Hannah Pierce, BSN
June 26, 2025
Idaho offers flexible nursing pathways, from entry‑level Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificates to advanced Nurse Practitioner (NP) degrees, designed for the state’s mix of urban and rural healthcare settings. Whether you’re beginning as a CNA, moving from Registered Nurse (RN) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), completing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification, or enrolling in an NP program, Idaho’s colleges and health systems combine online and in‑person coursework with clinical rotations at Boise hospitals and frontier clinics. Graduates gain hands‑on experience, evidence‑based knowledge, and community‑focused skills, positioning them to meet Idaho’s growing demand for skilled nurses across both metropolitan areas and remote regions.
Nampa, ID - Private 4-year - nnu.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Northwest Nazarene University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program provides a comprehensive education with a Christian-based approach, integrating liberal arts and hands-on clinical practice in the Boise Valley. Students benefit from small class sizes, state-of-the-art simulation labs, and over 45 hours of clinical experience, preparing them for RN licensure and diverse nursing roles. The program emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based care, and cultural diversity, and requires an ACT or SAT entrance exam for admission. Accredited by CCNE, it also offers opportunities like international mission trips.
Pocatello, ID - Public 4-Year - isu.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Idaho State University's Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program offers a hybrid format, blending online coursework with in-person clinical experiences over four semesters. Designed for new nursing students and LPNs seeking a BSN, it prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam and professional roles. Prerequisites include a 3.0 GPA in Set A courses and a TEAS exam score of at least 60%, with no mention of ACT or SAT requirements. The program emphasizes critical thinking, leadership, and healthcare promotion, with scholarships available for both in-state and out-of-state students.
Boise, ID - Private 2-year - carrington.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Carrington College-Boise provides an Associate Degree in Nursing, preparing students for the NCLEX-RN exam through a campus-based curriculum. This program emphasizes hands-on training in patient care and medical procedures, requiring a high school diploma or GED for admission. It focuses on building foundational nursing skills without the need for ACT or SAT exams, as it is an associate-level program. Financial aid is available, and the training ensures readiness for diverse healthcare roles, making it ideal for those starting their nursing careers.
Boise, ID - Public 4-Year - boisestate.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Boise State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program tackles Idaho's nursing shortage with a robust curriculum emphasizing professional values, leadership, and clinical skills through diverse rotations. Admission requires a 2.5 GPA and completion of pre-nursing courses, but does not mandate an ACT or SAT exam. The program offers over $1.6 million in scholarships, a low faculty-to-student ratio, and unique clinical experiences, supported by a state-of-the-art simulation center and strong employer ties.
Idaho Falls, ID - Public 2-Year - cei.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
The College of Eastern Idaho's Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program delivers a robust education in nursing fundamentals, including anatomy, pharmacology, and patient care, enhanced by extensive clinical rotations in diverse healthcare environments. Students benefit from advanced simulation labs and dedicated faculty guidance, ensuring readiness for the NCLEX-RN exam. Admission requires a high school diploma, prerequisite courses with a C+ or better, and a minimum 3.0 GPA. With an estimated total cost of around $7,000 and ACEN accreditation, this program offers flexible full-time or part-time schedules, day or evening classes, and an LPN to RN bridge option, making it an accessible path to a registered nursing career.
Idaho’s LPN programs blend classroom instruction in anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and rural clinics. Over 12 to 18 months, students gain hands‑on experience administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assisting with patient recovery under professional supervision. After passing the NCLEX‑PN exam and earning licensure, graduates bolster Idaho’s practical nursing workforce, helping ensure reliable access to quality care across both urban centers and remote communities.
Idaho’s CNA courses last six to twelve weeks, combining classroom modules on infection control and patient comfort with supervised practicums across varied care facilities. Participants build proficiency in daily‑living assistance, vital‑sign checks, and basic mobility support, all under professional oversight. Upon certification, graduates bolster health teams in settings ranging from medical centers to rural clinics. Their foundational care enables licensed nurses to tackle complex clinical tasks and expand service reach throughout the state.
Idaho’s RN to BSN programs combine flexible online coursework in leadership, population and community health, informatics and healthcare policy with supervised clinical rotations across rural clinics and urban hospitals statewide. Offered in part‑time and accelerated formats, they allow RNs to continue working while they earn a BSN. This degree enhances expertise in evidence‑based practice and care coordination, meets employer and accreditation expectations for baccalaureate‑prepared nurses, and opens doors to leadership, specialty certification and public health roles throughout Idaho.
Idaho’s Nurse Practitioner programs transform a BSN foundation into specialized graduate practice through rigorous advanced coursework and immersive clinical rotations, usually completed in two to three years, in areas such as family health, pediatrics, and psychiatric-mental health. Offered via on-campus cohorts, hybrid schedules, and fully online formats at universities and nursing colleges across the state, these MSN and DNP pathways prepare nurses for APRN certification and Idaho licensure. Graduates step into roles as primary care providers, chronic care coordinators, and telehealth clinicians in urban medical centers, suburban clinics, and remote mountain-plateau communities. By bolstering the supply of advanced-practice nurses and extending high-level care into underserved regions, NP programs are essential to strengthening Idaho’s healthcare network.
| Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Common in rural areas, larger hospitals prefer BSN-prepared nurses |
| RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | Not offered in Idaho |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years (12-18 months accelerated) | High school diploma or ADN transfer | Strongly preferred statewide, programs emphasize rural and frontier healthcare |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced roles, NPs have full practice authority |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, DNP-prepared NPs practice independently statewide |
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website