Overview
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Tennessee law requires an applicant for licensure by examination to be either a graduate of an approved professional (RN) school of nursing or an approved practical nursing (LPN) program in order to be eligible to take the licensure examination (NCLEX RN or PN).
- Applicants who have graduated from a school of nursing in a foreign country should contact:
Diana Merickle
Regulatory Board Administrative Assistant II
Tennessee Board of Nursing
Email: Diana.Merickle@state.tn.us
Phone: 1-800-778-4123 or 615 532-5166
- The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examination applications are made available to the Tennessee Schools of Nursing and are not available through the internet. Graduates of schools outside of Tennessee must contact the board office for an examination packet. Please request your examination packet by calling 1-800-778-4123 or local 532-5166.
- Applicants must obtain a criminal background check.
- Before an examination packet is mailed to an out of state graduate the following information should be supplied by applicant:
- Applicants name and mailing address;
- Contact Number;
- Exam Requested –RN or LPN;
- Name and Location (city and state) of school of nursing;
- Date of graduation from nursing program;
- Have you taken the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-LPN before? If yes, which exam, state where seeking licensure and number of times the exam has been taken.
For more information about the examination process, click here.
Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Applicants must be a graduate of an approved school of registered nursing and licensed by written examination.
- Complete all sections of the application. Note: Applicants must use their full legal name.
- Submit licensure fee of $115.00. Attach the correct fee in U.S. currency. Check or money order must be made payable to the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Note: Fees submitted to the Board are not refundable.
- Attach one professional passport size photograph including head and shoulders and with date and full legal name signature on front of the photograph. Date the photograph was taken must be no more than six months prior to date of application.
- Sign the Affidavit included in the application packet in the presence of a Notary Public.
- Attach a copy of your nursing diploma or nursing transcript from the school of the initial licensure. Note: Copies of internet transcripts are not accepted.
- Foreign Internationally educated nurses should also include:
- Copy of Certificate from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School (CGFNS) or
- School transcript.
- Submit verification of your license by one of the following:
- If you were originally licensed in one of the states listed on the NURSYS website, use the website for license verification.
- If you were originally licensed in one of the states not listed on NURSYS website, mail the document entitled REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION OF LICENSE included in the application packet to the state where you were originally licensed.
- Obtain a criminal background check.
- All applicants must complete the Declaration of Citizenship form included in the application, notarize and submit with a copy of required documentation. You may provide a notarized copy of your birth certificate, current passport, current driver’s license, etc.
- If you change your name, you must submit a copy of the legal document that changed your name.
- If you change your address, it is your responsibility to notify this office.
For more information about the RN endorsement process, click here.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Applicants must be a graduate of an approved school of registered nursing and licensed by written examination.
- Complete all sections of the application. Note: Applicants must use their full legal name.
- Submit licensure fee of $115.00. Attach the correct fee in U.S. currency. Check or money order must be made payable to the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Note: Fees submitted to the Board are not refundable.
- Attach one professional passport size photograph including head and shoulders and with date and full legal name signature on front of the photograph. Date the photograph was taken must be no more than six months prior to date of application.
- Sign the Affidavit included in the application packet in the presence of a Notary Public.
- Attach a copy of your nursing diploma or nursing transcript from the school of the initial licensure. Note: Copies of internet transcripts are not accepted.
- Foreign Internationally educated nurses should also include:
- Copy of Certificate from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School (CGFNS) or
- School transcript.
- Submit verification of your license by one of the following:
- If you were originally licensed in one of the states listed on the NURSYS website, use the website for license verification.
- If you were originally licensed in one of the states not listed on NURSYS website, mail the document entitled REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION OF LICENSE included in the application packet to the state where you were originally licensed.
- Obtain a criminal background check.
- All applicants must complete the Declaration of Citizenship form included in the application, notarize and submit with a copy of required documentation. You may provide a notarized copy of your birth certificate, current passport, current driver’s license, etc.
- If you change your name, you must submit a copy of the legal document that changed your name.
- If you change your address, it is your responsibility to notify this office.
For more information about the LPN endorsement process, click here.
For more information visit the official Tennessee Board of Nursing website.