Explore the Best Online Nursing Schools in Montana

This guide provides insight into the types of nursing schools in Montana, including both traditional on-campus and hybrid programs. Keep scrolling to find the best online nursing programs in Montana.

Types of Nursing Programs Available in Montana

No matter your prior education or healthcare experience, a variety of nursing schools in Montana are available and specifically designed to fulfill your needs. This means you have options ranging from pre-licensure training to RN programs in Montana all the way up to doctoral-level education — and everything in between. Below is a broad overview of what Montana has to offer.

Inside Look at Online Nursing Programs in Montana

Even though nursing is an inherently hands-on profession, you may be interested in securing your degree from one of the online nursing programs in Montana. To effectively combine classroom instruction with practical learning from in-person training, many online nursing programs offer a hybrid format.

These hybrid nursing school curriculums allow students to complete some coursework online but obtain hands-on training through in-person clinicals, internships, or practicums. For added convenience, many online Montana nursing programs let students choose where they complete these experiential learning requirements. Often, students who are working as RNs while in school can complete these requirements at the same place where they work.

One consideration for students looking for online nursing programs in Montana is whether it has any on-campus requirements, such as labs or intensives. If so, these are typically held during the weekends. Another consideration for online nursing programs is whether the online coursework must be completed at set times (synchronously) or on the student’s own schedule (asynchronously).

Invest in Your Nursing Education: Financial Aid in Montana

Nursing is one of those rewarding fields where, as long as you graduate and pass any necessary licensing exams or certifications, you’re likely to obtain lucrative employment. But getting there can be expensive. Luckily, any of the common forms of financial aid are available to nursing students, such as grants, student loans, fellowships, and scholarships (some explicitly designated for nursing students). There are also some specific types of financial aid, such as the federal HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program, which will help you pay for your nursing degree if you agree to work at a healthcare facility with a shortage of healthcare professionals. For prospective nurses who want to work at a state hospital or prison, there’s the Montana Institutional Nursing Incentive Program, which is a loan reimbursement program.

Step-by-Step Guide: RN Licensing in Montana

As its name implies, registered nursing is a regulated profession, which means RNs will need the necessary certifications and/or licensing to practice. The applicable regulations exist at the state level, so if you’re thinking about becoming an RN in Montana, you’ll find these requirements at the Montana Board of Nursing. The general requirements for becoming an RN are similar for most states. There are two primary methods of becoming an RN in Montana. The first is “licensing by credentialing,” which means becoming an RN in Montana because you’re already an RN in another state. The second is “licensing by examination,” which refers to passing the NCLEX-RN exam and completing other steps, which we’ll discuss below.

Step #1: Complete an Approved Registered Nursing Program

Before becoming an RN in Montana, you need the necessary formal training. You can get this training by graduating from an RN program that’s been approved by the Montana Board of Nursing. You can confirm which programs have this approval through the Montana Board of Nursing. Generally, if a nursing program has programmatic nursing accreditation, it also will be approved by the Montana Board of Nursing.

Step #2: Complete the RN Application and Pay the Necessary Fees

Applying for an RN license in Montana through the examination pathway will cost $100. You must also complete the application and provide supporting documentation, such as your nursing school transcripts.

Step #3: Register (and Pass) the NCLEX-RN Exam

After submitting your application to the Montana Board of Nursing, they’ll send you an ATT or Authorization to Test. This makes you eligible to register to take the NCLEX-RN exam with Pearson VUE. It costs $200 to take the NCLEX-RN, and after passing the test, your scores are sent to the Montana Board of Nursing.

Step #4: Pass the Criminal Background Check

To complete this step, you’ll need to submit your fingerprints. You can do this with your local participating law enforcement agency or with the Montana Department of Justice. You can complete the fingerprinting requirement while working on your application to the Montana Board of Nursing. However, the Montana Board of Nursing must have your completed RN application within six months of them receiving your fingerprinting results.

Step #5: Complete Continuing Education Requirements

Every two years, RNs must complete 24 contact hours’ worth of continuing education. This requirement applies to newly minted RNs, although these requirements are prorated to reflect that a new RN may not have had a license for the entire 24-month continuing education reporting period. There’s also no limit to how many continuing education classes you can take at one time. This means you can space out your education over several months or take them all in a more compressed timeframe.

RN Salary and Career Forecast in Montana

Montana Nursing Resources

• Scholarships and Resources for Nursing Students
• Montana Board of Nursing
• Montana Nurses Association
• Montana Student Nurses’ Association
• Montana Association of School Nurses