Overview
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing strives to safeguard the life and health of the citizens of Louisiana by assuring persons practicing as registered nurses are competent and safe. Their goal is to promote regulatory effectiveness, assure efficient and timely responses, and identify and regulate the evolving role of the registered nurse as a professional while protecting the public.
Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Complete graduation from a state-approved nursing program.
Note: If you are a graduate of a nursing school program outside of the United States, may not apply for licensure by examination. Please contact the Board office for information about applying by Endorsement.
- Submit duly filled application form at least 60 days before completion of graduation.
- Submit fee of $100 with an additional fingerprint card fee of $42.50 in the form of cashier’s check or money order made payable to the “Louisiana State Board of Nursing.”
- Provide official transcript submitted directly from your nursing school to the Louisiana Board of Nursing.
- Submit a criminal background check packet.
- Request a fingerprint card packet from LSBN and submit via facsimile or by mail.
- Submit an Authorization for Criminal Background Check form.
- Each of the two (2) FBI cards need a separate and distinct set of your fingerprints. If the agency utilizes an electronic scan system, request that they scan your fingerprints and print the first FBI card, then scan your fingerprints again and print the second FBI card.
Note: Applicants who have submitted a criminal background check TO LSBN with an application for permission to enroll in clinical courses in Louisiana are not required to submit a new criminal background check packet unless directed by LSBN staff. Applicants who have never submitted a criminal background check packet to LSBN must submit a complete packet with their application.
- Submit application and documents to:
LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF NURSING
17373 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, Louisiana- 70810
- Register with the testing agency before or just after submitting the licensure application to take the licensure test, NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination). You may use any of the following ways to complete the registration:
- Register online. The registration fee of $200 can be paid via American Express, Visa, or MasterCard. OR
- By mail: You may request the Board of Nursing office to send an NCLEX registration form. Provide essential details in the form and include an appropriate fee of $200.00 in the form of a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing). Mail it to the following address:
NCLEX Operations
Post Office Box 64950
St. Paul, Minnesota- 55164-0950
- When all your essential documents are approved, the Board will inform the testing agency, Pearson VUE, making you eligible to take the licensure exam.
- Pearson VUE will send you an ATT (Authorization to Test) via email or on the address provided by you during the registration process.
- Upon receiving the ATT, schedule the licensure exam.
For more information about the examination process, click here.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Submit (1) one 2″ x 2″ dated photograph signed by student and instructor Office use only.
- Submit the completed application and a money order for $100.00 made payable to the “Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners” to the following address:
LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF PRACTICAL NURSE EXAMINERS
131 AIRLINE DRIVE, SUITE 301
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA 70001
- Submit any/all certified court documents related to any/all arrest(s) previously reported.
Note: Fees are non refundable and application and fee void after one year.
- Register with the testing agency before or just after submitting the licensure application to take the licensure test, NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination). You may use any of the following ways to complete the registration:
- Register online. The registration fee of $200 can be paid via American Express, Visa, or MasterCard. OR
- By mail: You may request the Board of Nursing office to send an NCLEX registration form. Provide essential details in the form and include an appropriate fee of $200.00 in the form of a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing). Mail it to the following address:
NCLEX Operations
Post Office Box 64950
St. Paul, Minnesota- 55164-0950
- When all your essential documents are approved, the Board will inform the testing agency, Pearson VUE, making you eligible to take the licensure exam.
- Pearson VUE will send you an ATT (Authorization to Test) via email or on the address provided by you during the registration process.
- Upon receiving the ATT, schedule the licensure exam.
Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Applicants must submit evidence of initial RN licensure from another state, territory, or country;
- Applicant must submit evidence of current RN licensure issued directly from the jurisdiction of last employment.
- All applicants must have successfully completed a diploma, associate degree, baccalaureate and/or masters nursing education program approved by one (1) of the following:
- The Louisiana State Board of Nursing, or
- Another U. S. State Board of Nursing in which the program meets or exceeds the nursing educational standards/requirements for nursing programs in Louisiana, or
- A nursing program located in another country.
- Applicants must have successfully completed the State Board Test Pool Examination and earned a score of 350 or above in each area –or-have written the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and earned a passing score of 1600 or “pass” on pass/fail scale.
- Applicants must not have disciplinary action by any nursing board or other health regulatory board in any state or country with pending stipulations and/or restrictions.
- Applicants must not have any civil or criminal charges pending.
- Applicants must submit completed application for endorsement, required fees and other required documents within one (1) year.
- Applicants must submit evidence of proficiency in the English language if a graduate of a nursing program offered in a foreign country.
- Applicants must submit to a criminal background check (CBC)
- Submit completed application, fees and documents to:
LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF NURSING
17373 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, Louisiana- 70810
Fees
$140.75 – Submitting your RN Endorsement Application to LSBN by mail to request a full Louisiana RN licensure, but not requesting a 90 day temporary permit.
This total includes: $100.00 application filing fee and $40.75 for LSBN to process your fingerprints (on FBI cards) for the required CBC.
-OR-
$150.75 – Hand delivery of your RN Endorsement Application in person to the LSBN office and having board staff electronically scanned your fingerprints (‘LiveScan’) for the required CBC, but not requesting a 90 day temporary permit. NOTE: If you’ve experienced problems with fingerprinting in the past and live in the Baton Rouge area, you may want to consider this option. Please arrive at the LSBN office well before 3:00 pm (CST) if you choose ‘LiveScan’ fingerprinting.
This total includes: $100.00 application filing fee; $40.75 for LSBN to process the required CBC; plus $10.00 for ‘LiveScan’ fingerprinting at the LSBN office (instead of submitting FBI cards with your prints.)
For more information about RN licensure endorsement, click here.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Be currently licensed as a practical nurse under the laws of another state of the United States.
- Proof that you have worked as an lpn/lvn during the four years immediately preceding your application. (only applies to nurses who have been out of school for at least 4 years.)
- Proof that you have graduated from an approved program of practical nursing which program offered a sufficient number of clock hours in the following courses: Body Structure and Function; Microbiology; Vocational Adjustments; Personal, Family and Community Health; Nutrition in Health and Illness; Pharmacology and Medication Administration; and Principles and Practices of Medical-Surgical, Geriatric, Obstetrical, Pediatric, and Mental Health Nursing.
- Meet all existing requirements for licensure in Louisiana at the time of application. (licensure requirements are subject to change. Changes may result from new legislation, new rules and regulations, or from new policies and procedures adopted by the board.)
- A federal background check is required of all endorsement applicants. We strongly suggest that applicants begin this process immediately upon requesting or receiving/downloading the endorsement application. Information regarding the background check is included with each application or by going to fbi.gov.
- New graduates must request that their school submit to our office a copy of their practical nursing transcript to determine eligibility for a temporary permit.
- The board may issue a temporary work permit upon receipt of part one of the endorsement application, the application fee, a copy of a current practical nurse license, in good standing, issued by another U.S. board of nursing, and a copy of your signed and dated written request to the FBI, a copy of the money order payable to the FBI, and a copy of your fingerprint card.
- An applicant for licensure with a diagnosis of HIV/HBV must report this in writing to the executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners by certified or registered mail marked “Personal and Confidential”.
- Submit completed application packet to:
LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF PRACTICAL NURSE EXAMINERS
131 AIRLINE DRIVE, SUITE 301
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA 70001
For more information about licensure as an LPN by endorsement, click here
For more information about registered nursing visit the official Louisiana State Board of Nursing website.
For more information about licensed practical nursing, visit the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners website.
References:
http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/Licensure,Renewals/Applications.aspx