State Nursing License
A state nursing license permits an individual to practice nursing within that state. The issuing authority is that state's Board of Nursing or a similarly named governmental agency. Regulations published by the issuing agency and legislative action establish the prerequisites for obtaining a license.
States issue licenses for all levels of nursing from Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) through Advanced Practice Registered Nurses(APRN). Prerequisites for obtaining a Nursing License vary with the level of nursing and may include the level of education, degrees earned, and work experience.
Some states have joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, which enables Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Registered Nurses (RNs) to obtain a multistate nursing license. This multistate license enables nurses to work in participating states with minimal license transfer efforts. Read more...
Some states have also joined the APRN Licensure Compact, which enables Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to obtain a multistate license. This multistate license allows APRNs to practice in participating states with minimal license transfer efforts. Read more...
States also define the Scope of Practice for APRNs. Scope of Practice encompasses the range of actions the APRN may undertake and under what circumstances. Read more...
Click a state for more state nursing license information for that state.