Overview
The Board’s mission is to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare through effective nursing regulation. It is a government agency established by Nevada law to protect the public from unsafe practice by nurses.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licenseing by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Submit a completed and signed application form, including the applicable license and fingerprinting fees (money order, cashier’s or personal check, or MasterCard™, Visa™, Discover™ or American Express™ debit or credit card) made payable to the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Fees are not refundable.
Note: Applications will be accepted without a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN); however a permanent license will not be issued without an SSN.
- Register online with the testing agency before or just after submitting the licensure application to take the licensure test, NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). The registration fee of $200 can be paid via American Express, Visa, or MasterCard.
- 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.
- Order an official transcript of your nursing education program sent to the Board directly from the school. The transcript must have your degree posted.
- Nevada graduates – This requirement is fulfilled in two steps:
- Your school will send the Board an affidavit of graduation, which will make you eligible to receive an Interim Permit, if you choose; and 2) You must order an official transcript of your nursing education program sent to the Board directly from your school to be eligible to receive a permanent license.
- Out-of-state graduates – Order an official transcript of your nursing education program sent to the Board directly from the school.
- Graduates of international nursing programs -This requirement is fulfilled when the Board receives your CGFNS/CES Professional Report for the state of Nevada (see attached for more information for international graduates).
- Submit a completed fingerprint card.
- Submit the completed application, fees, and all the required documents to the following address:
Nevada State Board of Nursing
5011 Meadowood Mall Way
Suite 300, Reno, Nevada 89502-6576
International Graduates:
- All graduates of international nursing schools must have their professional credentials (nursing education and professional licenses) evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). All international graduates must have the results of a CES Professional Report mailed directly to:
Nevada State Board of Nursing
4220 S. Maryland Pkwy. #300
Las Vegas, NV 89109-7533
- Applicants must also validate their English language proficiency skills to obtain a license in Nevada.
For more information about the examination process, click here.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Submit a completed and signed application form, including the applicable license and fingerprinting fees (money order, cashier’s or personal check, or MasterCard™, Visa™, Discover™ or American Express™ debit or credit card) made payable to the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Fees are not refundable.
Note: Applications will be accepted without a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN); however a permanent license will not be issued without an SSN.
- Submit a copy of evidence of graduation from your nursing education program.
- All graduates of nursing programs in the United States:
- If you are an RN applicant, you must submit a copy of your diploma or official transcript issued directly from the registrar to the student or to the Board. If you are an LPN applicant, you must submit a copy of your certificate or official transcript issued directly from the registrar to the student or to the Board. For RNs and LPNs, the document you submit must indicate a nursing degree and graduation date.
Note: Computer-generated transcripts are not acceptable.
- All graduates of international nursing programs:
- You must submit a copy of your transcript, which must indicate a nursing degree and graduation date. (The Board will notify you if you will also be required to complete the CGFNS/CES Professional Report.)
- If you have been a licensed nurse in the United States less than five (5) years prior to submission of your application to Nevada, you are required to successfully pass one of the following English proficiency examinations. The minimum score of English proficiency must be achieved before you can be issued a license in Nevada. All test results must be sent directly to the Board.
- The Internet-based (IBT) TOEFL minimum score of 84, 26 spoken English; or
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)with a minimum score of 55 and no individual section below 50; OR
- Submit documentation of successful completion of an English proficiency exam accepted by another US board of nursing.
- Submit official verification (or endorsement) from your original state of licensure by examination either by completing the form on Nursys if your state participates in Nursys, or if your state does not participate in Nursys fill in the form enclosed with the licensure by endorsement application form.
- Submit completed fingerprint cards.
- Submit the completed application, fees, and all the required documents to the following address:
Nevada State Board of Nursing
5011 Meadowood Mall Way
Suite 300, Reno, Nevada 89502-6576
International Graduates:
- All graduates of international nursing schools must have their professional credentials (nursing education and professional licenses) evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). All international graduates must have the results of a CES Professional Report mailed directly to:
Nevada State Board of Nursing
4220 S. Maryland Pkwy. #300
Las Vegas, NV 89109-7533
- Applicants must also validate their English language proficiency skills to obtain a license in Nevada.
For more information about endorsement, click here.
To view some FAQ, click here.
For more information visit the official Nevada State Board of Nursing website.