RN Programs in North Carolina

North Carolina RN Programs

Those who are interested in a career that offers a promising salary and a chance to give back should look into registered nursing. Being an RN can open the door to many exciting jobs in the medical field. There are many RN programs in North Carolina available to begin a nursing career path, so it is possible to find the right one that suits the needs of individuals balancing work, home life and other responsibilities.

The first step in choosing an RN program in North Carolina is to choose the type of degree preferred. In registered nursing, one can choose to get a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree. Either degree can lead to a promising career.

Becoming Licensed by Examination in North Carolina

The first prerequisite for becoming an RN in North Carolina is to have completed an approved nursing education program. One who has completed this component can become licensed either by examination or endorsement, depending on whether or not the individual has been licensed in another state or jurisdiction.

In order to apply for licensure by examination, one must register for the NCLEX licensing exam and obtain Authorization to Test (ATT). After registering, one must submit an application to the North Carolina Board of Nursing and pay the $75 fee. Those who graduated from out of state nursing programs must submit official transcripts. All applicants are subject to a criminal background check.

Becoming Licensed by Endorsement in North Carolina

North Carolina is a member of the Nurse Licensing Compact. This means that North Carolina accepts a multi-state license from another state. Individuals who reside in another compact state must become licensed in that state. Those who reside in a non-compact state or are moving from one compact state to North Carolina can apply for licensure by endorsement.

In order to apply for licensure by endorsement, an applicant must have completed a program that is approved by the original state or jurisdiction of licensure. He or she must have passed the NCLEX or SBTPE. In addition, the following conditions must be met:

  • Payment of $150 fee
  • Verification of Licensure
  • Criminal Background Check and LiveScan Application (for NC residents)
  • Self-certification of sufficient mental and physical health
  • Unencumbered license in any board
  • Current license (refresher course necessary for licenses lapsed 5+ years)
  • Written explanation and completed court conditions related to any convictions or registry findings

Applicants for licensure by endorsement may be offered a permit to practice for up to 6 months while awaiting background check results.

Renewing an RN License

RN licenses must be renewed every two years. In order to be eligible for renewal, an individual must fulfill the following requirements:

  • License expiration within 3 months
  • Applicant does not have licensure in another compact state claiming primary residence
  • Must fulfill continuing education requirements

Additional Resources

RN Schools Near You & Online in North Carolina

Roanoke-Chowan Community College

  • 109 Community College Road Ahoskie, NC 27910
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, RN
    (252) 862-1200

Stanly Community College

  • 141 College Drive Albemarle, NC 28001
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, Radiography, RN
    (704) 982-0121

Randolph Community College

  • 629 Industrial Park Ave. Asheboro, NC 27205
    Programs: ADN, Radiography, RN
    (336) 633-0200

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College

  • 340 Victoria Road Asheville, NC 28801
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, Radiography, RN
    (828) 254-1921

Gardner-Webb University

  • 110 South Main Street Boiling Springs, NC 28017
    Programs: ADN, BSN, DNP, MSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (704) 406-4000

Brunswick Community College

  • 50 College Road Bolivia, NC 28422
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Health Information Management-Associate, LPN, RN
    (910) 755-7300

University of North Carolina

  • 250 E Franklin St. Chapel Hill, NC 27514
    Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, Clinical Nurse Leader, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Nursing PhD, Public Health Nursing, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, RN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN
    (919) 962-2211

Mercy School of Nursing

  • 2001 Vail Ave. Charlotte, NC 28207
    Programs: RN
    (704) 304-5000

University of North Carolina

  • 9201 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28223
    Programs: BSN, DNP, MSN, RN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN
    (704) 687-8622

Presbyterian Healthcare System

  • 200 Hawthorne Lane Charlotte, NC 28204
    Programs: ADN, BSN, MSN, Nursing Administration, Radiography, RN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN
    (704) 384-4000

Central Piedmont Community College

  • 1201 Elizabeth Avenue Charlotte, NC 28204
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Health Information Management-Associate, Medical Assistant, RN
    (704) 330-2722

Carolinas College of Health Sciences

  • 1200 Blythe Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28203
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Pre-Nursing Studies, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, RN
    (704) 355-5043

Sampson Community College

  • 1801 Sunset Avenue Clinton, NC 28329
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, RN
    (910) 592-8081

Region A Nursing Consortium

  • 185 Freedlander Dr. Clyde, NC 28721
    Programs: ADN, RN
    (828) 627-4652

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

  • 401 Medical Park Dr. Concord, NC 28025
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN, RN to BSN
    (704) 403-1555

Western Carolina University

  • 1 University Drive Cullowhee, NC 28723
    Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, EMT Paramedic, Family Nurse Practitioner - certificate, Health Information Management-Bachelor's, MSN, RN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN
    (828) 227-7317

Gaston College

  • 201 Highway 321 South Dallas, NC 28034
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (704) 922-6200

Surry Community College

  • 630 South Main Street Dobson, NC 27017
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (336) 386-8121

Bladen Community College

  • 7418 NC Hwy 41W Dublin, NC 28332
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, RN
    (910) 879-5500

North Carolina Central University

  • 1801 Fayetteville St. Durham, NC 27707
    Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (919) 530-6100

Duke University

  • Duke University Durham, NC 27708
    Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, BSN to DNP, DNP, MSN, Nurse Anesthetist, Nursing PhD, Physician Assistant, RN, RN to MSN
    (919) 684-8111

Durham Technical Community College

  • 1637 Lawson Street Durham, NC 27703
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Health Information Management-Associate, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (919) 536-7200

Watts School of Nursing

  • 2828 Croasdaile Dr., Suite 200 Durham, NC 27705
    Programs: RN
    (919) 470-7348

College of the Albemarle

  • 1208 North Road Street Elizabeth City, NC 27909
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (252) 335-0821

Fayetteville Technical Community College

  • 2201 Hull Road Fayetteville, NC 28303
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiography, RN
    (910) 678-8400

Fayetteville State University

  • 1200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC 28301
    Programs: BSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (910) 672-1111

Blue Ridge Community College

  • 180 West Campus Drive Flat Rock, NC 28731
    Programs: ADN, CNA, RN
    (828) 883-2520

Wayne Community College

  • 3000 Wayne Memorial Drive Goldsboro, NC 27534
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (919) 735-5151

Alamance Community College

  • 1247 Jimmie Kerr Rd. Graham, NC
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, RN
    (336) 578-2002

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

  • 1000 Spring Garden Street Greensboro, NC 27412
    Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, MSN, Nursing PhD, RN, RN to BSN
    (336) 334-5000

NC Agricultural & Technical State University

  • 1601 E Market St. Greensboro, NC 27411
    Programs: BSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (336) 334-7500

East Carolina University

  • East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858
    Programs: Accelerated MSN, BSN, Family Nurse Practitioner - certificate, Health Information Management-Bachelor's, Nursing PhD, Physician Assistant, RN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN
    (252) 328-6131

Pitt Community College

  • 1986 Pitt Tech Road Greenville, NC 28590
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Health Information Management-Associate, Medical Assistant, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, RN, Sonography
    (252) 493-7200

Richmond Community College

  • 1042 West Hamlet Avenue Hamlet, NC 28345
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (910) 410-1700

Vance-Granville Community College

  • 200 Community College Road Henderson, NC 27537
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, Radiography, RN
    (252) 492-2061

Lenoir Rhyne College

  • 625 7th Avenue NE Hickory, NC 28601
    Programs: BSN, RN
    (828) 328-7300

Catawba Valley Community College

  • 2550 US Highway 70 SE Hickory, NC 28602
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Health Information Management-Associate, Radiography, RN
    (828) 327-7000

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

  • 2855 Hickory Boulevard Hudson, NC 28638
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiography, RN, Sonography
    (828) 726-2200

Coastal Carolina Community College

  • 444 Western Blvd. Jacksonville, NC 28546
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, RN
    (910) 455-1221

Guilford Technical Community College

  • 601 High Point Road Jamestown, NC 27282
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (336) 334-4822

James Sprunt Community College

  • 133 James Sprunt Drive Kenansville, NC 28349
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (910) 296-2400

Lenoir Community College

  • 231 Hwy 58 South Kinston, NC 28502
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, Radiography, RN
    (252) 527-6223

Davidson County Community College

  • 20 East 1st Street Lexington, NC 27292
    Programs: ADN, Health Information Management-Associate, Medical Assistant, RN
    (336) 238-0969

Robeson Community College

  • 5160 Fayetteville Rd. Lumberton, NC 28360
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Radiography, RN
    (910) 272-3700

South Piedmont Community College

  • 4209 Old Charlotte Hwy Monroe, NC 28110
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, Radiation Therapy, RN, Sonography
    (704) 290-5100

Carteret Community College

  • 3505 Arendell Street Morehead City, NC 28557
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, Radiography, RN, Sonography
    (252) 222-6000

Western Piedmont Community College

  • 1001 Burkemont Ave. Morganton, NC 28655
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, RN
    (828) 438-6000

Craven Community College

  • 800 College Court New Bern, NC 28562
    Programs: ADN, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (252) 638-7200

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

  • 1 University Drive Pembroke, NC 28372
    Programs: BSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (910) 521-6000

Sandhills Community College

  • 3395 Airport Road Pinehurst, NC 28374
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Radiography, RN
    (910) 692-6185

Wake Technical Community College

  • 9101 Fayetteville Road Raleigh, NC 27603
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Medical Assistant, Radiography, RN
    (919) 866-5000

Newh Nursing Consortium

  • 225 Tarboro Street Rocky Mount, NC 27801
    Programs: ADN, RN
    (252) 446-0436

Piedmont Community College

  • 1715 College Drive Roxboro, NC 27573
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, RN
    (336) 599-1181

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

  • 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd., South Salisbury, NC 28146
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Radiography, RN
    (704) 637-0760

Central Carolina Community College

  • 1105 Kelly Dr. Sanford, NC 27330
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (919) 775-5401

Johnston Community College

  • 245 College Road Smithfield, NC 27577
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiography, RN, Sonography
    (919) 934-3051

Isothermal Community College

  • 286 ICC Loop Road Spindale, NC 28160
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, RN
    (828) 286-3636

Mayland Community College

  • 200 Mayland Drive Spruce Pine, NC 28777
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (828) 765-7351

Mitchell Community College

  • 500 West Broad Street Statesville, NC 28677
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, RN
    (704) 878-3200

Beaufort Community College

  • 5337 Hwy 264 East Washington, NC 27889
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, RN
    (252) 946-6194

Rockingham Community College

  • PO Box 38 Wentworth, NC 27375
    Programs: ADN, LPN, RN
    (336) 342-4261

Southeastern Community College

  • 4564 Chadbourn Hwy Whiteville, NC 28472
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Medical Assistant, RN
    (910) 642-7141

Wilkes Community College

  • 1328 S. Collegiate Drive Wilkesboro, NC 28697
    Programs: ADN, CNA, Medical Assistant, RN
    (336) 838-6100

University of North Carolina Wilmington

  • 601 S. College Road Wilmington, NC 28403
    Programs: BSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner - certificate, MSN, RN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN
    (910) 962-3000

Cape Fear Community College

  • 411 N Front St. Wilmington, NC 28401
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Radiography, RN
    (910) 362-7000

Barton College

  • P.O. Box 5000 Wilson, NC 27893
    Programs: BSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (252) 399-6300

Forsyth Technical Community College

  • 2100 Silas Creek Parkway Winston-Salem, NC 27103
    Programs: ADN, CNA, LPN, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Medical Assistant, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, RN
    (336) 723-0371

Winston-Salem State University

  • 601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27110
    Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, LPN to BSN, RN, RN to BSN
    (336) 750-2000