Florida Nursing Schools And Programs

Florida is one of the top states in the country for nurse employment, and its large healthcare systems and aging population keep demand high. This guide covers strong nursing programs in the state, how to get licensed, and what RNs and advanced practice nurses earn.

Strong Nursing Schools in Florida

The University of Central Florida has trained nurses since 1959. Undergraduates can enroll in a traditional BSN, a second-degree BSN for those with a non-nursing background, or an RN-to-BSN bridge. Students can also complete an associate of science in nursing at an approved state college while taking BSN courses concurrently at UCF.

Florida State University offers an upper-division BSN for students who have finished 60 credits, including nursing prerequisites and general education. The limited-enrollment program admits 72 students each fall and spring, and coursework emphasizes care for patients from diverse backgrounds.

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies runs undergraduate and graduate programs. Its doctor of nursing practice is mostly online, with three to four onsite weekends each semester, a two-semester capstone project, and a comprehensive exam in the final term.

The University of South Florida College of Nursing administers accredited BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD programs. The MSN offers several advanced practice tracks, each requiring 27 core credits plus at least 18 credits in the chosen nurse practitioner concentration.

Florida International University opened in 1972 and now runs more than 20 nursing programs. Its graduate division offers MSN degrees and postgraduate certificates in the same clinical specialties, letting nurses who already hold an MSN earn national certification in another specialty area.

Florida Southern College, the oldest private college in the state, offers undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees. Its selective direct-entry BSN admits students straight out of high school, who begin nursing classes in the first year and start clinical placements in the fall of the second.

The University of North Florida runs undergraduate and graduate programs, including a post-MSN certificate for nurses who do not want a clinical doctorate. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate requires 30 credits and 750 clinical hours.

Lake-Sumter State College offers nursing degrees at the associate and bachelor's level. The associate of science prepares graduates for RN licensure; the BSN admits students who hold an associate degree or diploma and an active RN license, or who are eligible for licensure.

The University of Tampa awards bachelor's, master's, and doctoral nursing degrees. Its parttime MSN, built for nurses already working in healthcare, offers adult-gerontology and family nurse practitioner tracks and requires three to four clinical practicums for a minimum of 224 practice hours.

Ave Maria University, a private Catholic school in southwest Florida, offers a 130-credit BSN built on a two-year pre-nursing track followed by two years of nursing coursework, capped by a review course that prepares students for RN licensure.

How to Choose a Nursing Program in Florida

Weigh tuition and financial aid, the NCLEX-RN pass rate, the acceptance rate, and whether the format fits your schedule. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which public and many private schools use to set aid. Florida students may also qualify for state programs like the Florida Student Assistance Grant, the Florida Work Experience Program, and Bright Futures scholarships. Stick to accredited programs, since only an accredited degree qualifies you for the NCLEX. If you study online, confirm you can get clinical placement in your community, and consider whether a school places students at one of Florida's Magnet-designated hospitals.

Why Become a Nurse in Florida

Florida ranks among the top states for nurse employment, behind only California and Texas, and demand keeps rising with the state's growing and aging population.

Cost of living runs slightly below the national average, and Florida has no state income tax. The tradeoff is that the state has no mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios. Florida is a right-to-work and at-will employment state, so an employee can quit without notice and an employer can end employment without giving a reason, as long as the termination does not violate anti-discrimination law.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Florida

Florida RN pay runs below the national figure, but so does the cost of living. The median annual wage for registered nurses nationally is $93,600 (BLS, May 2024), and Florida sits below that mark. Nurse practitioners in Florida earn a mean of about $128,000, close to the national NP median of roughly $129,000.

Demand stays strong, fueled by population growth and an aging resident base, and a fast-growing job market can strain nurse-to-patient ratios until openings fill.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Florida

Florida requires nurses to graduate from an accredited program, pass the relevant national exam, and clear a background check. Both RNs and APRNs renew every two years.

RN Requirements

Complete an accredited ADN or BSN, then apply to take the NCLEX-RN. Passing it earns your license from the Florida Board of Nursing. You must submit fingerprints electronically to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and applicants with a criminal or health history must provide additional documentation. Renewal every two years requires roughly two dozen contact hours of continuing education, including mandatory courses on medical-error prevention, Florida laws and rules, and human trafficking. The active-license renewal fee is $75 and rises if your license has lapsed.

Florida is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a nurse who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Florida without applying for a separate license.

APRN Requirements

APRNs graduate from an accredited MSN or DNP program and hold national certification in their specialty. As of 2025, new certified registered nurse anesthetists must graduate from a doctoral program. Florida issues separate RN and APRN licenses, and maintaining your specialty certification satisfies the continuing education requirement for the RN license. Applicants submit fingerprints, proof of national certification, and proof of malpractice insurance. The APRN license and application fee is $110, plus $100 for a dispensing license.

Florida is a restricted-practice state for nurse practitioners. NPs generally work under a written protocol with a supervising physician, though a 2020 law lets qualifying primary-care NPs register for autonomous practice without physician supervision.