Nursing Licensure by State

Nursing is a profession that requires licensure by state as a safeguard for public health. Every state, district and territory in the United States employs a Board of Nursing (BON), which establishes standards for safe nursing care and issues nursing licenses in accordance with the regulations defined in that region's Nursing Practice Act (NPA) legislation. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)'s directory of member boards, California, Louisiana and West Virginia each have two BONs: one for RNs and one for LPN/VNs. Nebraska also has a separate board for APRNs.

All of the BONs in the United States and its four territories comprise the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., known as the NCSBN®. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the NCSBN allows these state nursing regulatory bodies to act and confer on matters of common interest. The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (ICNLCA) implements the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), an interstate agreement under which an RN or LPN/VN who lives in a compact state and meets the NLC's uniform licensure requirements may hold a multistate license valid for practice in other NLC states (unless otherwise restricted). As of 2026, 43 jurisdictions are part of the NLC.

Important Nursing Licensure Information

The first step toward earning a nursing license is to complete a nursing education program that meets a state's nursing regulatory board's standards of approval. The graduate then applies to their state's nursing regulatory board for licensure eligibility, and registers and pays for the NCLEX®-RN or -PN exam through Pearson VUE. NCLEX is a national exam that can be taken at any Pearson test center, regardless of the state where the candidate is applying for licensure, according to the NCLEX FAQs.

The licensure process does not stop with successful completion of the NCLEX exam, however. The board of nursing in the candidate’s desired state of practice must also consider evidence that the candidate meets the state’s NPA qualifications. For example, some states may require proficiency in English or self-disclosure of misdemeanors and felonies.

Nursing License Requirements by State

NCSBN issues national, uniform requirements for licensure by exam or endorsement, renewals and reinstatement. These include proof of completion of an approved nursing education program, successful completion of the NCLEX exam, self-disclosure of misdemeanors, felonies and substance abuse, and — for internationally educated candidates — proof of English proficiency.

However, each state’s Nursing Practice Act outlines its unique requirements. There are even differences on whether a nursing education program has to be nationally accredited or only state board-approved.

Below is a list of all 50 states and some information regarding licensure and certification:

Select your state

Nursing Licensure Compact

The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is a nationally recognized, multistate agreement under which an eligible nurse's multistate license allows practice not only in their home state but in other NLC jurisdictions where the compact is actively implemented. As of September 2026, 43 jurisdictions have enacted the NLC; implementation status varies by jurisdiction, and a nurse should confirm current status before relying on multistate practice privileges in a specific state.

The compact is a benefit to traveling nurses, and those who want to volunteer or work during national epidemics and natural disasters. It also facilitates tele-nursing and online nursing education, both of which involve nurses caring for patients or teaching students who may not reside in the same state or be subject to the home state's Nursing Practice Act. The NLC is beneficial to states as well because it unifies licensure requirements so that nurses applying for a multistate license meet the same standards of education, testing and safe practice across every NLC jurisdiction.

FAQs

Nurses who declare their primary state of legal residence in a compact state and meet the NLC's uniform licensure requirements are eligible for a multistate license. If a compact-state nurse also wants to practice in a non-compact state, they can apply for a single-state license by endorsement on the website of that state's nursing regulatory board. That single-state license is valid only in the non-compact state that issued it. A nurse residing in a non-compact state can hold unlimited single-state licenses but is not eligible for a multistate license.

With the advent of tele-nursing, states may be hesitant to join the compact because they cannot monitor their respective legislated standards of nursing care when the patients and nurses are in different jurisdictions. Concern arises over nurses licensed in one state not knowing the nuances and discrepancies in other states' NPA scopes of practice.

Source: NurseCompact.com

For up-to-date state licensure information, refer to your state's board of nursing.

Information last updated: September 2026