How to Become a Pain Management Nurse (RN-BC)

Duties, Responsibilities, Requirements, Certifications, Job Outlook, and Salary

Pain management nurses play a vital role in caring for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments—when pain or trauma is at its peak. They are responsible for thoroughly assessing each patient to identify the source, severity, and impact of their pain, then developing and implementing safe, effective treatment plans to provide relief and improve quality of life.

Registered Nurses (RNs) have remarkable flexibility once licensed—such as being able to pursue specialties tailored to their skills and passions. Among these, becoming a Pain Management Nurse (RN‑BC) stands out as both deeply meaningful and among the higher-paying career paths. In this guide, you’ll discover what this role entails, the steps to achieve RN‑BC certification, and why it’s such a rewarding and promising specialty. The pain management specialty for RNs also ranks among the top paying nursing jobs.

Pain Management Nurse Definition

What is a Pain Management Nurse?

A Pain Management Nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who specializes in compassionate and safe pain relief for patients experiencing both acute and chronic conditions. Pain management nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring treatments are effective yet mindful of patient safety and long-term well-being. In order to work in this specialty, an RN must earn the Board Certified (RN‑BC) credential in pain management (PMGT-BC™) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC Pain Management Nursing board certification examination is a competency-based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the pain management specialty after initial RN licensure.

Pain Management Nurse: Job Description

What Does a Pain Management Nurse Do?

Pain Management Nurses are mainly tasked with helping patients manage their pain. This management generally requires a multimodal approach. The key responsibilities for a pain management nurse may include the following:

• Assess pain—understanding its source, intensity, and impact, including medical and psychosocial factors.
• Develop and implement individualized care plans, often collaborating with physicians, anesthesiologists, or interdisciplinary teams.
• Administer pain medications through intravenous, intramuscular, or intrathecal techniques.
• Administer noninvasive treatments as alternatives, like relaxation exercises or massages.
• Educate patients and families, helping them understand treatment plans, manage expectations, and reduce risk of dependence.
• Monitor and document responses to interventions, adjusting plans as needed to promote comfort and mobility.

Pain Management Nurse Jobs

Where Do Pain Management Nurses Work?

Pain management nurses have a wide range of employment opportunities, reflecting the growing need for safe and effective pain relief strategies across the healthcare spectrum. As the medical community continues to address the opioid epidemic and prioritize multimodal pain control, these nurses are increasingly relied upon to integrate both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions into patient care.

You may find pain management nurses working in the following settings:

• Hospitals and Surgical Centers – Managing post-operative pain, acute trauma cases, and complex inpatient pain needs in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Outpatient Pain Clinics – Providing ongoing care for patients with chronic pain, often integrating interventional procedures, medication management, and alternative therapies.
• Private Medical Practices – Supporting physicians in specialty areas such as orthopedics, neurology, or anesthesiology, offering tailored pain relief plans for individual patients.
• Rehabilitation Facilities – Helping patients recover from injuries, surgeries, or neurological events by managing pain to facilitate mobility and therapy participation.
• Sports Medicine Clinics – Addressing injury-related pain and supporting athletes in their return-to-play plans through targeted treatment and education.
• Oncology Departments – Providing compassionate care for cancer patients, focusing on comfort and quality of life during treatment or palliative care.
• Palliative and Hospice Care – Ensuring end-of-life comfort by managing pain and symptoms with dignity and sensitivity.
• Military and Veterans’ Healthcare Facilities – Assisting service members and veterans coping with chronic pain, combat injuries, or rehabilitation needs.

Pain Management Nurse Education and Training

How Long Does It Take to Become a Pain Management Nurse?

Becoming a Pain Management Nurse begins with earning your nursing degree—ideally a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), as many employers prefer or require it. After graduation and obtaining your RN license, you’ll need to gain clinical experience and complete specific continuing education before you can qualify for the specialty certification in pain management. These include NCLEX-RN certification, work experience, and continuing education.

What Degree Do You Need to be a Pain Management Nurse?

If you’re ready to specialize in pain management, you’ll need both a strong nursing foundation and targeted experience in this field. By following these steps, you’ll build the clinical skill, professional credibility, and board certification that set pain management nurses apart—helping you make a direct, positive impact on patient comfort and quality of life.

Here’s a roadmap to get there:

Step 1: Earn Your Nursing Degree (ADN or BSN)

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – Typically takes 18–24 months to complete and prepares you for entry-level RN roles.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Usually 4 years for new students. If you already hold an ADN, you can complete an RN-to-BSN program in as little as 20 months at Eagle Gate College, often online or in a hybrid format.
• Why BSN Matters: Many healthcare employers now prefer or require a BSN, especially for specialty positions. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has reported that nearly 45.4% of RNs entered the workforce with a baccalaureate degree, and more than two-thirds of the RN workforce (69%) are prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree level.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

• After graduation, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to earn your RN license.
• This exam measures your readiness to provide safe and effective nursing care. Passing it allows you to begin working as an RN and gaining the experience you’ll need for certification. Read our NCLEX-RN exam study guide to help you pass the exam on the first try.

Step 3: Gain Relevant Clinical Experience

• Here are the eligibility requirements to qualify for pain management certification:
  • Have at least 2 years of full-time RN practice.
  • Have a minimum of 2,000+ hours of clinical practice in pain management nursing within the last 3 years.
  • Completed 30 hours of continuing education in pain management in the last 3 years.
• This experience can be gained in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, oncology units, or palliative care programs.

Step 4: Earn Your Pain Management Nursing Certification (PMGT-BC™)

To work as a pain management nurse, you’ll have to complete the Pain Management Nursing Certification (PMGT-BC) exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Passing this exam will add the initials BC to your RN title (RN-BC), which stands for Board Certified. Here are a few details about the exam:

• Exam:
  • Computer-based format
  • 150 questions (125 scored plus 25 pretest questions that are not scored)
  • 3-hour time limit
  • Offered at authorized testing centers during a 90-day testing window
• Cost: $295 for ANA members; $395 for non-members; $340 for American Society for Pain Management Nursing members.
• Validity: 5 years, with renewal available through continuing education and practice requirements.

Pain Management Nurse Salary

How Much Do Pain Management Nurses Make?

According to Indeed.com, as of August 2025, the average salary* earned by pain management nurses is $129,840 per year in the United States. Salaries can vary depending on healthcare setting, geographic location, level of experience, and certifications.

What is the Job Outlook for Pain Management Nurses?

The BLS does not provide any specific data pertaining to the job outlook of Pain Management Nurses specifically. However, it does project that the employment of Registered Nurses as a whole will grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033, faster than average for all occupations.

Are you ready to start your journey as a Pain Management Nurse?

Becoming a Pain Management Nurse is more than just a career step—it’s a calling to bring comfort, dignity, and hope to people in their most vulnerable moments. The journey requires dedication, clinical experience, and compassion, starting with your RN license and culminating in specialized certification. Along the way, you’ll gain skills that not only elevate your earning potential but also expand your influence in patient care and interdisciplinary teamwork.

If you’re ready to transform lives, relieve suffering, and stand at the forefront of compassionate healthcare, the first step is earning your BSN degree. At Provo College, we can help you build the foundation for a future where your knowledge and empathy make a lasting difference.

Click here to learn more about our BSN program—and take your first step toward becoming a Pain Management Nurse.