Who Issues Registered Nurse License

The RN Licensing Process

rn licensensing

All states license registered nurses, and in all states, they are referred to by the same title: Registered Nurse or RN. Outset fourth dimension RN licensing is referred to every bit license by examination; candidates take the board exam later on they accept completed their registered nursing educational requirements.

When a registered nurse is already licensed in 1 U.South. jurisdiction and seeks licensure in another, the process is mostly referred to equally licensure by endorsement.

Find RN Licensing Requirements in Your State

Sometimes information technology's not necessary to get a new license to take a position in some other state. Almost half of U.S. states belong to the nurse licensure compact, an understanding that makes information technology easier for registered nurses to practise in multiple states (either through telenursing or by being physically present in the state). An RN holds a license in only 1 compact land at a time. The RN is allowed to work in other meaty states on the ground of a multi-state license issued in their ain home land. If the RN changes their primary residence, though, they'll need to transfer their license adequately quickly.

The particulars of the licensing process are different from country to state, but at that place are many commonalities. Registered nurse licensure involves education, exam, proficient character — and often quite a scrap of paperwork. It's imperative that a candidate become familiar with their own country licensing agency and with the licensing agency of any country where they programme to work. The following overview, though, gives an idea of what to expect.

Initiating the Procedure: Applying for Examination and Licensure

All 50 states employ the same licensing examination: the NCLEX-RN. They all have the aforementioned standard for passing, as the test is calculator adjusted and graded pass-fail. A nursing graduate or soon-to-be graduate must use to a item country licensing bureau. They may opt for the state where he or she lives or the land where they intends to work — at least if the RN licensing candidate is in a not-meaty state. If the candidate lives in a compact land and wishes to work in any compact country, they will utilise to their own state board.

In some states, registered nursing students plough in their applications before they graduate. While they won't actually be licensed until afterward, this can expedite the procedure. In some states, the nursing school provides official verification when program requirements accept been met. In others, official transcripts must be requested — even for in-land candidates.

States have differing policies virtually working as a nurse in the period following graduation. Some event temporary permits to candidates who are waiting to have the NCLEX and receive exam results. Some allow them to work for a curt period under supervision every bit graduate nurses. Some states volition non let them to work every bit registered nurses until the NCLEX is passed and the RN license issued.

Establishing Eligibility: Professional person Fitness

All states accept into business relationship a registered nursing license bidder'due south professional and legal history. More half accept a fingerprint-based criminal history check; that number is expected to abound. In some states, the CBC is performed before application, in others, after.

The application as well asks for self-disclosure about legal and professional person issues and, in many cases, medical conditions that may impair practice. Many states require all legal information, including minor juvenile offenses. Candidates should be enlightened that having something on their record won't necessarily mean they are barred from licensure. However, withholding data could. In some states, a candidate signs a waiver, which allows all information to be released — including some that normally wouldn't exist.

Some, merely not all, states require a notary signature. In addition to certifying the veracity of the application, candidates may exist asked to certify that they have read the rules and understand their responsibilities.

RN License by Endorsement

A nurse whose license is in good standing and who has been actively practicing can go a license in some other state without repeating steps they has taken – at least non the major ones similar education and board examination. The RN will need to provide license verification from at to the lowest degree one land; some states crave verification from every jurisdiction the RN has expert.

If the registered nurse has been out of practice for a significant period of fourth dimension, the RN may be required to have a refresher course prior to RN licensing in the new state.