Andi Tailleart

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Tennessee

Obtaining and applying for a nursing license in Tennessee is easy if you know the proper steps. Whether you’re an experienced nurse relocating to Tennessee or you’ve just completed your nursing education, this guide will provide all of the information you need.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Tennessee nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Tennessee nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Tennessee Board of Nursing

---

---

How to get your Tennessee nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

Being able to provide appropriate, knowledgeable care begins with earning your nursing degree from an accredited nursing school. Whether you choose a two-year program that leads to quick entry to the profession or opt for a baccalaureate degree, your education is the key to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of patients in the state.

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

Tennessee provides those approaching their nursing program graduation with a straightforward, simple-to-follow timeline for applying for a new registered nursing license: 

• 6 weeks before graduation log on here to complete your fingerprint criminal background check. 
• 4 weeks before graduation log on here to complete the Tennessee licensure application.
• 2 weeks before graduation log on here to register for the NCLEX-RN and to pay the required $200 fee.
• Immediately after graduation, request that your official transcript be sent to the Board directly by your school.
• Upload a current photograph signed and dated on the front
• Upload a declaration of citizenship
• Upload a copy of your current unexpired Tennessee driver’s license 

Step 3: Transcripts

When completing the Tennessee application process, you’ll be asked to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be mailed directly from the educational institution to the Tennessee Board of Nursing office:

Division of Health Licensure and Regulation
665 Mainstream Drive, Second Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

Step 4: Criminal Record Check 

Tennessee works with IdentoGO for fingerprinting criminal background checks. New license applicants who live in the state should go to the company’s website 6 weeks before their graduation from nursing school to schedule a new appointment and pay the required fee. Out-of-state residents will follow a process to register to send their fingerprints through the mail. You can also check the status of your fingerprint background check on the website.

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

Passing the NCLEX-RN exam is the key to getting your registered license. In order to take the exam, register online at the NCLEX website. Once you’ve registered and paid your $200 fee, Pearson VUE will notify the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Upon completion of all of the state requirements, the Board will notify Pearson to send you an Authorization to Test and you can schedule your examination.

Topics that may be included on the exam are:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

Tennessee’s Board of Nursing allows students who do not pass the NCLEX the first time to retake the exam. You can take it eight times per year but there must be 45 test-free days between each examination and you must pass within three years of graduation.

---

---

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

The process of applying to and being approved for licensing by endorsement will take approximately 6 weeks. Residents of Tennessee or non-compact states may apply immediately for licensure by endorsement but if your legal residence is in another compact state you will not be eligible until you declare Tennessee as your primary state of residence using this form.

You will be required to submit to a criminal background check. Instructions can be found here.

Submit verification of your licensure from the state where you were originally licensed. Most states provide this information through the NURSYS website. If your license was from Alabama, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oklahoma, or Pennsylvania, please contact the state’s board for information on submission of verification documents. 

You will also need to submit a $115 payment and upload the online application and the following documents here.

• Passport-type photograph signed and dated on the front by the applicant.
• Copy of nursing diploma or transcript from initial nursing education. This can be mailed directly from the institution or uploaded here
• Declaration of Citizenship Form

To check on the status of your application, click on this link.

How to renew your Tennessee nursing license

Step 1: Know when to submit your renewal application

Tennessee requires registered nurses to renew their licenses every two years. Renewal notices are mailed from the administrative office 45 days before the license expires. Licensees are responsible for renewing on time and keeping the board apprised of current contact information. The renewal application can be submitted online up to 60 days before expiration. 

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

When you fill out your renewal application, you will be asked to confirm that you have met Tennessee’s continued competence requirements. Registered nurses are required to maintain evidence of two items from the following list:

1. Copy of a satisfactory employer evaluation
2. Letter from a peer providing a satisfactory evaluation of your nursing performance
3. Letter from a patient or family member giving evidence of a satisfactory nurse/patient relationship
4. Copy of a contract of renewal or re-appointment to a nursing position
5. Written self-evaluation based on the standards of competence listed in the rules
6. Evidence of current national certification
7. A document that identifies two nursing goals and how you met these goals
8. A letter from the agency where you volunteered as a nurse
9. Documentation from a school of nursing stating that you participated in the education of nursing students 
10. Certificate/evidence of 5 contact hours of continuing education (for RNs who are not practicing, 10 contact hours will fulfill the competency requirement)
11. Copy of a published article relevant to nursing written by the licensee
12. Letter of satisfactory completion of a nursing refresher course
13. Letter of satisfactory completion of a comprehensive nursing orientation program
14. Official transcript (may be student issued) demonstrating 2 hours of nursing credit
15. Evidence of having successfully retaken the NCLEX

If you choose to include item 10 (5 contact hours of continuing education), visit Incredible Health to take free CE units and to immediately be provided with certification of completion. This evidence must be kept for 4 years after completion and produced for inspection and verification within 30 days of a written request from the board.

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

To submit your renewal application and pay the renewal fee online, use this link.

Licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Tennessee, whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Tennessee from another state. For more information visit the Tennessee licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses)

• NCLEX exam fee: $200
• Application fee: fee eliminated as of 08/05/19
• Criminal background check fee: $33.15

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $115 (RN/LPN)
• APRN license verifications: $25
• Criminal background check fee: $33.15

License renewal fees:

• Application fee: $100 (RN/LPN); $110 (APRN)

Tennessee is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.

*Fees are subject to change.

---

---

Continuing education requirements

Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

RNs and LPNs will need to renew their licenses every two years. These nurses are required to have a combination of two of the following requirements:

• Five hours of continuing education and 10 hours if not practicing
• Copy of satisfactory employer evaluation
• Documentation from a school of nursing that shows participation in the education of nursing students (RNs only)
• Evidence of successfully retaken NCLEX
• Evidence of current national certification
• Transcript to demonstrate two hours of nursing credit
• Letter of satisfactory completion of a comprehensive nursing orientation program
• Letter of completion of a nursing refresher course
• A published article relevant to nursing published by the licensee
• Proof of two nursing goals and how you met them
• A letter from an agency where you volunteered as a nurse
• Letter from a patient to show great patient/nurse relationship
• Letter from a peer evaluating your professional performance
• Written self-evaluation based on the set standards
• Contract of re-appointment or renewal to a nursing position

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

APRNs must renew their licenses every two years.

APRN With Certificate of Fitness (CF)
Verify your license and CF at https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/default.aspx

• Five hours of continuing education and 10 hours if not practicing
• Current national certification (NOT state license; example: from ANCC, AANP, NBCRNA)
• ONE item from the Registered Nurse proof of competence above (in addition to national certification)
• TWO contact hours of continuing education designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices including the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines
• Copy of current collaborative Request/APRN Supervisory Request (formerly Notice and Formulary) if prescribing. Request form can be found on the QuickStart menu.
  • Be sure to notify your supervisory physician that you have submitted an APRN Supervisory Request so that he/she can login to his/her account and approve the relationship.
  • Alternatively, you can submit a completed and signed Notice & Formulary

APRN Without Certificate of Fitness (CF)

• Current national certification (NOT state license; example: from ANCC, AANP, NBCRNA)
• ONE item from the Registered Nurse proof of competence above (in addition to national certification)

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.  

How to contact the Tennessee Board of Nursing

Tennessee Board of Nursing
Phone: (615) 532-5166 or (800) 778-4123

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board/nursing-board/about.html

665 Mainstream Drive
2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Virginia

Whether you’re a recent nursing school graduate or an experienced professional looking to move to the state, you need to know the process of applying for and obtaining a nursing license in Virginia.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Virginia nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Virginia nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Virginia Board of Nursing

---

---

How to get your Virginia nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

The first step to becoming a registered nurse in Virginia is to earn your nursing degree from an accredited nursing school. These programs offer diverse campus experiences and programs for the degrees listed below. 

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree and wish take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

You may also pursue a nursing degree at a school that is out of state.

Step 2: Apply

Once you’ve completed your nursing education, you will qualify for Licensure as a Registered Nurse by Exam. To apply, you’ll need to have a fingerprint-based criminal background check, review the Laws and regulations governing the practice of Nursing, complete and submit the state’s application, and register for the NCLEX test on the Pearson VUE website. Note that Registered Nurse applicants must have completed a minimum of 500 direct client care hours across the lifespan.

Applications for licensure by examination are only accepted online. You can begin the process here. You will be required to submit a non-refundable fee of $190 along with your application.

To begin, you will need to register by clicking the “Register a Person” link on the left side of the Initial Applications page. If you need to edit your application, you’ll be able to return to this page using the User ID and Password you’ve created.  

Step 3: Transcripts

Graduates of Virginia nursing programs can request that an Attestation letter confirming program completion be sent directly to the Virginia Board of Nursing. Your nursing program director can confirm whether your program sends Attestations. If they do, this letter can be offered in lieu of a transcript. Otherwise, a transcript will be required.

Graduates of nursing schools located in other states must request that a final official transcript be sent to the Virginia Board of Nursing. This transcript must include evidence of actual clinical hours broken down for each course.

Transcripts and Attestations should be sent to:

Virginia Board of Nursing
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Perimeter Center
Henrico, VA 23233
(804) 367-4515

Alternatively, transcripts or letters of Attestation can be emailed to [email protected]. The subject line of your email must include: Applicant’s Name: Official Transcript; OR (if applicable) Attestation Letter.

Step 4: Criminal Record Check 

The state of Virginia requires a complete fingerprint-based Criminal Background Check in order for a registered nursing license to be issued. The program is administered through Fieldprint VA. You must submit an application to the Board of Nursing prior to registering for fingerprinting.

Upon online registration, you will receive an application confirmation receipt that contains a VBON Fieldprint Code. This code is required to register for fingerprinting.  

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

An additional application must be completed in order to take the NCLEX-RN exam. You can register for the exam online at NCLEX. Registration should be completed immediately after filing your application with the Virginia Board of Nursing. Failure to do so may result in a delay in receiving your Authorization to Test. The cost of the NCLEX-RN exam is $200. 

Topics that may be included on the exam are:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

The state of Virginia permits applicants to take the NCLEX eight times a year. There must be 45 test-free days between each examination. To check your license status in real-time, you can visit License Lookup.

---

---

Licensing by endorsement (for those who already have RN licensure)

If you have valid registered nurse licensure in another state and you’ woul’d like to move to and practice in Virginia, you need to apply for licensure by endorsement. To do so you will need to:

1. Review the Laws and Regulations governing the practice of Nursing in Virginia.
2. Complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check through Fieldprint Va. Online applicants will receive an application confirmation that contains the code required to register for fingerprinting. If you apply by mail, you must contact the Virginia Board of Nursing CBC unit at [email protected] for your Fieldprint code.
3. Request license verification from your original state of licensure be sent electronically to the Board of Nursing at [email protected]. If your original state of licensure (Exam state) works with NURSYS, request License Verification through the NURSYS link.
4. Submit a credential evaluation.
5. Provide proof of your primary state of residence.
6. Proceed with submitting an application.

Keep in mind that Virginia participates in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses living in compact states to practice in all other compact states with a single multi-state license. If your primary state of residence participates in the compact, you must apply for licensure in that state.

If your original state of licensure (Exam state) works with NURSYS, request License Verification through the NURSYS link. Otherwise request that your original state of licensure send verification electronically to the Board of Nursing at [email protected].

How to renew your Virginia nursing license

Step 1: Know when to submit your renewal application

Virginia’s registered nurses must renew their licenses every two years. A License Renewal Notice will be sent out approximately 60 days before your license is scheduled to expire. This notice will include an online renewal Personal Identification Number (PIN). Either the PIN or your username and password will be required to renew online. 

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

Virginia offers multiple opportunities for meeting its continued competency requirements to renew your nursing license. A complete list can be found here. Most registered nurses choose to participate in either 15 contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences along with 640 hours of active practice as a nurse, a board-approved refresher course in nursing, or 3 credit hours of post-licensure academic courses relevant to the practice of nursing.

Incredible Health offers Virginia nurses free nursing CEUs that come with instant certificates of completion. Nurses are required to maintain original documentation of the completion of their continued competency requirements for two years following renewal and to provide the documentation within 30 days if requested. 

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

You can log in here using your username and password if you have previously logged into the Online Licensing site. Otherwise, register as a new user using the PIN and license number provided in your renewal notice.

Virginia nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Virginia. These apply whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Virginia from another state. For more information, visit the Virginia licensing page.

License application fees

• RN: $190
• LPN: $170
• APRN: $125

License renewal fees:

• RN: $140
• LPN: $120
• APRN: $80

*Fees are subject to change.

---

---

Continuing education requirements

Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

RNs and LPNs are required to renew their licenses every two years. The nursing professionals need to complete at least one of the following:

1. Thirty contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses relevant to the practice of nursing;
2. Fifteen contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses related to the practice of nursing and 640 hours of active practice as a nurse;
3. Current specialty certification by a national certifying organization;
4. Completion of a minimum of three credit hours of post-licensure academic education relevant to nursing practice, offered by a regionally accredited college or university;
5. A board-approved refresher course in nursing;
6. Completion of nursing-related, evidence-based practice project or a research study;
7. Completion of publication as the author or co-author during a renewal cycle;
8. Teaching or developing a nursing-related course resulting in no less than three semester hours of college credit, a 15-week course, specialty certification;
9. Teaching or developing nurse-related continuing education courses for up to 30 contact hours.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

If you were licensed on or after May 8, 2002

In order to renew a license biennially, a nurse practitioner initially licensed on or after May 8, 2002, shall hold current professional certification in the area of specialty practice.

If you were licensed before May 8, 2002

In order to renew a license biennially, nurse practitioners licensed prior to May 8, 2002, shall meet one of the following requirements:

• Hold current professional certification in the area of specialty practice from one of the certifying agencies; or
• Complete at least 40 hours of continuing education in the area of specialty practice.

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Virginia Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.  

How to contact the Virginia Board of Nursing

Virginia Board of Nursing

Phone: (804) 367-4400
Fax: (804) 527-4475

Website: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/

Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive
Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463

More Virginia Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Best nursing schools in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Texas

The largest state in the lower 48, Texas has wide open spaces and big cities, arid deserts and subtropical landscapes. Texas also has innovative hospitals, constant sunshine, and no state income tax.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Texas nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Texas nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Texas Board of Nursing

---

---

How to get your Texas nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

The Texas Board of Nursing provides approval for more than 130 registered nurse education programs and licenses more than 27,000 new nurses each year. Whether you’re about to complete your associate’s degree or you’re graduating from a baccalaureate program, the completion of your nursing degree marks the time to begin the licensure application process. 

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

All applications for nursing licensure in Texas must be completed online through the secure Texas Nurse Portal and all applicants must have a valid email address where they can access and receive emails. Start by creating your account. Once that’s been established you’ll be able to use the same point of entry for renewals, name changes, and more.

To become eligible for a Texas nursing license, you must complete the online application process through the Nurse Portal and submit the $75 examination fee. You will also need to complete a criminal background check, ensure that the Board has received the Affidavit of Graduation from your nursing program, and take the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination.

Approximately 30 days before your graduation date, register with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX exam. The fee for the test is $200. 

Step 3: Submit Affidavit of Graduation

If you have graduated from a Texas-based school of nursing that has been approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, the school will automatically submit an online affidavit of graduation on your behalf. Graduates of out-of-state nursing programs are required to print the affidavit of graduation and submit it to the dean of their nursing school for completion. Completed affidavit of graduation forms should be submitted by email to [email protected].

Step 4: Criminal Background Check (CBC)

All applicants for a Texas nursing license must submit to a criminal background check.  

If you live in Texas, make an appointment to be electronically fingerprinted by MorphoTrust USA at one of their IdentoGo enrollment centers. You will be asked for the service code, which is 119TF2. Bring your photo identification and fee to your appointment. Personal checks and cash are not accepted. Your fingerprints will be submitted electronically to DPS and the FBI. You will not receive a printed fingerprint card.

If you live outside of Texas, you will need to obtain a FAST Pass from your requesting agency to register your ink card submission by logging on to the IdentoGO website, http://www.identogo.com, or by calling 1- 888-467-2080. If you are scheduling by phone, please request an “Electronic Fingerprint Submission.” You will not schedule a fingerprint appointment; you are only registering your ink card submission. When registering your submission you will be prompted for personal data including: Date of Birth, Sex, Race, Ethnicity, Skin Tone, Height, Weight, Eye Color, Hair Color, Place of Birth, and Home Address. 

Your signature and registration identification number (RegID) as well as all required information must be on the form.

You will need to obtain a complete, legible set of fingerprints on a DPS approved fingerprint card, which may be obtained from a local law enforcement agency, embassy or IdentoGo Service Center near you. You can visit http://www.identogo.com or call 1-888-467-2080 to locate an IdentoGo Service Center in your area to obtain an ink card for submission. 

The cost for obtaining an ink card may vary and is not included in the Texas Background check fee. Cards must be mailed: fingerprints cannot be submitted electronically from outside the State of Texas. 

Mail Fingerprint Card and FAST Pass to: 

MorphoTrust USA Texas Card Scan
3051 Hollis Dr., Ste. 310 Springfield, IL 62704

Step 5: Take the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination

Fifteen days after you file your application for licensure by examination, the Texas Board of Nursing will send you instructions to log on and complete the online nursing jurisprudence exam. Prior to that, you are encouraged to view a copy of the state’s Nursing Practice Act and the Board Rules and Regulations and to take the online jurisprudence prep course.

There are 50 items on the jurisprudence examination. It should take you no more than two hours to complete. To pass you must correctly answer 75% of the questions. If you don’t pass, the exam can be taken again after 24 hours. The cost of the examination is included in your application.

Step 6: Take the NCLEX

After the Texas Board of Nursing has received your application and fees, your criminal background check, your affidavit of graduation, and you have passed the jurisprudence exam, they will notify Pearson VUE that you are eligible to proceed with the NCLEX test. Pearson VUE will email you an Authorization to Test. You have 75 days from receipt of this authorization to schedule and take the NCLEX exam. The NCLEX tests your comprehension and retention of the material covered by your nursing program and confirms your readiness to move forward with your nursing career. Topics include: 

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

Once you have passed the NCLEX examination, you will receive a certificate and can access your license at www.bon.texas.gov to complete an online verification that you can print as proof of licensure. 

If you fail the NCLEX exam you will need to take it again. Texas allows first-time nursing school graduates to retake the NCLEX exam every 45 days for four years. If you continue to fail after this period, your testing eligibility will be revoked, and you must enroll in and complete a board-approved nursing program again.

---

---

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

Nurses who are licensed in another state can switch their license to Texas by applying for licensure by endorsement. The application is submitted through the Texas Board of Nursing portal for a fee of $150. Within fifteen business days of receipt of your application, the Board of Nursing staff may issue you a temporary license that allows you to practice as an RN in Texas for a total of 120 calendar days from the date of issuance.

To be accepted for licensure, you must have a Social Security number and no eligibility issues such as criminal or disciplinary history. You must have practiced as a registered nurse or have taken and passed the NCLEX within the past four years. You also must:

• Provide verification of licensure from every state where you hold or have ever held a nursing license. If your state(s) of licensure participate with the NURSYS system, you can request verification from each through their process and pay their $30 fee for each verification.  Nurses licensed in non-participating states must send the Verification of Licensure to the states’ Board of Nursing and request that they submit it to the Texas Board of Nursing by email to [email protected]. 
• Pass the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam. You can register for the NJE at https://www.bon.texas.gov/licensure_nursing_jurisprudence.asp.html. To prepare, view a copy of the state’s Nursing Practice Act and the Board Rules and Regulations. You can also prepare for the exam by taking the online jurisprudence prep course.
  • To pass, you must correctly answer 75% of the questions. It can be taken again after 24 hours if you do not pass. The cost of the examination is included in your application. 
• Submit to a criminal background check.
  • If you live in Texas, make an appointment to be electronically fingerprinted by MorphoTrust USA at one of their IdentoGo enrollment centers using this link, or download the TX Fingerprint Service Code form here and call 888.467.2080 to make an appointment. You will be asked for the service code, which is 119TF2. Your fingerprints will be submitted electronically to DPS and the FBI.
  • If you live outside of Texas, you will need to obtain a FAST Pass from your requesting agency to register your ink card submission by logging on to the IdentoGO website, http://www.identogo.com, or by calling 1- 888-467-2080. If you are scheduling by phone, please request an “Electronic Fingerprint Submission.” You will not schedule a fingerprint appointment; you are only registering your ink card submission. When registering your submission you will be prompted for personal data including: Date of Birth, Sex, Race, Ethnicity, Skin Tone, Height, Weight, Eye Color, Hair Color, Place of Birth, and Home Address. 
    • Your signature and registration identification number (RegID) as well as all required information must be on the form. 
    • You will need to obtain a complete, legible set of fingerprints on a DPS approved fingerprint card, which may be obtained from a local law enforcement agency, embassy or IdentoGo Service Center near you. You can visit http://www.identogo.com or call 1-888-467-2080 to locate an IdentoGo Service Center in your area to obtain an ink card for submission. 
    • The cost for obtaining an ink card may vary and is not included in the Texas Background check fee. Cards must be mailed; fingerprints cannot be submitted electronically from outside the State of Texas. 
    • Mail Fingerprint Card and FAST Pass to: MorphoTrust USA Texas Card Scan, 3051 Hollis Dr., Ste. 310 Springfield, IL 62704

How to renew your Texas nursing license

Step 1: When to submit your renewal application

After licensure by examination or endorsement, your initial Texas license is valid for a period of 6-29 months, depending on your birth month and year. After your first renewal, your license will expire on the last day of your birth month, typically every 2 years. Licensees born in odd-numbered years will renew in odd-numbered years. Licensees born in even-numbered years renew in even-numbered years. The renewal fee is $68. Sixty days prior to your license expiring, the Texas Board of Nursing will mail a renewal postcard to your last known address in their system. 

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

To remain in good standing and renew their license, Texas nurses must attest to completing a minimum of twenty (20) contact hours of continuing education. First-time licensees by examination and endorsement are exempt from this requirement upon their first renewal. You will only be asked to provide copies of the continuing nursing education (CNE) certificates upon notification of an audit. The Texas Board of Nursing accepts CNE programs that are approved by national nursing organizations, their affiliates, and other state boards of nursing.

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

Renew your registered nurse license on the Texas Board of Nursing portal.

Texas nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Texas whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Texas from another state. For more information visit the Texas licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX exam: $200
• Application fee: $75
• Fingerprint processing fee: $41.50

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $150
• Fingerprint processing fee: $41.50

License renewal fees:

• Application fee: $68 (RN); $45 (LPN); $50 (APRN, Rx authority = $15)

Additionally, Texas is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.

*Fees are subject to change.

---

---

Continuing education requirements

RN/LVN: Renewal period every 2 years

• complete 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) in the nurse’s area of practice; OR
• demonstrate the achievement, maintenance, or renewal of a Board-approved national nursing certification in the nurse’s area of practice

APRN: Renewal period every 2 years

• complete 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) in the nurse’s area of practice appropriate to the advanced practice role and population focus area recognized by the Board; OR
• demonstrate the achievement, maintenance, or renewal of a Board-approved national nursing certification in the nurse’s area of practice; AND
• meet the applicable targeted continuing education requirements

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Texas Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.  

How to contact the Texas Board of Nursing

Texas Board of Nursing
Phone: (512) 305-7400
Fax: (512) 305-7401

Website: https://www.bon.texas.gov/

Texas Board of Nursing    
1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200    
Austin, Texas    
78701 

More Texas Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Best nursing schools in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / New York

New York is generally acknowledged as one of the top states for registered nurses. It has top-notch schools, the world’s best medical care facilities, and a median salary significantly higher than what is paid in the rest of the country. If you are ready to apply for a nursing license in the state of New York, you’ll find all the information you need below. 

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your New York nursing license
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your New York nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the New York Board of Nursing
• FAQs

---

---

How to get your New York nursing license

Step 1: Education

New York has more than 150 accredited nursing programs that offer an assortment of nursing degrees that lead to licensure as a registered nurse. These include:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

If you graduated from a nursing school outside of New York State, you’ll need to go to the New York State Education Department and complete an approved Infection Control Course and a Child Abuse Identification and Reporting Course.

You may qualify for an exemption from New York’s child abuse reporting coursework requirement if you can demonstrate that during your nursing practice, you will not have contact with individuals under the age of 18 or residents of nursing homes or residential care schools. Similarly, you may qualify for an exemption from New York’s infection control coursework requirement if you can show that you took infection control training equivalent to the state’s required coursework or that the coursework is not necessary due to the nature of your nursing practice.

Step 2: Apply

New York is one of the few states that include good moral character in its list of requirements for licensure and registration as a nurse. Beyond that, candidates must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Must have graduated from a nursing education program registered with the New York State Education Department as license qualifying for RN or a nursing education program located in another state or U.S. Territory if approved by the licensing authority of that state or territory as preparation for practice as an RN
• Must have completed specific coursework relating to child abuse reporting and infection control 
• Must have passed the NCLEX-RN  

Successfully meeting and documenting all these criteria along with submission of the $143 fee and application will lead to a license being issued. 

Graduates of nursing programs registered with the state and who have never been licensed as a registered nurse should submit the application for licensure and fee.

In addition to a credit card, you will need your Application ID, Social Security Number, and date of birth to access your application. Additional documentation can be sent via this link.  

Applicants for a registered nurse licensure can request a limited permit if they are nursing school graduates, have applied for both licensure and the limited permit, and have met all requirements for licensure as an RN in New York State except for having taken the NCLEX-RN. The fee is $35 and the permit is valid for up to one year or until ten days after notification of having failed the NCLEX-RN.

Step 3: Transcripts

If you graduated from a nursing program in a state other than New York, complete Section I of a Certification of Professional Education (Form 2) and send it to your nursing school and ask that they complete Section II. Your school must verify your nursing education on Form 2 and then send it directly to NYSED. Form 2 must be signed by the registrar or accompanied by a transcript signed by the registrar.

Official transcripts must be sent directly by the nursing school to:

New York State Education Department
Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000 

Step 4: Criminal Record Check 

New York State does not require fingerprinting or background checks as a condition for obtaining a nursing license. The state relies on applicants’ truthful disclosure of past misconduct. 

Step 5: Complete Coursework

The state of New York requires that nursing applicants complete approved child abuse reporting coursework, which have been included in the curriculum of all state-registered programs since 1990, and an approved infection control course. The infection control courses are included in all state-approved programs but must be retaken every four years.

Step 6: Take the NCLEX

Nursing licensure applicants should register for the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) test directly on the website or by calling 1-866-496-2539. Pearson will send you your authorization to take the test electronically.

If you do not pass the NCLEX-RN, you must wait 45 days before scheduling another exam. The NCLEX consists of 75-145 questions, which will cover topics including:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

If your RN license was issued by another state, you must complete a state-approved Infection Control Course and a Child Abuse Identification and Reporting Course from an approved provider.  Next steps are:

• Complete and submit the state’s Application for Licensure-RN
• Have their nursing school verify their education by completing Section I of a Certification of Professional Education. This form should be sent to:

New York State Education Department
Office of the Professions 
Division of Professional Licensing Services
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000

• Have your out-of-state nursing license verified by Nursys, asking them to complete the verification and send it to the New York State Education Department. 

---

---

How to renew your New York nursing license

Step 1. Submit renewal application

Once your New York license has been issued it is valid for life, but the state’s registration certificate needs to be renewed every three years. In the final five months of your current registration period, the state will send a renewal notice that contains a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You’ll need the PIN to log onto the renewal site.

Step 2. Fulfill continuing competency requirements

The state of New York requires registered nurses to complete infection control coursework every four years. 

Step 3. Submit your renewal application

The state’s registration renewal site requires your license number and your PIN to log in. Renewal fee is $73. The second registration period will be less than three years as the expiration date is adjusted to coincide with the month before your birth date in order to make the future triennial renewal process easier and more predictable. 

Licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in New York. These are applicable whether you’re a first-time nurse or are moving to New York from another state. For more information, visit the New York licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX fee: $200
• Application fee: $143

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $143 (RN/LPN); $85 (NP)

License renewal fee:

• Application fee: $73 (RN/LPN); $35 (APRN)

*Fees are subject to change.

**Most states require a background check, but prices are not always listed.

New York continuing education requirements

RNs and APRNs need the following continuing education:

• Three contact hours in Infection Control at initial licensure and every four years thereafter
• One-time requirement of two hours in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
• APRNs must maintain national certification

LPNs only need to complete three contact hours in Infection Control at initial licensure and every four years thereafter. 

Nurses who are authorized to prescribe controlled substances are required to complete at least three hours of training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction every three years. Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The New York State Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC-accredited.

---

---

How to contact the New York Board of Nursing

New York State Education Department Office of the Professions
State Board of Nursing
Phone: (518) 474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 120
Fax: (518) 474-3706
Email: eservices.nysed.gov/professions/contact-us/#
Website: op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse
Address:
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234-1000

More New York Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / California

There are plenty of things that make California a terrific place for nurses to live and work. The state ranks high for public health services and quality of health care delivered. It’s also the state with the highest employment level of registered nurses and the state where registered nurses earn the highest annual mean wages.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your California nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your California nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the California Board of Nursing

---

---

How to get your California nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

The California Board of Nursing has assessed the education provided by both two-year and four-year nursing degree programs in the state. Applicants from these programs, as well as those who have graduated from accredited out-of-state programs, are eligible for licensure by examination.  

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

The California Board of Nursing recommends that applicants use the online process to apply for licensure, though nurses can download the application and send it via mail if they prefer.

To apply online, begin by registering for a BreEZe account. Once you have registered, log on to your account, select “RN Initial Exam Application,” then select “Start a New Application or Take an Exam.” The platform provides the ability to pay the required fee of $300 for California nursing program graduates and $350 for out-of-state nursing graduates, as well as to attach required documents to the application.

Applicants who choose to submit a paper application can mail it and their fee to:

Board of Registered Nursing
P.O. Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100

Applicants should also register to take the NCLEX-RN exam through Pearson VUE  as soon as the Board deems them eligible. 

Step 3: Submit Transcripts

If you graduated from a California nursing program, your transcripts were sent to the Board of Nursing electronically when you completed your program.

If you graduated from an out-of-state nursing program, you must request that your school send your transcripts to the Board of Nursing electronically from a certified third-party electronic transcripts service such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse, or directly from your school to [email protected].

Step 4: Criminal Background Check (CBC)

All applicants for licensure by examination must submit one set of fingerprints through either Live Scan or on an Applicant Fingerprint Card.  The Board of Registered Nursing recommends using Live Scan to shorten the process.

• To use Live Scan, applicants must complete and submit the Request for Live Scan Service Applicant Submission form at a Live Scan site within California and submit the processing fee at the site. Once your fingerprints have been scanned and you have completed the required section, you will be given two copies and the Live Scan operator will transmit the results. The process takes 1-2 weeks.
• You can request a fingerprint card be sent to you. Complete all the items marked by a black “X” on the card in black ink, then take the card to a local law enforcement agency to have your fingerprints taken. Use a 9”x12” envelope to return your completed application and fingerprint card with the $49 fee payable to the Board of Registered Nursing by check or money order. Write “DO NOT FOLD” on the envelope. Mail to:

Board of Registered Nursing
PO Box 944210
Sacramento, CA  94244-2100

The fingerprint card process can take 1-2 months.

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

The NCLEX-RN exam measures your readiness for the responsibilities of nursing. Once you have completed your application for licensure by examination and have provided all the required documentation, the state will notify Pearson VUE and they will email you an Authorization to Test. The NCLEX questions include material on the following topics:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation

If you pass the NCLEX exam, your status will appear on the BreEZe account. Nurses who do not pass the NCLEX exam are able to retake the exam after 45 days have passed since their previous test-taking date, up to eight times per year.  Candidates must pass NCLEX within three years from when they graduated nursing school.

---

---

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

If you want to switch your nursing license from another state to California, you need to apply for licensure via endorsement. This process is most quickly accomplished using the online application form accessed at BreEZe Online.

Start by registering for your BreEZe account, then select “RN Endorsement” from the dropdown menu below “Start a New Application or Take an Exam.” After filling out the application and paying the $350 fee, you’ll be able to upload documents to attach to your application.

Supporting documents required by the California Board of Nursing include:

• One set of fingerprints through either Live Scan or on an Applicant Fingerprint Card. The Board of Registered Nursing recommends using Live Scan to shorten the process.
  • To use Live Scan, applicants must complete and submit the Request for Live Scan Service Applicant Submission form at a Live Scan site within California and submit the processing fee at the site. Once your fingerprints have been scanned and you’ve completed the required section, you’ll be given two copies and the Live Scan operator will transmit the results. The process takes 1-2 weeks.
  • Alternatively, you can request a fingerprint card. Complete all the items marked by a black “X” on the card in black ink and use all appropriate abbreviations for physical descriptions, then take the card to a local law enforcement agency to have your fingerprints taken. Use a 9”x12” envelope to return your completed application and fingerprint card with the $49 fee payable to the Board of Registered Nursing by check or money order. Write “DO NOT FOLD” on the envelope. Mail to:

Board of Registered Nursing
PO Box 944210
Sacramento, CA  94244-2100

• Provide verification of your license. This can be done through the NURSYS system if your state’s board of nursing participates, or you can complete the top half of the Verification of Licensure form and send it to your state board for them to complete and send directly to:

Board of Registered Nursing
PO Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100

While your license is pending, you can apply online for a temporary license once your application has been completed.

How to renew your California nursing license

Step 1: When to submit your renewal application

Your first California registered nurse license is issued for two of your birthdays rather than for two years. It expires on the last day of the month following your second birthday after getting your license, and from thereafter, that will be your expiration date, every two years.

Renewal notices are mailed out approximately three months prior to the expiration date of the license. They cannot be renewed earlier than three months before expiration.

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

For the first two years immediately following your initial licensure, nurses will not be required to complete any continuing education classes, though starting January 1, 2023, immediately following initial licensure registered nurses must complete one hour of direct participation in an implicit bias course offered by a continuing education provider that has been approved by the Board of Registered Nursing. Thereafter the state requires that registered nurses complete 30 contact hours of continuing education to qualify for license renewal.

Incredible Health offers free fully accredited California CEU classes that are easy to access and include immediate certification of completion.

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

Your registered nurse license can be renewed online through BreEZe Online services. The fee is $190.

California nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in California whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to California from another state. For more information, visit the state Board of Registered Nursing.

Licensing fee by examination (first-time nurses)

• NCLEX fee: $200
• Application fee: $300
• Temporary permit (optional): $100
• Fingerprint processing fee: $49

Licensing fee by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

• Application fee: $350 (RN); $500 (APRN)
• Temporary permit: $100
• Fingerprint processing fee: $49
• License verification: $100

License renewal fees

• Application fee: $190 (RN); $150 (APRN)

*Fees are subject to change.

If you or your spouse is in the military and is applying for a nursing license, applications may be expedited depending on your situation. California will waive the renewal fee, continuing education requirements, and any other fees for any military member that is deployed, which is another huge benefit to nursing in California.

California legislation is pending for the Golden State to become a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses. Check the NCSBN to stay up to date.

---

---

Continuing education requirements

• 30 contacts hours every 2 years – Note that starting January 1, 2023, a licensee still within the first 2 years of holding their license or immediately following their initial licensure must complete one hour of direct participation in an implicit bias course offered by a continuing education provider that has been approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing.
• Applies to LPNs, RNs, and APRNs.

How to contact the California Board of Nursing

Phone: (916) 322-3350
Website: www.rn.ca.gov

Mailing address:
Board of Registered Nursing
PO Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100

Physical address:
1747 N. Market Blvd
Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1924

More California Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Best nursing schools in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state