, and even if you supervise others can have an impact on what kind of salary you can expect.

Salary.com estimates that a pediatric RN in Tampa, Florida can expect to earn a median salary of $71,880.

For those who are in the 90th percentile, it’s not uncommon to see a salary of $91,000 or more per year.

Annual Salary Range:
$56K
$63K
$72K

Average Salary of Registered Nurse (RN)s in Florida

City NameSalary
Jacksonville$62,940
Miami$64,650
Tampa$63,210
St. Petersburg$63,220
Hialeah$64,150
Orlando$63,170
Fort Lauderdale$64,490
Tallahassee$60,230
Hollywood$64,490
Pembroke Pines$64,070
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Florida

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL6,030$79,110$38.04$97,530$61,860
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL1,800$73,540$35.35$87,000$53,230
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL5,380$72,550$34.88$90,390$53,740
Gainesville, FL6,020$80,940$38.91$98,750$62,150
Homosassa Springs, FL850$76,810$36.93$101,500$55,970
Jacksonville, FL17,440$78,490$37.74$98,910$61,980
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL4,400$74,670$35.9$89,680$62,330
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL55,200$81,810$39.33$103,020$62,300
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL2,700$82,280$39.56$101,770$62,800
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL7,050$79,100$38.03$96,970$62,420
Ocala, FL2,680$70,950$34.11$90,520$59,490
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL24,040$79,120$38.04$100,120$62,620
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL4,740$74,070$35.61$94,680$51,850
Panama City, FL1,550$74,540$35.84$92,170$59,090
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL4,940$71,510$34.38$84,950$54,930
Port St. Lucie, FL3,140$77,230$37.13$100,430$52,840
Punta Gorda, FL1,360$76,680$36.86$94,350$55,430
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL1,560$75,600$36.35$99,200$61,480
Sebring, FL950$72,000$34.62$89,320$58,940
Tallahassee, FL3,310$71,890$34.56$93,620$57,180
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL31,600$79,920$38.42$98,320$63,130
The Villages, FL810$78,510$37.75$97,530$56,620
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Registered Nurses, OCC Code 29-1141, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of education is needed to become an RN?

You will need to have at least an associate degree – though some employers will prefer for you to have a bachelor’s degree.

Overall, you should expect to spend two to four years getting your education to become an RN.

What are the top healthcare employers in Florida?

Some of the top healthcare employers that provide positions for RNs in Florida include United Health Group, HCA Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic, and Florida Hospital.

Where are the most opportunities for RNs in Florida?

The most opportunities exist in the more populated cities.

This includes Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando.

How often do you need to renew your license in Florida?

You will need to renew your license every two years so that you can remain able to practice within the state.

What is the cost to get licensed as an RN in Florida?

It will cost $130 for you to get licensed as an RN in Florida.

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