Idaho Nursing Licensure Requirements: RN, LPN

Overview

The Mission of the Idaho Board of Nursing is to regulate nursing practice and education for the purpose of safeguarding the public health, safety, and welfare. With Idaho’s educational institutions placing a strong emphasis on providing highly trained and skilled nurses for the state’s health care industry, they have successfully created balanced market conditions for employers and a highly sought after workforce.

Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Examination

In order to become an RN in Idaho, you must have a minimum of an associates degree in nursing from an accredited college or university approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing.

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• A completed application in ink and notarized by a notary public. If all information requested is not supplied provide an explanation for the omission.

Note: Applications may not be photocopied and will NOT be accepted by fax.

• Provide a photograph with approximate size 2”x 2” or 2” x 3”. Photograph must be taken within the last year and show head and shoulders only. Please attach your photograph to the application with tape or enclose it in the Board of Nursing envelope with the application form. The picture may be passport or digital/polaroid type.

Note: Please indicate on the application form the date the photograph was taken.

• Submit the licensure fee of $90.00 in the form of a personal check or money order made payable to IDAHO STATE BOARD OF NURSING with the application form. All fees are nonrefundable.
• Complete the Census Questionnaire Form in ink and return with your application form.
• Submit an affidavit of graduation which must be completed by your nursing program director/administrator , notarized, and returned directly to the Board of Nursing from the nursing education program after all requirements of the education program have been successfully completed.
• All applicants for licensure are required to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check by the Idaho central criminal database and the federal bureau of investigation criminal history database. Complete the required fingerprint card and submit to the Board for processing. Only cards from the Board office are acceptable – fee for processing – $42.00 (Total fee to submit – $132.00). Cards can take from 3-4 weeks for processing. You must complete and return the enclosed “Non-Criminal Justice Applicant Privacy Statement” to the Board office before your license can be issued.

Click here for more information about licensure by examination.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• A completed application in ink and notarized by a notary public. If all information requested is not supplied provide an explanation for the omission.

Note: Applications may not be photocopied and will NOT be accepted by fax.

• Provide a photograph with approximate size 2”x 2” or 2” x 3”. Photograph must be taken within the last year and show head and shoulders only. Please attach your photograph to the application with tape or enclose it in the Board of Nursing envelope with the application form. The picture may be passport or digital/polaroid type.

Note: Please indicate on the application form the date the photograph was taken.

• Submit the licensure fee of $75.00 in the form of a personal check or money order made payable to IDAHO STATE BOARD OF NURSING with the application form. All fees are nonrefundable.
• Complete the Census Questionnaire Form in ink and return with your application form.
• Submit an affidavit of graduation which must be completed by your nursing program director/administrator , notarized, and returned directly to the Board of Nursing from the nursing education program after all requirements of the education program have been successfully completed.
• All applicants for licensure are required to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check by the Idaho central criminal database and the federal bureau of investigation criminal history database. Complete the required fingerprint card and submit to the Board for processing. Only cards from the Board office are acceptable – fee for processing – $42.00 (Total fee to submit – $117.00). Cards can take from 3-4 weeks for processing. You must complete and return the enclosed “Non-Criminal Justice Applicant Privacy Statement” to the Board office before your license can be issued.

Click here for more information about licensure by examination.

Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Endorsement

You may apply for RN licensure by endorsement if you have never held an Idaho License and you are NOT declaring another Compact State as your primary state of residence.

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• Submit a completed application Only application forms provided by the Board, completed in ink and notarized will be accepted. Photocopies or Faxed copies of application forms will not be accepted.
  • If all information requested is not supplied, provide an explanation for the omission.
  • Sign the affidavit with your usual signature and have it notarized.
  • Attach a 2 x 2 identification photograph, taken within the last year. Electronically scanned photos are not acceptable; features must be clearly identifiable. Black and white or color pictures are acceptable.
• Enclose the appropriate fee for all categories of licensure for which you are applying (personal checks are accepted).
• Complete the enclosed Census Questionnaire and return with your completed application. If you have not licensed in Idaho previously, leave the box requesting your license number blank.
• Send the verification of licensure form to the state in which you were licensed by examination (complete the enclosed “Verification of Licensure” form) OR if you were ever licensed in one of the states in the enclosed “NOTICE To Nurses Seeking Licensure in Idaho”, you will need to complete only the enclosed NURSYS form and submit it to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for processing. Do not request both verifications.
• A satisfactory nursing employment reference from the three-year period immediately preceding the application is required. The employment reference may be faxed to (208) 334-3262 or mailed directly to the Board of Nursing by the employer. References will not be accepted from the applicant.

Note: If you have not been employed in nursing within the last three years, do not complete the reference form. You may be required to obtain a conditional temporary license in order to update your nursing knowledge to qualify for Idaho licensure.

• Submit a declaration of state of residence. Complete the enclosed form attesting that your primary state of residence.
• The affidavit on page 2 of the application must be completed and notarized in order for your application to be valid.
• Complete the required fingerprint card and submit to the Board for processing. Only cards from the Board office are acceptable – fee for processing – $42.00.

Click here for more information about licensure by endorsement.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• Submit a completed application Only application forms provided by the Board, completed in ink and notarized will be accepted. Photocopies or Faxed copies of application forms will not be accepted.
  • If all information requested is not supplied, provide an explanation for the omission.
  • Sign the affidavit with your usual signature and have it notarized.
  • Attach a 2 x 2 identification photograph, taken within the last year. Electronically scanned photos are not acceptable; features must be clearly identifiable. Black and white or color pictures are acceptable.
• Enclose the appropriate fee for all categories of licensure for which you are applying (personal checks are accepted).
• Complete the enclosed Census Questionnaire and return with your completed application. If you have not licensed in Idaho previously, leave the box requesting your license number blank.
• Send the verification of licensure form to the state in which you were licensed by examination (complete the enclosed “Verification of Licensure” form) OR if you were ever licensed in one of the states in the enclosed “NOTICE To Nurses Seeking Licensure in Idaho”, you will need to complete only the enclosed NURSYS form and submit it to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for processing. Do not request both verifications.
• A satisfactory nursing employment reference from the three-year period immediately preceding the application is required. The employment reference may be faxed to (208) 334-3262 or mailed directly to the Board of Nursing by the employer. References will not be accepted from the applicant.

Note: If you have not been employed in nursing within the last three years, do not complete the reference form. You may be required to obtain a conditional temporary license in order to update your nursing knowledge to qualify for Idaho licensure.

• Submit a declaration of state of residence. Complete the enclosed form attesting that your primary state of residence.
• The affidavit on page 2 of the application must be completed and notarized in order for your application to be valid.
• Complete the required fingerprint card and submit to the Board for processing. Only cards from the Board office are acceptable – fee for processing – $42.00.

For more information visit the official Idaho Board of Nursing website.

References:

http://ibn.idaho.gov/IBNPortal/AgencyAdditional.aspx?Agency=426&AgencyLinkID=110