Overview
New York is unique in placing its system of professional governance under the Board of Regents, a citizen body. Boards of professionals and public members advise the Regents and the Education Department on all aspects of professional education, licensing, practice, and discipline.
Registered Nursing (RN) License by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Submit a completed application for licensure.
- Submit the $143.00 licensure and first registration fee made payable to the New York State Education Department.
- Present satisfactory evidence of having received at least a two-year degree or diploma from a program ingeneral professional nursing that is acceptable to the Department. To be acceptable to the Department, the program must be either:
- Registered as licensure qualifying by the New York State Education Department; or
- Approved by the licensing authority or appropriate governmental agency in the jurisdiction where the school is located as preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse.
- In addition to the professional education requirement, every applicant for licensure or limited permit as a registered professional nurse must complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse in accordance with Section 6507(3)(a) of the Education Law. See additional information and a list of approved providers for this training.
- Every registered professional nurse must also complete approved coursework or training appropriate to the professional’s practice in infection control and barrier precautions, including engineering and work practice controls, to prevent the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis b virus (HBV) in the course of professional practice. See additional information and a list of approved providers for this training.
- Request your nursing education school to verify your education program and send it directly to the New York State Education Department.
- Mail your application and fee to:
NYS Education Department
Office of the Professions
PO Box 22063
Albany, NY 12201
- All candidates who have completed their RN education outside the United States must have their education credentials verified by the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools).
- Register with the testing agency before or just after submitting the licensure application to take the licensure test, NCLEX (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 telephone (1-866-496-2539).
- If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for the examination, you must complete and submit a Request for Reasonable Testing Accommodations form.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination
- Be at least 17 years of age.
- Submit a completed application for licensure.
- Submit the $143.00 licensure and first registration fee made payable to the New York State Education Department.
- Must have completed high school or the equivalent, and present satisfactory evidence of one of the following:
- Graduation from at least a nine-month program in practical nursing registered by the New York State Education Department as licensure qualifying or recognized as preparatory for practice as a licensed practical nurse by the licensing authority or appropriate governmental agency in the jurisdiction where the school is located; or
- Completion of at least a nine-month program of study that is satisfactory to the New York State Education Department in a program conducted by the armed forces of the United States; or
- Graduation from an approved program in general professional nursing.
- In addition to the professional education requirement, every applicant for licensure or limited permit as a licensed practical nurse must also complete approved coursework or training appropriate to the professional’s practice in infection control and barrier precautions, including engineering and work practice controls, to prevent the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis b virus (HBV) in the course of professional practice. See additional information and a list of approved providers for this training.
- Ask your school to verify your education directly to the New York State Education Department on Form 2 (New York State programs completed prior to 4/1/98 or other U.S. programs), or Form 2AF (for graduates who are applying for an LPN license based on completion of equivalent education in a program conducted by the U.S. armed forces) or have your educational credentials verified by CGFNS (non-U.S. programs).
- Mail your application and fee to:
NYS Education Department
Office of the Professions
PO Box 22063
Albany, NY 12201
- Register with the testing agency before or just after submitting the licensure application to take the licensure test, NCLEX (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 telephone (1-866-496-2539).
- If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for the examination, you must complete and submit a Request for Reasonable Testing Accommodations form.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensing by Endorsement
- Submit a completed application for licensure.
- Submit the $143.00 licensure and first registration fee made payable to the New York State Education Department.
- If you are licensed as a nurse in another state, you must provide the New York State Education Department with verification of that licensure. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) handles verification of licensure for a majority of states through their Nurse System (Nursys). You can check to see if the state(s) where you are licensed as a nurse participates in Nursys by visiting their website or by calling them at 1-866-819-1700.
- If the state(s) where you are licensed as a nurse participates in Nursys, you must request verification of your licensure from Nursys, not the state(s).
- If your state(s) of licensure does (do) not appear on the Nursys list, you must use the Verification of Other Professional Licensure/Certification form (Form 3) to verify your licensure to New York State.
- Complete the Certification of Professional Education form and send both pages to the school of nursing that awarded your nursing degree.
- Complete the mandated training on child abuse. This course can be completed online. A certification of your completion of this course must either be sent electronically to New York State or a printed company must accompany your application for endorsement. The fee for this course depends upon the chosen provider.
Complete the mandated training on infection control. This course can be completed online. A certification of your completion of this course must either be sent electronically to New York State or a printed company must accompany your application for endorsement. The fee for this course depends upon the chosen provider. - Mail your application and fee to:
NYS Education Department
Office of the Professions
PO Box 22063
Albany, NY 12201
For more information visit the official New York Board of Nursing website.