16 NCAC 06C .0110         Qualifications of school nurses

(a)  Any person employed or contracted to serve as a school nurse in a North Carolina public school shall meet all qualifications established by the State Board of Education ("SBE"). At minimum, the person shall:

(1)           Be licensed as a registered nurse under Chapter 90, Article 9A of the General Statutes and have at least two years of experience serving as a nurse in a hospital or health clinic; or

(2)           Be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the National Board for Certification of School Nurses.

A school nurse who meets either of these qualifications shall be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale as established by the SBE.

(b)  Any person employed or contracted to serve as a school nurse in a North Carolina public school shall complete all training requirements established by the SBE. At minimum, the person shall:

(1)           Within six months of starting employment or a contract with a public school unit ("PSU"), complete the School Nurse Orientation Modules offered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ("DHHS"); and

(2)           Within two years of starting employment or a contract with a PSU, complete the School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities course offered by DHHS.

(c)  The person shall provide proof of completion of these training requirements to the employing or contracting PSU by the established deadline. If the person completed these requirements prior to employment or contract with the PSU, the person is not required to repeat those requirements so long as proof of completion is provided to the PSU.

(d)  Nothing in this Rule shall be construed to prevent a PSU from requiring additional qualifications or training for a school nurse under its employment or contract.

(e)  This Rule applies to school nurses initially hired or contracted for on or after July 1, 2025.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 115C-12(9); 115C-315;

Temporary Adoption Eff. November 7, 2025.