Becoming a Registered Nurse in Alabama + Requirements & Licensing
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Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Alabama nurses must meet the state’s licensing requirements and successfully renew their nursing license every two years. Learn about the licensing and renewal process, salary information, and resources for Alabama nurses.
Becoming a Nurse in Alabama: Fast Facts
- Degree Required: ADN or BSN
- License Required: Registered Nursing License
- License Fee: $128.50
- Renewal Fee: $103.50
- Job Outlook:6% growth from 2022-2032
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
How to Become a Nurse in Alabama
To work in Alabama, you must earn your nursing degree, pass the NCLEX, find employment, and renew your license biannually. Be prepared to pay applicable fees, meet clinical practice requirements, and send proof of your unencumbered license if you are a nurse in another state applying for an Alabama nursing license.
The following steps describe the Alabama State Board of Nursing requirements.
- 1
Apply to an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).
Your nursing education builds the foundation of your practice and is necessary to take the NCLEX. Consider the below factors when choosing a nursing program:
- NCLEX pass rates
- Affordability
- Location
- Student resources
- Accreditation
- 2
Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive RN licensure.
This crucial step enables you to get an Alabama State Board of Nursing (BON) license. Passing the NCLEX-RN also indicates you’ll be a competent nurse.
- 3
Apply for jobs at local hospitals.
Start your search by checking job boards and employer career pages. Ask your peers about openings, explore nurse residency programs, and expand your circle by attending networking events.
- 4
Advance your career with a graduate degree or certification.
Expand your scope of practice, and earn higher wages by furthering your education. Specializing your nursing career can help you stand out to employers and demonstrate your passion for the field.
- 5
Maintain and renew licensure and certifications.
Nursing license renewal ensures you’re still actively practicing and up-to-date on industry changes. Every two years, you must pay the $103.50 renewal fee, and complete 24 hours of continuing education.
Alabama Board of Nursing
The Alabama Board of Nursing is the state regulatory body for nursing professionals. To work in Alabama, you must be approved by this organization. Reach out to the state BON for any licensure questions and concerns.
The Alabama BON ensures the well-being of the public by approving qualified individuals for licensure and renewal, and enforcing disciplinary actions.
The Alabama BON’s nursing resources include:
- Approved nursing programs and continuing education providers
- License verification
- Nursing legislation information
- Nursing practice act and scope of practice
How to Get Your Nursing License in Alabama
There are two ways to apply for your nursing license in Alabama: examination and endorsement. Licensure by examination is for newly graduated nurses, and endorsement is for practicing nurses from another state.
Alabama is part of the nurse licensure compact (NLC). Nurses with multi-state licenses can practice in Alabama as long as they meet its BON’s standards. If you have a multi-state license and you want to make Alabama your primary state, you must apply for licensure by endorsement.
Licensure for New Nurses
Before applying for licensure, new nurses must graduate from an accredited nursing school and pass the NCLEX. The application process is described below.
RN Licensure Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements ensure you can practice safely, ethically, and legally. Meeting these standards also means there’s a good chance your application will be approved. Make sure you are eligible before starting your application.
To be eligible to practice nursing in Alabama, new RNs must show proof of:
- U.S. citizenship/residency status
- Background check
- Accredited associate in nursing degree or bachelor of nursing degree
- Passing NCLEX scores
Steps to Apply for RN License
To apply for Alabama RN licensure and register for the NCLEX-RN, new nurses must gather the correct licensure by examination application materials. Carefully read the Alabama BON’s instructions to avoid unnecessary delays or rejections, and reach out with any questions. There’s no definite timeline for application processing.
Application materials include:
- Accredited nursing degree
- Passing NCLEX-RN score, submitted through Pearson
- Background check
- $125 application fee
- Valid social security number
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or residency
- Official nursing school transcripts
New nurses who want to obtain multi-state licenses must first apply for licensure by examination in Alabama and prove it’s their primary state of residence. Materials that prove Alabama is your primary state include:
- Driver’s license
- Voter registration card
- Federal income tax return
Licensure for Nurses from a Different State
Practicing nurses who want to work in Alabama must apply for licensure by endorsement. In other words, you must be endorsed by your current state BON to practice in Alabama.
Steps to Apply for RN License
There’s some overlap between applications for licensure by endorsement and examination. Both require a background check, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency, an accredited nursing school degree, and official transcripts.
Requirements unique to licensure by endorsement include:
- Current nursing license verification
- Twenty-four CE credits
- $125 application fee
Use Nursys to verify your license. If that option is unsuccessful, you can request verification from your current state to be sent to Alabama’s BON.
The 24 hours of continuing education must have been completed within the previous two years. If the education provider is approved by the Alabama BON, completed CE credits to meet your current state’s requirements can apply.
If you hold a multi-state license, you can practice in Alabama. Alabama residents who want multi-state licenses must first apply for a single-state license, then convert their license to multi-state.
How to Renew Your Nursing License in Alabama
Alabama nurses must renew their licenses every two years. Within that time frame, they must complete 24 hours of continuing education. For advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), six of those hours must be dedicated to pharmacology.
You need an unencumbered license. If you have experienced any disciplinary actions during the last two years, your application will be subject to further review.
The renewal fees include:
- RN or LPN single-state license: $103.50
- APRN single-state license: $78.50
- RN or LPN multi-state license: $203.50
- APRN multi-state license: $78.50
Salary and Employment for Nurses in Alabama
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean salary for registered nurses was $80,010 as of May 2023, while Alabama nurses reported a mean salary of $71,370. Your earnings may vary based on your experience, location, and work setting.
The employment of RNs is expected to grow by 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the projections for all other occupations. Alabama’s state government projects over 4,000 job openings for registered nurses between 2020 and 2030.
Check out the table below for the top-paying metropolitan areas in Alabama.
| Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas | Mean Salary for RNs |
|---|---|
| Montgomery | $79,170 |
| Birmingham-Hoover | $75,180 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $68,480 |
| Tuscaloosa | $71,070 |
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville | $64,490 |
Best Hospitals to Work as Nurse in Alabama
Your work environment has a profound impact on your nursing career and overall job satisfaction. Specialties, education payment programs, reputations, and work culture are factors to consider when discerning the best workplace for you.
Some top-ranked employers for RNs in Alabama include:
- 1The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital: This facility employs approximately 4,200 nurses. It’s a hub for clinical research that provides access to treatments that are difficult to find elsewhere. It’s also one of the largest and best equipped in the nation.
- 2Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham: This hospital emphasizes holistic health and community care. Its specialties include women’s health, sports medicine, oncology, and cardiology.
- 3Ascension Providence Hospital-Mobile: This facility is a level III trauma center and birthing hospital. Patients can visit related on-campus services, such as rehabilitation centers and primary care clinics.
- 4Ascension St. Vincent’s Blount Hospital: This is the only hospital in Blount County. It has med-surg and ICU units, an emergency department, and surgical services. Its specialties include dermatology, pain management, urology, and physical therapy.
- 5Andalusia Health: This 88-bed acute care hospital provides services, such as diagnostics, emergency care, and surgery. They also offer chemotherapy, infusion services, and other forms of cancer care.
Resources for Nurses in Alabama
Alabama State Nurses Association
The Alabama State Nurses Association raises awareness of public health, advocates for nurses in Alabama, and promotes the improvement of professional nursing standards. The association’s newsletter includes industry updates, education and career opportunities, and networking events.
University of Alabama Health Sciences Library
The University of Alabama Health Sciences Library offers current journal and database subscriptions, audiovisual material, and other educational resources dedicated to healthcare. This facility is a comprehensive option for nurses seeking to educate themselves for school or personal inquiries.
Immunization Division
The Alabama Public Health Immunization Division provides up-to-date information on the required vaccinations for different age groups, travel, and novel diseases. This resource also includes vaccine investigations and cases, community outreach, and continuing education.
Alabama State Board of Nursing
The Alabama State Board of Nursing is your go-to resource for information about nursing licensure, education, disciplinary actions, and state-specific industry updates. All current and prospective Alabama nurses must reach out to this organization throughout their careers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alabama Nursing Licenses
Yes, Alabama is a compact state. Nurses with multi-state licenses can practice in Alabama, and RN residents of Alabama can practice in states participating in the NLC.
Page last reviewed on June 15, 2024
