Nevada has one of the most acute nursing shortages in the United States. Las Vegas — home to roughly three-quarters of Nevada’s population — is a young, fast-growing city with a healthcare system that has struggled for years to keep pace with population growth. Major systems including CommonSpirit Health’s Dignity Health, HCA Healthcare (which operates the largest private hospital network in Las Vegas), and the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System all operate in the Las Vegas Valley and employ thousands of RNs. Demand consistently outstrips local supply, which creates strong hiring conditions for graduates of Nevada nursing programs.
Nevada joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) in 2023. This means Nevada RNs who hold a Nevada primary license can practice in all other NLC member states — a valuable benefit for travel nurses and for nurses who work near the California or Arizona borders. (California is not a compact member, so a Nevada license does not allow California practice.)
Nevada’s nursing school landscape is smaller than its healthcare market needs, which is precisely why nursing graduates from Nevada programs face favorable employment conditions.
Types of nursing programs in Nevada
Nevada offers core nursing pathways from CNA through graduate-level preparation, though the program density is lower than many larger states.
CNA programs (4–8 weeks) CNA certification programs are available at Nevada colleges and some hospital systems. Nevada State Board of Nursing approval is required for CNA programs.
LPN programs (12 months) LPN programs prepare students for the NCLEX-PN and direct patient care roles. Several private career colleges in Las Vegas offer LPN tracks. Tuition ranges from $12,000–$20,000.
ADN programs (2 years post-prerequisites) Community college ADN programs are the most common entry path to RN licensure in Nevada. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) in Las Vegas and Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno are the primary public options. In-state community college tuition typically runs $4,000–$8,000 per year.
BSN programs (4 years) Four-year BSN programs are available at University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), University of Nevada Reno (UNR), and Nevada State University. In-state tuition at Nevada System of Higher Education schools runs approximately $8,000–$12,000 per year.
Accelerated BSN (12–18 months) UNLV’s School of Nursing and Roseman University of Health Sciences (in Henderson) both offer accelerated BSN programs for career changers. Roseman is a private health sciences university with an intensive cohort-based model. Total accelerated BSN costs at private schools run $55,000–$80,000.
RN-to-BSN and MSN UNLV and UNR offer online-accessible RN-to-BSN tracks. MSN programs are available for specialty and advanced practice pathways.
Top nursing schools in Nevada
Nevada’s nursing program landscape is concentrated in Las Vegas (Clark County) and Reno (Washoe County), reflecting the state’s population distribution.
| School | Location | Program types | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNLV School of Nursing | Las Vegas | BSN, ABSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) | Reno | BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Nevada State University | Henderson | BSN, RN-to-BSN | CCNE |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences | Henderson / South Jordan, UT | BSN, ABSN, MSN | ACEN |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) | Las Vegas / Henderson / North Las Vegas | ADN, LPN | ACEN |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) | Reno | ADN | ACEN |
| Great Basin College | Elko | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
UNLV School of Nursing is the flagship baccalaureate and graduate nursing program in Las Vegas. The school offers a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN for career changers, and an MSN/DNP track. UNLV’s clinical partnerships span HCA hospitals, Dignity Health, University Medical Center (the region’s Level I trauma center), and the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, giving students access to high-acuity clinical environments.
University of Nevada, Reno serves northern Nevada with BSN and graduate programs. UNR’s nursing school has a strong rural health focus, which is relevant given Nevada’s vast rural areas where nurse shortages are especially acute.
Nevada State University (formerly Nevada State College) is a newer university in Henderson that offers an affordable BSN. The school focuses on first-generation college students and has grown its nursing program substantially.
Roseman University of Health Sciences is a private health sciences university with a cohort-based, accelerated model. The university operates across Henderson, NV and South Jordan, UT. Roseman’s nursing program is intensive and full-time — designed for students who can commit fully to the program without outside employment. NCLEX pass rates have been strong.
College of Southern Nevada is the largest community college in Nevada and the primary ADN entry point for Las Vegas-area students. The nursing program is competitive for admissions, with a waiting list common in prior years. CSN graduates are well-positioned for employment at nearby Las Vegas hospital systems.
Admission requirements
Nevada nursing programs follow standard prerequisite requirements, with competitive programs having effective GPA benchmarks above minimum thresholds.
Standard prerequisites:
| Course | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II | With lab; grade of C or better |
| Microbiology | With lab |
| Chemistry | Introductory or general chemistry |
| English Composition | Grade of C or better |
| Psychology | General psychology |
| Statistics or math | Required by BSN programs |
| Nutrition | Required by some programs |
GPA requirements: Most Nevada programs set minimums at 2.75–3.0, but competitive programs such as UNLV’s BSN typically admit students with cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or above.
Entrance exams: ATI TEAS is required by most Nevada ADN programs. UNLV and Roseman have their own application requirements — check each school’s current admissions page.
See ATI TEAS vs. HESI: which should you take? for a comparison of the two major nursing entrance exams. Students who don’t meet GPA minimums should review low GPA nursing schools for alternative entry pathways.
NCLEX pass rates in Nevada
The Nevada State Board of Nursing tracks first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rates for all approved programs. Nevada’s pass rates have historically been somewhat variable by institution — UNLV and UNR generally post rates near or above the national average of approximately 87% (2023 data), while some smaller or newer programs may fall below.
When evaluating Nevada programs, pay close attention to multi-year trends rather than a single year’s data. First-attempt pass rates are publicly available and should be requested directly from any program you are seriously considering.
The nursing shortage in Nevada means that even graduates who require more than one attempt to pass NCLEX will find employment — but first-attempt pass rate remains the best available proxy for program quality and student preparation. For a deeper look at how to read pass rate data, see NCLEX pass rates by nursing school.
Nursing salaries in Nevada
Nevada RN salaries are lower than some western states but have been increasing as healthcare systems compete for scarce nursing talent.
BLS data places the mean annual RN salary in Nevada at approximately $85,000–$90,000. The range runs from around $62,000 for new graduates in outpatient settings to $120,000+ for experienced nurses in ICU, OR, and emergency roles at major Las Vegas hospitals.
Highest-paying areas:
- Las Vegas metro (Clark County) — HCA hospitals (MountainView, Sunrise, Desert Springs), University Medical Center, and Dignity Health Siena Medical Center are the primary large employers and pay above Nevada’s state average
- Reno (Washoe County) — Renown Health is the dominant employer; salaries trail Las Vegas but the cost of living is lower
- Rural Nevada — Rural facilities often offer incentive pay, housing stipends, and loan forgiveness to attract nurses to underserved communities
Nevada’s job growth for RNs is projected above the national average through 2032, driven by population growth in the Las Vegas Valley and a persistent supply gap.
RN licensing in Nevada
State board: Nevada State Board of Nursing (NSBN) Website: nevadanursingboard.org
To become a licensed RN in Nevada:
- Graduate from a Nevada State Board of Nursing-approved program
- Apply to the NSBN for an Authorization to Test
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
- Complete a fingerprint-based background check
- Receive your Nevada RN license
NLC compact status: member since 2023. Nevada joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2023. Nurses who have Nevada as their primary state of residence can apply for a multistate license that permits practice in all other NLC member states. This is especially relevant for Nevada nurses interested in travel nursing — a single Nevada license covers more than 40 states without separate endorsement applications.
Note that California (Nevada’s largest border state) is not an NLC member. If you plan to work in California, you will need a separate California RN license regardless of your Nevada compact license.
Endorsement: Out-of-state nurses can apply for a Nevada license by endorsement through the NSBN. Nevada participates in the Nursys license verification system. A background check is required for all applicants.
For complete state-by-state licensing details, see nursing license by state.
How to choose a nursing school in Nevada
Nevada’s smaller program landscape simplifies the decision in some ways but also means your options are more geographically constrained.
Accreditation: CCNE and ACEN are both legitimate accrediting bodies. Confirm any program you consider holds current accreditation — the NSBN website lists all approved programs.
Las Vegas vs. Reno: If you are based in Las Vegas, UNLV, Nevada State, CSN, and Roseman all offer viable pathways depending on your timeline, GPA, and budget. If you are in northern Nevada, UNR and TMCC are the primary options.
Cost: CSN’s ADN is the lowest-cost path to RN in Nevada. UNLV’s BSN is more expensive but provides a direct path to BSN-level roles without an additional RN-to-BSN step. Roseman’s accelerated program is expensive but fast.
Employment connection: Programs with established clinical partnerships to the major Las Vegas health systems (HCA, Dignity, UMC) tend to produce stronger hiring outcomes. Ask each program where clinical rotations are placed.
Long-term mobility: Nevada’s compact membership since 2023 means that building your primary license here gives you multistate flexibility — useful if you plan to do travel nursing later in your career.
For a comprehensive framework to evaluate any nursing school, see how to choose a nursing school.