The Baltimore metropolitan area has well over a dozen accredited nursing schools. They offer a wide range of nursing education programs, providing a path to licensure for all the major nursing roles.
The most junior nursing role is certified nursing assistant (CNA). Most CNA certificate programs require a mere eight to ten weeks of focused study; students must then pass a state-administered examination before joining the workforce. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are more senior than CNAs. They must complete a 12- to 18-month certificate program and pass the strenuous NCLEX-PN national examination to attain licensure. Registered nurses (RNs) have significantly greater autonomy than LPNs and CNAs; indeed, they often manage these more junior nurses. Most aspiring RNs complete either a two-year associate’s degree program or a four-year bachelor’s degree program in professional nursing. Candidates must also pass the rigorous NCLEX-RN national examination to attain licensure. Many RNs later pursue a master’s degree in order to qualify as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who fill specialized roles like nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthetist.
Baltimore nurses can expect strong job prospects and competitive pay that increases with education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, certificate-holding CNAs and LPNs in the Baltimore metro area earn a median annual salary of $27,470 and $51,810, respectively. The city’s degree-holding RNs earn average annual pay of $71,130. Nurses with baccalaureate education frequently earn $84,000 and above per year. APRNs, who must hold a master’s degree, earn $100,000-180,000 annually depending upon role.
To help aspiring nurses in the Baltimore metropolitan area, we’ve listed below a comprehensive directory of local accredited nursing schools and programs.