Guide to Nurse Licensing Boards

Get information about each state's nurse licensing boards

Each state has different requirements for licenses for nurses. Speak to your nursing school or contact your state's Board of Registered Nurses for more information. If you already have a license in another state and want to get a license in a different one, contact the Board of Registered Nurses in your new state. Some nursing license boards will let you get a license with only a little work.

I recommend: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides information about testing and state requirements. You can also go to All Nursing Schools for a complete list of state nursing boards.

Discover if a nurse has a nurse license

If you want to hire a nurse, a big priority is finding out whether that nurse has a license in your state. Luckily, there are many ways you can check on the licensure of a potential employee.

I recommend: The NCSBN lets employers check the status of an employee's or potential employee’s license. Nurses who want to a license to practice in other states can also get information about requirements here. You can also go to the Health Integrity and Protection Data Bank to find out what to do if you find a nurse working without a license, you feel a nurse isn’t behaving in a safe, competent, ethical way or you believe the nurse isn’t in compliance with applicable laws and rules.

Learn more about the nurse practitioner licensing board

Nurse practitioners are nurses with advanced training. They're already an RN and have gone on to get their masters degree and additional training in health issues. They work closely with doctors and many people have a nurse practitioner as their regular provider.

I recommend: Nurse practitioners may need additional requirements for their nurses licenses, such as certification with American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) or national certification with American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (ANA).