Become an RN in Florida:
FAQs at our Melbourne Campus
Become a Registered Nurse with a BSN degree at Arizona College of Nursing – Melbourne. Below you will find some of the frequently asked questions that future RN’s often ask our campus faculty and staff.
How long does it take to become a registered nurse (RN)?
The length of time it takes to become an RN with a BSN can vary depending on the program and the student’s prior educational background. Bachelor’s degrees often take 4 years to complete, but with our 3-year BSN program, you can complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in as few as 3 years.
If you have completed some college credit or have a degree in another field, qualifying transfer credits can shorten your program length. To learn more about the pathway to becoming an RN with a BSN degree in Arizona, contact an admissions representative at our Phoenix campus.
Preparing Future RNs at Arizona College of Nursing – Melbourne
Understanding the differences between a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is crucial to planning your nursing career path. This is because the education requirements between RNs and LPNs vary significantly. An LPN program typically takes about 1-2 years to complete. It is intended to prepare students for entry-level nursing roles to perform basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians.
Click here to read our blog post comparing a LPN Program with a BSN Program.
Registered Nurses in Florida have a median salary of $80,960 per year.
As you will be newly entering the workforce, it’s important to know that you will likely not start at the median rate but would likely increase your earnings with experience.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that Registered Nurses in Florida range from a low rate of $63,520, per year, to the highest-paid Nurses earning as much as $105,580 per year.
Updated 2024. Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1141.00?st=FL
One of the great benefits about working as an RN is that you have many different options for work environments. As of 2022, registered nurses held about 3.1 million jobs.
The largest employers of registered nurses were as follows:
- Hospitals (59%)
Ambulatory healthcare services (18%)
Nursing and residential care facilities (6%)
Government (5%)
Educational services; state, local, and private (3%)
Updated 2022. Source:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-3
Transferring credits can get you on track to complete your program in less time and at a lower cost. Students can progress through our BSN program of study in 3-years or less with qualifying gen ed transfer credits. For questions about transfer credits, including credits associated with college level credit test scores, visit our Campus Locations page for details to contact your local campus.
Read more about Arizona College of Nursing’s credit transfer requirements.
Students of all ages and backgrounds who qualify may be eligible for a variety of financial aid programs and payment options including:
- Federal student loans
- Federal PELL and SEOG grants
- Eligible State-based grant programs
- Private educational loans
- Military veteran educational benefits (ex: Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®)*
*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill. The Falls Church, Hartford, Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Chesapeake Arizona College of Nursing campuses are not approved to train eligible Veterans and their dependents.
Yes. While every student’s schedule may vary due to prior academic experience, you’ll start your BSN degree program with evening general education courses. In addition, some general education courses are offered in a convenient on-campus/online hybrid format.
We offer general education courses in the evening because we know students are busy and often can’t immediately change their entire schedule when starting Nursing school.
Once you begin your Core Nursing courses, your schedule will shift to daytime classes.
As of 2020, there were 189,120 RNs employed in Florida.
Registered Nurses jobs in Florida are projected to grow by 15% between 2020 and 2030.
RN employment in the United States is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, creating 193,100 new nursing jobs.
Updated 2024: Data Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/29-1141.00?st=FL
There are various parts of the cost to become a nurse in the state of Florida. First, you must complete an accredited nursing program.
Next, RNs in Florida must pay an Examination Fee ($100) and an additional $175 to the Florida Board of Nursing. This fee covers the application and licensure.
Source: https://www.nursinglicensure.org/state/nursing-license-florida.html
After three failures of the same level of examination (RN or LPN), regardless of jurisdiction, the applicant must successfully complete a Florida Board of Nursing approved remedial course.
Students should expect to complete the majority of our BSN program in person. Many classes like our simulation labs are hosted in person, along with clinicals training.
However, some classes in the BSN program may be hosted online. The exact classes hosted in an online format can vary.
Contact our admissions team to learn more about our online class formats, and how you can earn a BSN degree in just 3 years.
Arizona College of Nursing does not offer an LPN to BSN/RN bridge program. However, you still have the ability to enroll in our 3-year BSN degree program.
Your prior nursing experience will serve you well as you complete the coursework, and it will be especially helpful during the clinical training portion of the program.
We encourage you to contact our admissions team and mention your prior nursing experience. They’ll tell you more about how LPN experience can help you in the BSN program.