- School nurses must obtain licensing to practice as a registered nurse. Options include two-, three- and four-year degrees from accredited institutions resulting in an associate degree, diploma or bachelor's degree in nursing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most are registered nurses and an increasing number hold a bachelor's of nursing degree. This education qualifies a graduate to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination to become licensed as a registered nurse.
- Certification opportunities exist for school nurses through the voluntary examination offered by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses. A bachelor's degree in nursing is required to sit for this examination. A manual covering school nurse certification is available from the National Association of School Nurses to prepare for testing. Certification renewal occurs on an every-five-year basis.
- The National Association of School Nurses works with the National Board for Certification of School Nurses to set school nurse standards at the national level by encouraging school nurses to seek national certification. Their purpose is to provide safe, effective and high quality nursing care for the students in our nation's schools. They hope to realize this goal through certification ensuring equal educational levels and other standards of school nurses nationwide.
- Requirements for school nurses vary by state and sometimes by school district, depending on the duties of the specific job opening. Some school nurses work at one school, while those in rural areas provide services to several schools. Others supervise various health care professionals in schools throughout a district. More states continue to include school nurse certification as an employment prerequisite. Obtain state-specific requirements by contacting your state nursing association or the school district in which you wish to work.
- Continuing education requirements exist for the school nurse certification, as well as for registered nurse licensing in some states. The certification offered by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses requires 75 hours of continuing education every five years for renewal. Continuing education courses count toward this requirement only if taken through an accredited institution.