Educational requirements for the school nurse can vary from state-to-state and even school district to school district. In general, most school districts require that a school nurse be a registered nurse holding either an associate's degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in nursing. Most likely the district will want her to hold a bachelor's degree and, perhaps, a master's degree.
Some states require certification, while others do not. For example, in California, a school nurse applicant must first acquire a preliminary credential from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, providing proof that she holds at least a baccalaureate degree and a registered nursing license. For the professional credential, she must submit an application through a California university or college nursing program with proof that she has completed an approved nursing program and has served two years as a school nurse. Florida does not require state certification, although the school nurses are urged to qualify for the National School Nurse Certificate, a voluntary nursing credential that assures that the nurse is current on national nursing standards and practices. In Washington state, school nurses must have at least a bachelor's degree and a valid Washington state nursing license and she must be certified by either the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission or the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. She must complete a specific course covering issues surrounding school nursing or provide proof that she has been a licensed school nurse in another state. In short, the requirements from state to state vary widely and before preparing to pursue a career as a school nurse, the nursing student should understand the requirements in her state.
The median salary for the school nurse, according to Salary.com, is $43,854 with the high end of the salary scale reaching $55,361 and the low end dipping to $35,037. However, just as with the licensing and certification requirements, school nurse salaries vary widely depending on the geographic location of the job. For example, in New York state, salaries vary from $26,000 to $63,000 in Syracuse to $31,000 and $76,000 in Queens. In Carson City, Nevada, the salary range is $26,000 to $64,000 while in Reno, Nevada it is $27,000 to more than $66,000. In Twin Falls, Idaho, the mid-range school nurse salary is about $39,000 while in Boise the mid-range is close to $43,000.