Career Outlook for Nurse Practitioners in the Raleigh-Durham Area
Nurse practitioners (NPs) in North Carolina experience some of the strongest career outcomes of NPs nationwide in terms of employment levels and salaries.
With 4,400 working NPs as of May 2016, North Carolina ranks among the top 10 states for NP employment. North Carolina NPs earn, on average, $57,810 more per year than the average employed North Carolinian. In the Raleigh area specifically, NPs earn a mean annual salary of $96,180.
To become a nurse practitioner in North Carolina, nurses must complete a nursing master’s degree from a nationally accredited program and receive certification from one of the following organizations:
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- The National Certification Corporation (NCC), in the Obstetric, Gynecological, or Neonatal Nursing Specialties
- The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Scope of Practice in North Carolina
North Carolina offers Raleigh NPs a restricted scope of practice, and state practice and licensure law requires NPs to apply for physician approval to operate annually. The North Carolina Board of Nursing and the North Carolina Medical Board jointly regulate the practice and licensure of North Carolina NPs.
Even with these limitations, North Carolina NPs — including NPs working in the Raleigh-Durham area — are able to provide comprehensive care in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, and acute and complex care settings.
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a nurse practitioner in the Raleigh-Durham area? Learn more about Nursing@Georgetown’s online master’s programs by requesting information below.
Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/2016/may/oes291171.htm (2016)
https://www.nursinglicensure.org/np-state/north-carolina-nurse-practitioner.html#education