New York State Nursing License

Getting your New York State nursing license can be a stressful and time-consuming process. However, you don’t need to navigate through it alone. This guide will walk you through all of the requirements for getting your New York State nursing license.

Application Fee

You must pay a $100 fee to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) with your application, payable by check or money order. The fee is non-refundable and is required whether you are approved for licensure or not. If you have already submitted your application to NYSED and realize that you will be unable to meet the deadline due to extenuating circumstances, please contact customer service at 800-342-3659 ext. 5200 or via email at [email protected]

Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting is required for the NYS nursing licensure application. The process can take up to three weeks, so plan ahead. Here’s what you need to do:

• Schedule your fingerprinting appointment at least two weeks before you plan to mail your application. This will ensure that your results are processed in time for the deadline.
• Bring two forms of identification with you when getting fingerprinted (a driver’s license or passport). You may also be asked if you have a Social Security number; if so, bring proof of this as well.
• Be prepared for a $25 fee for this service and allow one hour for each set of fingerprints taken (two sets are required).

Nursing Education

You must have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university.

Nursing Experience

To obtain a NYS nursing license, you are required to have one year of nursing experience. You must be an RN or LPN and your employment must be in the field for which you are applying. If you are applying for an LPN license, your employment must be in a hospital or clinic that employs at least three nurses.

If this is your first time seeking licensure as an RN, then you may fulfill the requirement by providing documentation of completion of:

• An approved educational program consisting of 12 months’ full-time study (1 academic year), or
• A baccalaureate degree plus 18 semester credits from an accredited college/university within 2 years prior to beginning practice as a registered nurse (RN)

English Language Proficiency

If English is not your native language, you will need to pass an English proficiency test. You may take the test in person or online. If you are currently living in New York and are thinking about taking this test, it can be taken at any time. You can take this exam as many times as needed until passing it.

You will need to submit proof of your highest level of education in order to qualify for your nursing license with this state authority

Practice Requirements

When you are hired as a nurse, you will be required to complete the following practice requirements:

• Work in a hospital (RN)
• Work in a nursing home (LPN/LVN)
• Work in a clinic (PA-C and PTA)
• Work in a school (LPN/LVN)
• Work in a home care setting (CT, RT & MDT)

Continuing Competency Requirements

Continuing competency requirements are the minimum amount of continuing education that you need to fulfill in order to keep your license current.

To verify that you’re complying with these regulations, NYSED sends out a survey every two years and requires that you fill it out within 90 days of receiving it. If you fail to do so, your license will be suspended and could ultimately be revoked by the board if an investigation reveals that there is no good reason for not completing the survey.

You can see a list of approved continuing education providers here.

All of the requirements for getting your New York State nursing license.

The requirements for getting your New York State nursing license include:

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing from a state-approved school, or a bachelor’s degree in any field with at least 60 college credits that include specified courses.
• Passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

If you don’t meet all of the requirements, you can take additional classes and pass the NCLEX-RN exam before applying for licensure. The application process takes four to six weeks to complete and costs $125. To renew your New York nursing license every two years, simply submit an application form along with payment for $125 once again. You can also get a license in another state—it costs $75 per year to do this as well!

Congratulations, you’re now ready to apply for a New York State nursing license!