Minnesota Nursing License Requirements: RN

Overview

The Act creating the Minnesota State Board of Examiners of Nurses became law on April 12, 1907. The history is a series of ten with one decade to be posted monthly. (Please see below for links to each decade). We hope you enjoy reading this shared history and encourage you to submit any corrections or historical, anecdotal, or biographical information you may have.

The mission of the Minnesota Board of Nursing is to protect the public’s health and safety through regulation of nursing education, licensure and practice.

LPN Licensure by exam requirements

(Completing a program at a US school)

Submit a Licensed Practical Nurse Licensure by Examination Application and fee

(Fee must be paid with cashier’s check or money order.) The fee is non-refundable. The application packet may be downloaded here: Exam application packet for US educated LPN applicants.

Minnesota Board of Nursing
2829 University Avenue SE, Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
612.317.3000
nursing.board@state.mn.us (email)
mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/nursing/ (website)

Provide evidence that you have not engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action.(If you answer yes to any questions in the Grounds for Denial section the Board will investigate prior to licensure.)
Your school must submit a completed Confirmation of Program Completion from your nursing program. (U.S. educated applicants. If you have completed a Minnesota nursing program, a school official can confirm completion on-line.)
Register with Pearson Vue to take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and pay the required fee.
- Register on the web at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex .
- Register by phone by calling NCLEX Candidate Services at 1.866.496.2539

Send notification to the Board office as soon as possible if any change occurs in your name, address, or other application information after you submit the application. Submit legal proof of change, in name, such as a copy of a marriage certificate or court order.
Watch for the test service to send your authorization to test (ATT) by e-mail. To gain access to the NCLEX, you will be required to present one form of acceptable identification. The first and last name on your identification must match exactly the name you provided when registering. The ATT is valid for 90 days.
Schedule the examination at one of the testing centers after you receive an authorization to test (ATT) from the test service. The ATT is valid for 90 days. If you do not take the examination within one year of receipt of your application, your application with the Board, will be nullifed. If you do not take the examination within 90 days of receipt of your ATT, your registration with Pearson Vue will no longer be valid.
Watch for your license the Board will send to you approximately 10 business days after you take the examination. If you do not pass the examination, you will receive a REQUEST TO RETAKE EXAMINATION packet and a diagnostic profile which helps you understand your performance on the NCLEX examination.

Request for special testing accommodations

Indicate your request for special testing accommodations for the NCLEX by completing Section D on the Application for Licensure.

Submit supporting documentation regarding your request for testing accommodationsdue to a disability. At a minimum the documentation must include:
- a letter from an appropriate professional confirming the disability and providing information as to what accommodations are appropriate; and
- a letter from your nursing education program indicating what modifications, if any, were granted by the program.

List the specific accommodations you are requesting. Examples of modifications include:

separate room

recorder

reader

signer

extra time (state specific amount of extra time you are requesting.)

Call NCLEX Candidate Services at the telephone number listed in the ATT letter when you are approved for testing with special accommodations and have received your ATT.

Use the Web to check the progress of your application

Access the Board of Nursing website at mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/nursing/

Click on “Online Services”
Establish a user profile by clicking on the new user link and follow the directions.
Next, log in using your name and password.
A screen will appear that lists your personal information with a box indicating your application status as “open licensure by exam.”
Click on “open licensure by exam.” Another screen will appear. As you complete each step of the process, the date for each of the following will display:
- Application received
- Registered with test service
- Confirmation of program completion
- Authorization to test issued
- Date scheduled to take exam
- Examination results
- License issued

Watch for the test service to send your authorization to test (ATT) by e-mail. To gain access to the NCLEX, you will be required to present one form of acceptable identification. The first and last name on your identification must match exactly the name you provided when registering. The ATT is valid for 90 days.

Examination Results

Check your examination results:

On the Board of Nursing website. There is no fee for viewing the results on the web. The Board does not provide results over the phone.
On the Pearson Vue website at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex . There is a fee for the results on line service.
By phone. Pearson Vue provides the phone number with your authorization to test (ATT). There is a fee for the results by phone service.

Exam application packet for U.S. educated LPN applicants

If you have been licensed in another U.S. state or territory by examination, you must obtain a Minnesota license through the process of licensure by endorsement. You can download the forms you need to submit at the bottom of the page by clicking on the title of the form. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download and print the forms.)

You should:

Submit a Licensure by Endorsement Application form and fee.
Submit at least one Verification of Licensure form

a. submit verification from the state, territory or province in which you were first licensed and

b. submit verification from the state, territory or province that issued the license you are currently using
to practice nursing. If the state in which you were first licensed is the same as the state in which you
are currently practicing, you will submit one verification. If the state in which you were first licensed
is different than the state in which you are currently practicing, you will submit two verifications.

Verifications of licensure are completed online at www.nursys.com if the state processes their verifications through Nursys.com or by paper if they do not process their verifications through Nursys.com. The list of Nursys verifying states is available in the Licensure by Endorsementpacket. The paper verification form is also available in the Licensure by Endorsement packet.
Submit a Confirmation of Nursing Employment for Licensure by Endorsement form.
Anticipate receiving a letter from the Board if you need to report continuing education or take a refresher course. Continuing education requirements vary according to date of most recent licensure and nursing practice. If you have not engaged in acceptable nursing practice for more than 5 years, you must successfully complete a refresher course that meets board criteria.

Before you are licensed in Minnesota, you may practice nursing in Minnesota under a temporary permit. Request the permit on the application form. For those educated in a foreign country you must also submit evidence of having passed the NCLEX examination.

1. Licensure by Endorsement Application

You must submit an:

Application for Registered Nurse Licensure By Endorsement form OR

Application for Practical Nurse Licensure By Endorsement form

2. Verification of Licensure

Initial Licensure: You must submit verification from the state, territory or province in which you were first licensed. Go to www.nursys.com to process an online verification request if you were first licensed in one of the following states:

Alaska	Nevada
American Samoa	New Hampshire
Arizona	New Jersey
Arkansas	New Mexico
Colorado	New York
Delaware	North Carolina
District of Columbia (DC)	North Dakota
Florida	Northern Mariana Islands (MP)
Guam	Ohio
Idaho	Oregon
Indiana	Rhode Island
Iowa	South Carolina
Kentucky	South Dakota
Louisiana (RN)	Tennessee
Maine	Texas
Maryland	Utah
Massachusetts	Vermont
Michigan	Virgin Islands
Minnesota	Virginia
Mississippi	Washington
Missouri	West Virginia
Montana	Wisconsin
Nebraska	Wyoming

Or , you must submit a paper Verification of Licensure form if you were first licensed in a state, territory, or province that is not one of the states listed above.

Current Practice State Licensure: You must submit verification from the state, territory or province that issued the license you are currently using to practice nursing if that is different than your state of initial licensure. Go to www.nursys.com to process an online verification request if your current practice state is in:

Alaska Nevada

American Samoa New Hampshire

Arizona New Jersey

Arkansas New Mexico

Colorado New York

Delaware North Carolina

District of Columbia (DC) North Dakota

Florida Northern Mariana Islands (MP)

Guam Ohio

Idaho Oregon

Indiana Rhode Island

Iowa South Carolina

Kentucky South Dakota

Louisiana (RN) Tennessee

Maine Texas

Maryland Utah

Massachusetts Vermont

Michigan Virgin Islands

Minnesota Virginia

Mississippi Washington

Missouri West Virginia

Montana Wisconsin

Nebraska Wyoming

Or, you must submit a paper Verification of Licensure form, if the state is not one of the states listed above.

3. Confirmation of Nursing Employment Form

If you have ever worked as a nurse, you must have your most recent employer complete and submit a Confirmation of Nursing Employment for Licensure by Endorsement form.

Forms

If you are unable to determine which form(s) best fit your situation, contact the Board for assistance.

References

http://mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/nursing/applicants/apply/index.jsp