Online Nursing Schools in HI: Your Guide to the Best Programs

Online Nursing Programs in Hawai’i: What’s Available?

Nursing programs in Hawai’i include several online or hybrid choices that can easily fit your distinctive goals and needs. Whether you need to earn a certificate to get a job as quickly as possible, or you are earning an undergraduate degree to become a licensed nurse, there are options.

The most common online nursing programs in Hawaii are hybrid and feature in-person classes and on-the-job clinical training as part of the degree or certification you earn. While not a wide range of online programs in Hawaii, several offer the convenience that working nurses need to complete their education.

In this guide, we explore some of the top-rated nursing schools in Hawai’i, including the undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, and bridge programs they offer online and on-campus.

Undergraduate Nursing Programs – Online & Hybrid

There are several common pathways to start your career in nursing, and the examples below are just a few of the options you have in Hawai’i. Because no associate or bachelor’s programs exist in the state, our list focuses on certificates, diplomas, and bridge programs.

Graduate and Post-Graduate Nursing Programs Online in HI

If you have already earned a bachelor’s or associate degree in nursing, you can enhance your education in a number of ways. You can earn a master’s or doctoral degree in Hawai’i either online or through a hybrid program. Here are two great options to check out.

Options in Hawai’i for Bridge Degree Programs

Hawai’i also features several bridge programs that can help nurses with degrees or certificates earn more education in a shorter time than the standard. Bridge programs often take at least one and sometimes two years off a regular bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate program. Here are the ones in Hawai’i that feature hybrid or online components.

Licensing Information for Hawai’i RNs

You need to understand all of Hawai’i’s professional requirements before embarking on your nursing education and applying for licensure. Below, we’ve detailed each step you need to become an RN in the state and what to expect after you have earned the license.

1 – Earn an Accredited Nursing Degree

You need to pick a degree program that qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Aspiring RNs should choose between accredited nursing (ASN and BSN) programs from state-approved nursing schools. You’ll need to complete one of these programs in its entirety, including fully online or ones with in-person coursework and hands-on clinical training, to be able to take the licensing exam.

2 – Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

You’ll pay a $200 fee to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to take the NCLEX-RN test in Hawaii, in addition to a $40 application fee. You receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email and then can go schedule your exam at a local testing center. The number of questions on the exam varies per year but typically is a minimum of 75 and up to 265 questions. You’ll have six hours to complete the exam.

3 – Apply for State Licensure

Prospective RNs need to apply through the Hawaii Board of Nursing to obtain RN licensure in the state. Required materials include a completed application form, official ASN or BSN transcripts, a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and a copy of your signed social security card. Applicants must also pass criminal history record checks and comply with electronic fingerprinting requirements before they receive a license. Completed applications must be submitted within 30 days of fingerprinting.

4 – Maintain and Renew Licensure

RN licenses in Hawaii expire on June 30 of every odd-numbered year. Applicants for licensure renewal in Hawaii must have 30 hours of continuing education credits, and those credits must be from Hawaii-approved continuing education providers. You can find a list of acceptable providers in the Hawaii Board of Nursing’s continuing competency booklet, and you’ll see that most of them are colleges, universities, or nurse-centric training organizations.

5 – Pursue Specialty Certifications (Optional)

If you want to continue on the best track to career advancement and providing the best quality care to patients, it’s a good idea to get additional nursing certifications for the areas that interest you the most. Among those are for nurse practitioners, critical care nurses, oncology-certified nurses, and certified nurse midwives. There are also certifications for nurse education, management and leadership, and nursing research that you can earn after you become an RN.

Hawai’i Career & Salary Outlook for Registered Nurses

As a Registered Nurse (RN) in Hawai'i, salaries are well above national averages, reflecting both the cost of living and the demand for healthcare services. Statewide, entry-level RNs (10th percentile) earn about $81,070 annually, with the median salary reaching $129,210. Experienced RNs in the top 10% can earn up to $145,940.

In specific areas, salaries vary slightly. In Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, the median salary is $129,810, with top earners making around $138,280. Urban Honolulu offers some of the highest RN salaries in Hawai'i, with a median of $133,820 and top earnings also reaching $145,940. This competitive compensation makes Hawaii an attractive destination for RNs, particularly those considering a move to an area with high earning potential and diverse healthcare needs.

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