State | By Endorsement | NCLEX license by exam | CGFNS Certificate required? | SS# | Other |
Alabama Alabama Board of Nursing
770 Washington Avenue
RSA Plaza, Ste 250
Montgomery, AL 36130-3900 Phone: (334) 242-4060 FAX: (334) 242-4360 Contact Person: N. Genell Lee, MSN, JD, RN, Executive Officer Web Site: http://www.abn.state.al.us/ | Yes | Yes Or CNAT for Canadians | Yes Except certain Canadian nurses | Yes Must have for NCLEX | Provide proof of completion of secondary school or its equivalent. Be a graduate of a nursing education program approved by the proper authorities in the country where the program is located. Meet the requirements for nursing program content employed as criteria for approval in Alabama at the time of the applicant’s graduation or make up any educational deficiencies |
Alaska Alaska Board of Nursing Dept. of Comm. & Econ. Development Div. of Occupational Licensing 3601 C Street, Suite 722 Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: (907) 269-8161 FAX: (907) 269-8196 Contact Person: Dorothy Fulton, MA, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pnur.htm | Yes*1 | Yes | Yes | No*2 | Graduate of foreign nursing schools accepted. *1 Canadians accepted only if graduated before July 1992 with score of 400 on all parts of exam. If graduated after 7/92 must pass NCLEX *2 If taking NCLEX without SSN must fill out an exemption form |
Arizona Arizona State Board of Nursing
1651 E. Morten Avenue, Suite 210
Phoenix, AZ 85020 Phone: (602) 331-8111
FAX: (602) 906-9365 Contact Person: Joey Ridenour, MN, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.azboardofnursing.org/ | Yes Canadians will not qualify without NCLEX | Yes, if qualifying by exam (not required for endorsement) | Yes Except certain Canadians (must take NCLEX) | | Compact State as of July 1, 2002 AZ recognizes some foreign licenses |
Arkansas Arkansas State Board of Nursing
University Tower Building
1123 S. University, Suite 800
Little Rock, AR 72204-1619 Phone: (501) 686-2700
FAX: (501) 686-2714 Contact Person: Faith Fields, MSN, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.state.ar.us/nurse | Yes*3 | Yes | Yes Only required from non-English speaking countries | No*4 | Compact State Graduated from a nursing program in which the curriculum is "substantially similar" to Arkansas nursing programs; *3 Foreign educated nurses licensed in another jurisdiction who can validate that their foreign nursing education program was "substantially similar" to Arkansas nursing programs via an official transcript from their nursing education program and who have passed NCLEX, provided they are otherwise qualified ; certain Canadian Registered Nurses licensed by NLN State Board Test Pool Examination *4 Must fill Special application for all nurses without SSN A foreign license may be recognized in AR TOEFL is required |
California California Board of Registered Nursing
400 R St., Ste. 4030
Sacramento, CA 95814-6239 Phone: (916) 322-3350
FAX: (916) 327-4402 Contact Person: Ruth Ann Terry, MPH, RN, Executive Officer Web Site: http://www.rn.ca.gov/ | Yes Canada only If CNATS written prior to 1980 | Yes OR if CNATS written after 1980 | No | | Compact State Educational documents must be translated and certified by an official translator; education must meet California standards or deficiencies made up; a foreign MD is not adequate TOEFL is required |
Colorado Colorado Board of Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 880
Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (303) 894-2430
FAX: (303) 894-2821 Contact Person: Patricia Uris, PhD, RN, Program Administrator Web Site: http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/ | Yes | Yes | Yes Except for Canadians applying by endorsement | | Canadian nurses – if not applying by endorsement from another state must have CGFNS first Nurse will have to apply for a SSN |
Connecticut Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing
Dept. of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 13PHO
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0328 Phone: (860) 509-7624
FAX: (860) 509-7553 Contact Person: Jan Wojick , Board Liaison Web Site: http://www.state.ct.us/dph/ | Yes If licensing requirements of the other state are similar or higher Foreign License may be accepted*5 | Yes | Passage of CGFNS exam for foreign educated nurses. | | *5 Canadian licensed nurses may be exempt from educational requirements or NCLEX and admitted if passed the CRNE (Canadian Registered Nurse Exam in English or French +TOEFL Canadian nurses exempt from CGFNS if licensed in another U.S. state |
Delaware Delaware Board of Nursing
861 Silver Lake Blvd
Cannon Building, Suite 203
Dover, DE 19904 Phone: (302) 739-4522
FAX: (302) 739-2711 Contact Person: Iva Boardman, MSN, RN, Executive Director | Yes With NCLEX results and practice requirements è | Yes*6 | CGFNS certificate required before NCLEX | Yes Must have for NCLEX | *6 Not required if Canadian graduated before Aug. 1981 or graduated between Aug. 1981-Aug. 1995 and received 400+ score on exam. Practice requirements to be licensed by endorsement: 1000 hours of nurse practice in the last 5 years OR 400 hours in the past 2 years |
District of Columbia District of Columbia Board of Nursing
Department of Health
825 N. Capitol Street, N.E., 2nd Floor
Room 2224
Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 442-4778
FAX: (202) 442-9431 Contact Person: Bonnie Rampersaud, Acting Program Manager for Program Licensing | Yes*7 | Yes | Yes | | *7 For Canadians graduated before 1970. after 1970 – CGFNS & NCLEX required |
Florida Florida Board of Nursing
4080 Woodcock Drive, Suite 202
Jacksonville, FL 32207 Phone: (850) 488-0595
FAX: (904) 858-6964 Contact Person: Ruth R. Stiehl, PhD., MN, MA, BS, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/ | Yes With NCLEX results and license verification | Yes*8 Unless licensed in another state and applying by endorsement | Yes | Yes*9 | *8 Canadians without NCLEX accepted unless the score is “pass or fail”. If not a numeric score on exam, must take the NCLEX or a course by course evaluation by CGFNS *9 Required for NCLEX |
Georgia Georgia State Board of Licensed
Practical Nurses
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858 Phone: (478) 207-1300
FAX: (478) 207-1633 Contact Person: Jacqueline Hightower, JD, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.sos.state.ga.us/ebd-lpn/ | Yes Verifi-cation of current and original license and NCLEX results | Yes | Yes*10 | Not required for NCLEX | Foreign education equivalent to Georgia; Documentation of 3 months or 500 hours of experience abroad. *10 If not schooled in English. If schooled in English a course by course evaluation may be required Foreign license may be recognized TOEFL is required |
Hawaii Hawaii Board of Nursing
Professional & Vocational Licensing Division
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801 Phone: (808) 586-3000
FAX: (808) 586-2689 Contact Person: Kathleen Yokouchi , Executive Officer Web Site: http://www.state.hi.us/dcca/pvl/areas_nurse.html | Yes If licensed in another US State through license verifi-cation | Yes | Yes | No SSN needed for NCLEX | MMust meet minimum education requirements of Hawaii; Must have CGFNS before NCLEX Must have An educational evaluation |
Idaho Idaho Board of Nursing
280 N. 8th Street, Suite 210
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720 Phone: (208) 334-3110
FAX: (208) 334-3262 Contact Person: Sandra Evans, MA,Ed., RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.state.id.us/ibn/ibnhome.htm | Yes*11 Foreign license may be recognized*12 Plus additional tests*13 | Yes | CGFNS exam first before NCLEX If licensed in another US State CGFNS waived | No SSN required | Compact State *11 Must have equivalent credentials *12 Similar to U.S. state endorsement Plus credentialing and language requirements *13 Test approved by the board for nursing knowledge and English proficiency Canadian nurses can be admitted with NCLEX |
Illinois Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph, Suite 9-300
Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: (312) 814-2715
FAX: (312) 814-3145 Contact Person: Deborah Taylor, RN, Ed.D Nursing Act Assistant Coordinator Web Site: http://www.dpr.state.il.us/ | Yes | Yes*15 | No CGFNS certificate required OR*14 | | Pending Compact State All documents in a foreign language Must be accompanied by original notarized Translation of a person other than the applicant. *14 (1) A letter of explanation of denial by CGFNS and (2) nursing School Transcripts + diploma (3) middle school records (4) high school records (5) proof of foreign licensure *15 For temporary license: passing the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation Exam if no CGFNS certificate |
Indiana Indiana State Board of Nursing
Health Professions Bureau
402 W. Washington Street, Room W041
Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: (317) 232-2960
FAX: (317) 233-4236 Contact Person: Kristen Burch , Dir. of Nursing of IN BON Web Site: http://www.state.in.us/hpb/boards/isbn/ | Yes*16 | Yes | Yes Except certain Canadians (NCLEX required) | | *16 Copy of state license and (1) nursing school transcripts specifying theory and clinical experience (2) copy of high school diploma or transcripts |
Iowa Iowa Board of Nursing
RiverPoint Business Park
400 S.W. 8th Street, Suite B
Des Moines, IA 50309-4685 Phone: (515) 281-3255
FAX: (515) 281-4825 Contact Person: Lorinda Inman, MSN, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.state.ia.us/government/nursing/ | Yes | Yes | Yes*17 | | *17 CGFNS Required if not licensed in another U.S. state |
Kansas Kansas State Board of Nursing
Landon State Office Building
900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 551-S
Topeka, KS 66612 Phone: (785) 296-4929
FAX: (785) 296-3929 Contact Person: Mary Blubaugh, MSN, RN, Executive Administrator Web Site: http://www.ksbn.org | Yes*18 | Yes | Yes Must have for all foreign nurses | | *18 From Jurisdiction using State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) |
Kentucky Kentucky Board of Nursing
312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40222 Phone: (502) 329-7000
FAX: (502) 329-7011 Contact Person: Sharon Weisenbeck, MS, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.kbn.state.ky.us/ | Yes*19 | Yes*21 | Yes*20 | No SSN required for NCLEX | *19 From Jurisdiction using State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) *20 Nurses schooled in English must have a course by course evaluation by CGFNS or the exam *21 Not required of Canadians graduated before 1981 with minimum score of 400 |
Louisiana Louisiana State Board of Nursing
3510 N. Causeway Boulevard, Suite 501
Metairie, LA 70003 Phone: (504) 838-5332
FAX: (504) 838-5349 Contact Person: Barbara Morvant, MN, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/ | Yes*22 | Yes*23 | Yes | | *22 (1) have a current U.S. license (2) Have written (no more than NCLEX and achieved a minimum score of 350 or a score of "PASS" within 3 years of graduation from an approved program (3) Have worked as an LPN/LVN for a minimum of six (full-time) months during the four years immediately preceding application (only applies to nurses who have been out of school for at least 4 years) *23 Canadians without NCLEX accepted with a score above 400 and exam taken in English. RNs with pass or fail score must take NCLEX. |
Maine Maine State Board of Nursing
158 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: (207) 287-1133
FAX: (207) 287-1149 Contact Person: Myra Broadway, JD, MS, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.state.me.us/nursingbd/ | Yes | Yes*24 | Yes Do not need exam if schooled in English (only course by course evaluation) | Yes*25 | *24 Canadians without NCLEX accepted if exam written in English and have a course by course evaluation from CGFNS *25 Must have SSN for NCLEX |
Maryland Maryland Board of Nursing
4140 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215 Phone: (410) 585-1900
FAX: (410) 358-3530 Contact Person: Donna Dorsey, MS, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.mbon.org | Yes | Yes*27 | May be required*26 | *28 | Compact State *26 Course by course evaluation from CGFNS for foreign nurses required. CGFNS exam may be required after board evaluates credentials. *27 Not required from Canadians graduated before 1981 and Canadian exam was in English. *28 No SSN required for NCLEX |
Massachussets Massachusetts Board of Registration
in Nursing
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
239 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114 Phone: (617) 727-9961
FAX: (617) 727-1630 Contact Person: Theresa Bonanno, MSN, RN, Executive Director Web Site: http://www.state.ma.us/reg/boards/rn/ | Yes | Yes | Yes Except Canadians graduated after Aug. 1995 and wrote exam in English | Yes | Compact State Must also have a passing score At CGFNS English exam portion Need also proof of moral character U.S. SSN And payment of licensure and NCLEX fees &nb |
