Nevada Faces High Healthcare Licensing Fees Ranking Among Highest in U.S. Amid Workforce Shortages
Nevada faces a pressing challenge in addressing its healthcare workforce shortages, a problem exacerbated by the state's position as one of the most expensive in the nation for healthcare professionals to obtain and maintain licensure. Under Nevada law, the definition of healthcare providers encompasses a wide range of essential professions, including physicians, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and many others. Despite the critical need for these professionals, high licensing fees coupled with prolonged processing times create significant barriers to entry and retention.
Nevada charges some of the highest physician licensure fees in the country, with initial licensure totals reaching up to $1,425 depending on factors like residency status or endorsements. Ongoing biennial renewal fees can reach $750, significantly above the national average for maintaining a license. Amid a severe ongoing physician shortage affecting all Nevada counties and ranking the state near the bottom nationally for doctors per capita, these elevated licensing expenses may create financial barriers that deter professionals from practicing or staying in high-need areas. In stark contrast, Pennsylvania charges the lowest initial licensure application fee in the country, starting as low as $35.
Dentists in Nevada also face some of the country's highest initial licensure fees, totaling $1,500 to start practicing. This amount far exceeds the national average of around $500 and low fee states such as Alabama at $200. Dental hygienists pay $700 initially in Nevada, well above the national average of approximately $300 and significantly higher than the nation's lowest from Missouri at $100. Physician assistants pay $500 upfront in Nevada, placing the state in the upper tier nationally where the average falls around $300. This amount trails Maryland at $790 but stands well ahead of Alabama at $75. Overall, Nevada's fees for these professions rank in the upper tier across the country, creating workforce barriers comparable to those for physician licensing.
Research shows a clear correlation between high licensure costs and severe healthcare workforce shortages. States with the highest fees and longest processing times, such as Nevada, have the most federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. In contrast, states with lower, more affordable fees and efficient processes face milder shortages and attract healthcare workers more easily.
