Montana Nursing Colleges & Licenses
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“Beyond the technical skills, nurses often serve as the emotional backbone for patients and their families, providing comfort and support during some of the most challenging times in their lives. Nurses also carry immense responsibility, making critical decisions under pressure and advocating for patient welfare.”
Martha Nugent, MSN, President of Eastern Montana Hospice House
Nursing has long been a respected profession in the United States. The nursing profession is currently beset by a number of challenges that transcend state boundaries. Some of these challenges include an aging populace that requires a reorientation of care models and resource allocation, the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency, continued technological advances, and retention of both new and experienced nursing professionals.
Montana, a large, rural state located in the Intermountain West, has been experiencing encouraging developments in its nursing workforce in recent years. The median age of the nursing workforce in Montana declined from 48.5 in 2015 to 45.2 in 2022. This declining median age is a result of the increasing number of nurses entering the profession in Montana in recent years.
Montana’s recently growing nursing workforce is nonetheless confronted with some serious challenges. Though Montana is characteristic of many rural states in that it faces some of the same challenges in providing quality, accessible care to its very rural population, its very low population density nonetheless still makes it a noteworthy outlier among rural states. Montana is the third least densely populated state, with slightly over one million residents living within an expanse of over 145,000 square miles. The sheer size of its geography thus makes effective healthcare delivery a perennial issue. Unsurprisingly, the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health has previously designated 52 of Montana’s 56 counties as medically underserved. Some counties do not have a single physician available. This lack of physicians often leaves nurses to offer a full scope of practice to alleviate this undersupply of physicians. The Montana Office of Rural Health/Area Health Education Center is striving to get more nurses in rural, underserved communities as but one solution to the issue of healthcare access.
The Montana Hospital Association (MHA), in collaboration with the Montana State Legislature, has established some goals to improve the sustainability of the state’s healthcare system. MHA seeks to successfully address the lack of primary care physicians, physician assistants, and other providers. This means doing more than just providing more nurses to rural areas. MHA has set goals such as improving access to medical education in Montana, continuing the development of primary care residency programs, maximizing the scope of practice allowed for licensed professionals, and preserving programs such as the Montana Rural Physician Incentive Program. Through these and other goals Montana seeks to improve its healthcare system further.
Read on to discover Montana’s top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, salary expectations, and licensing requirements for nursing careers in this state.
Meet the Expert: Martha Nugent, APRN, AGNP-C, OCN®
Martha Nugent is a seasoned healthcare professional with over a decade of experience in nursing and advanced practice roles. She is the president of Eastern Montana Hospice House and has been the principal managing partner at Thy Neighbor, LLC since December 2021.
Before this role, Nugent was an NP at Allcheck Medical Clinic, providing comprehensive primary and urgent care. She also served as an oncology NP at Sidney Health Center, managing complex cancer treatments and supporting patients through their journeys.
Nugent holds a master of science (AGNP) from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She is certified as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP-C) and an oncology certified nurse (OCN®). Based in Sidney, Montana, she continues to positively impact her community through her clinical practice and leadership. She is dedicated to advancing healthcare services and improving patient outcomes.
NursingColleges.com: What is something most people don’t know about the nursing profession?
Nugent: The nursing profession is a combination of a vast amount of knowledge, deep compassion, true integrity, accountability, and resilience. Many people don’t realize the extensive education and continuous learning nurses undergo to stay current with medical advancements.
Beyond the technical skills, nurses often serve as the emotional backbone for patients and their families, providing comfort and support during some of the most challenging times in their lives. Nurses also carry immense responsibility, making critical decisions under pressure and advocating for patient welfare. There is no other profession like nursing where you must balance scientific expertise with the human touch.
NursingColleges.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective nursing student?
Nugent: Make sure you are fully committed and have a great support system. Nursing school is demanding, both academically and emotionally, and having friends, family, or mentors to lean on can make a significant difference. It’s going to be a rough ride; you’ll face long hours, challenging coursework, and intense clinical rotations that will test your limits.
However, the journey is incredibly rewarding. The skills you acquire, the relationships you build, and the lives you touch along the way will make every moment worth it. Dedication and resilience are key but never underestimate the power of a solid support network to help you navigate through the tough times and celebrate your successes. It’s going to be a rough ride, but totally worth it!
Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in Montana
Montana State University Billings
The Montana State University Billings College of Health Professions and Science offers an RN-BSN degree completion program. This program is designed for nursing professionals seeking bachelor’s degree preparation to expand their skills and future career prospects.
The RN-BSN program is a 49-credit-hour program consisting of 33 nursing credits and 15 corequisite credits. Any previous coursework is evaluated at the time of application for possible use as transfer credits. Most courses are scheduled in eight-week blocks. Full-time students can reasonably expect to complete the program in three semesters (fall, spring, and summer) within twelve consecutive months. Part-time study options are also available and can be customized to meet individual students’ needs. The curriculum is designed according to the provisions of the Montana University System’s common curriculum as established by the HealthCare Montana consortium.
- Location: Billings, MT
- Duration: At least one year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Montana State University Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing (MRJCON) is recognized as a national leader in rural nursing research. MSU offers nursing programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels. Students seeking a BSN can complete one of two programs: a traditional BSN program or an accelerated (ABSN) bachelor of science in nursing degree. Undergraduate students may complete their coursework at one of five campuses. These campuses are in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula.
The traditional BSN program can typically be completed in eight semesters (four years). Students complete prerequisite courses and courses from the core 2.0 curriculum during their first two years. Their last two years of study are focused on nursing coursework. Students will begin working directly with patients in their junior year. High school graduates may also seek entry through the MRJCON Montana Nursing Direct Entry Program. Direct entry guarantees a spot in the traditional BSN program.
The ABSN program is designed for individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field. This program is offered on all five of the aforementioned campuses. Clinical requirements for this program are essentially the same as those in the BSN program. Students can complete this program in as little as twelve consecutive months.
- Location: Multiple campuses
- Duration: One to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Montana Technological University
The Montana Technological University Sherry Lesar School of Nursing offers a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program. Montana Tech’s first BSN cohort was in 2015. This BSN program was the first new four-year program to be given state approval in nearly eighty years and is one of only two publicly funded nursing programs in Montana that offers a pre-licensure BSN program. BSN students may also pursue an 18-credit minor in health care informatics. The nursing program boasts NCLEX-RN exam pass rates well above state and national averages. Students become eligible to take this exam upon completing all program requirements, and must do so to practice as an RN in Montana.
High-performing Montana high school students can also receive admission through the Nursing Scholar’s Edge Program. Up to fifteen students may be offered direct admission for the clinical portion of the nursing program. Eligibility details can be found on the school website.
- Location: Butte, MT
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The University of Providence Division of Nursing operates according to a vision of health for a better world through nursing. University of Providence nursing programs prepare graduates to become both talented nurses and leaders of healthcare. UP especially welcomes applications from students committed to lifelong learning and nursing care based on evidence-based practices and a commitment to ethical, compassionate care. Nursing programs are designed to meet the needs of professionals working within Providence Health and other health systems. Students may select from three bachelor’s degree-level nursing programs. These are the traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN (ABSN) program, and the online RN-BSN program.
The traditional program is a four-year, on-campus program featuring didactic learning based on education in the liberal arts, sciences, and nursing. It emphasizes quality care for poor and vulnerable populations and a nursing simulation facility further augments students’ practical skills development.
The ABSN program is a 12-month program featuring online and in-person lessons, in-person skills labs, and clinical immersions at one of the university’s two clinical locations in Anchorage, AK and Lewistown, MT. This program is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Enrollment requires students to reside in the Anchorage or Lewistown area throughout their program. Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students are discouraged from maintaining concurrent outside employment.
Finally, the fully online RN-BSN program provides a path for practicing RNs who hold an associate’s degree in nursing to earn their BSN. This program is designed for applicants who have previously passed the NCLEX-RN exam, is twelve months in length, and uses a cohort learning format. Students choose from one of two learning delivery options. They can complete online synchronous courses with live lectures or choose asynchronous (pre-recorded) lectures.
- Location: Great Falls, MT
- Duration: One or four years, depending on the program of study
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Catholic Diocese of Helena, Montana founded Carroll College in 1909. Carroll College has over a century of experience providing quality, affordable education to students, with many students going on to graduate, law and medical schools upon completion of their undergraduate degree. The Carroll College nursing program curriculum is designed to meet nurse licensure requirements in Montana.
Carroll College offers two tracks for students seeking a baccalaureate degree in nursing. These are the traditional and accelerated program tracks. The four-year traditional track is created for students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. The accelerated program is for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and seek a second bachelor’s degree to become an RN.
Both programs have a clinical training requirement. Regardless of which track they choose, students have multiple options for entry. These options are direct entry, pre-nursing admission, running start/dual enrollment/transfer admission, and an accelerated nursing track open only to post-baccalaureate students.
- Location: Helena, MT
- Duration: Fifteen months (accelerated) or four years (traditional program)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs in Montana
Montana State University is the only institution of higher education that offers graduate-level nursing training in Montana. MSU offers a BSN to master of nursing (MN) program that prepares graduates to become clinical nurse leaders (CNL) in healthcare delivery in various settings.
All graduate nursing courses are taught using a distance learning delivery model. This learning model makes particular logistical and economic sense given the size of Montana and the difficulty this size creates for students to participate in on-campus learning at the graduate level easily. Students are expected to travel to Bozeman at the beginning of each fall semester. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will only be accepted from students in Montana, a collection of neighboring states in the Intermountain West, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.
The MN curriculum features both traditional coursework and a professional project students design in collaboration with a faculty chairperson and committee. Students must also complete 405 clinical practice hours, of which 315 must be immersion in CNL practice. Upon graduation, students hold the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully sit for the certification examination to become a clinical nurse leader. Students are encouraged to take the certification exam as soon as possible after graduation. Graduates fill various positions, including nurse manager, chief nursing officer, educator, outcomes manager, and quality improvement coordinator.
- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Duration: Five to six semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Nursing School Accreditation
Accreditation is a process that provides critical value to both educational programs and prospective and current students. Accreditation authenticates the capacity of an academic program to deliver the education necessary to produce skilled professionals capable of working in a certain discipline. Conversely, accreditation provides prospective and enrolled students peace of mind. By knowing an academic degree program is accredited, students can be confident their decision to pursue a degree will be a worthwhile investment of their time and money. Nursing programs are typically accredited by one of two accrediting organizations. These are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
In Montana, nursing professionals seek and renew their licenses through the Montana Board of Nursing. Some states are considered nurse licensure compact states. Montana is one such state. A nurse licensure compact (NLC) state is a state that permits nurses to practice in other NLC states using a single license they may not necessarily have obtained in the state where they seek to primarily practice. An advantage of this licensure portability model is that it reduces the time nurses must spend navigating bureaucracy before being permitted to practice in a state they have just moved to.
Continuing education is generally required to maintain and renew a nursing license. If a nurse decides to move out of state or pursue work in a different specialization, the nurse may need to fulfill additional education or other requirements to practice elsewhere as licensure requirements typically do vary by state as well as nursing specialization.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Montana?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of September 2024. Certified midwife salary data is available from a Montana subpage at Salary.com.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
| United States | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 630,250 | 1,860 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,790 | $55,450 |
| 10th percentile | $45,670 | $42,640 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,730 | $55,840 |
| 90th percentile | $77,870 | $68,460 |
Registered Nurse Salaries
| United States | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 3,175,390 | 9,740 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $94,480 | $82,950 |
| 10th percentile | $63,720 | $64,530 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,070 | $79,170 |
| 90th percentile | $132,680 | $104,970 |
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
| United States | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 47,810 | 80 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $214,200 | $256,460 |
| 10th percentile | $139,980 | $232,230 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $212,650 | > $239,200 |
| 90th percentile | >$239,200 | > $239,200 |
Nurse Midwife Salaries
| United States | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 6,960 | No data |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $131,570 | No data |
| 10th percentile | $87,320 | $97,225 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,650 | $114,886 |
| 90th percentile | $177,530 | $144,149 |
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
| United States | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 280,140 | 860 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $128,490 | $124,640 |
| 10th percentile | $94,530 | $99,890 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $126,260 | $127,570 |
| 90th percentile | $168,030 | $151,560 |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure in Montana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
LPN license applicants in Montana candidate must:
|
Every two years, LPNs in the state of Montana must do the following for renewal:
|
Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure in Montana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Montana Department of Labor and Industry Board of Nursing | In order to earn an RN license in Montana candidate must:
| Every two years, RNs in the state of Montana must do the following for renewal:
Continuing education hours are no longer required in Montana. |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensure in Montana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
To be eligible for a CNS license in the state of Montana, applicants must meet the following requirements:
|
Renewals for CNS licenses in Montana are required every other year. The renewal fee is $50 and CNSs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education in order to renew licensure. |
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Licensure in Montana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
To be eligible for an NM license in the state of Montana, applicants must meet the following requirements:
|
Renewals for CNM licenses in Montana are required every other year. The renewal fee is $50. APRNs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education to renew licensure. |
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure in Montana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Montana licenses Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNPs). To be eligible, candidates must:
|
Renewals for APRN licenses in Montana are required every other year. The renewal fee is $50. APRNs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education to renew licensure. |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA) Licensure in Montana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
To be eligible for a CRNA license in the state of Montana, applicants must meet the following requirements:
|
Renewals for CRNA licenses are required every other year. The renewal fee is $50. CRNAs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education in order to renew their licensure. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterAt NursingColleges.com, Rachel Drummond has applied her extensive experience in education and mindfulness to elucidate the importance of self-care for nursing students since 2022. Through her writings, she underscores the role of mental and physical well-being in fostering resilient and compassionate healthcare professionals.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.