Frequently Asked License Questions for Licensed Practical Nurses

The 4 types of New York nursing professions are:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
• Registered Professional Nurses (RNs)
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs). New York State certifies NPs in the following specialty areas: Acute Care; Adult Health; Family Health; Pediatrics; Women's Health; Psychiatry; Gerontology; Neonatology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Oncology; Perinatology; School Health; College Health; Holistic Health; Community Health and Palliative care.
• Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) New York State certifies CNSs in the following specialty areas: Adult Health; Pediatrics; Psychiatric/Mental Health; and Oncology.

Note: In New York, midwifery is not considered a nursing profession. Midwifery is a separately licensed profession.

New York Law requires the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to charge the following fees:

• Licensed Professional Nurses (LPNs)
  • If you are applying for an LPN license - you must pay a $143 fee to NYSED. This fee covers your license and your initial LPN registration.
  • If you are also applying for a limited permit - you must pay an additional $35 fee to NYSED.
  • If you are renewing your LPN registration - you must pay a $73 fee to NYSED.
• Registered Professional Nurses (RNs)
  • If you are applying for an RN license - you must pay a $143 fee to NYSED. This fee covers your license and your initial RN registration.
  • If you are also applying for a limited permit - you must pay an additional $35 fee to NYSED.
  • If you are renewing your RN registration - you must pay a $73 fee to NYSED.
• Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs)
  • If you are applying for a CNS certificate only - you must pay an $80 fee to NYSED. This fee covers your CNS certificate and your initial CNS registration.
  • If you are applying for an RN license and a CNS certificate - you must pay a $223 fee to NYSED.
  • If you are renewing your CNS and RN registrations, you must pay to NYSED $30 for each CNS certificate that you hold and an additional $73 fee for your RN registration.
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
  • If you are applying for an NP certificate only - you must pay an $85 fee to NYSED. This fee covers your NP certificate and your initial NP registration.
  • If you are applying for an RN license and an NP certificate - you must pay a $228 fee to NYSED.
  • If you are renewing your NP and RN registrations - you must pay to NYSED $35 for each NP certificate that you hold and an additional $73 fee for your RN registration.

No. New York State is not a Nursing Licensure Compact State. Please reference this instructional checklist if you hold a licensed practical nurse license in another U.S. state or territory and have graduated from a nursing school in the U.S.

You are legally required to notify the New York State Education Department (NYSED) of your name and/or address change within 30 days. More information on how to notify NYSED of your name or address change.

When you apply for a nursing license or to renew your nursing registration, you will be required to answer the following questions:

• Have you been found guilty after trial, or pleaded guilty, no contest or nolo contendere to a crime (felony or misdemeanor) in any court?
• Are criminal charges pending against you in any court?
• Has any licensing or disciplinary authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, cancelled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license or certificate held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded, or otherwise disciplined you?
• Are charges pending against you in any jurisdiction for any sort of professional misconduct? Has any hospital or licensed facility restricted or terminated your professional training, employment or privileges or have you ever voluntarily or involuntarily resigned or withdrawn from such association to avoid imposition of such measures?

You must report all criminal convictions and disciplinary actions against you, regardless of whether it occurred in New York State or elsewhere. You do not have to disclose "youthful offender" offenses, if your records have been sealed.

Not necessarily. As part of the review of your license or registration application, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) will review your background including your prior conviction(s). NYSED decides on a case by case basis whether your prior criminal conviction(s) will disqualify you from being licensed as a nurse in New York.

Note: Courts often notify NYSED when nurses are convicted of a crime.

No. US citizens and other persons lawfully in the US may qualify for a nursing license.

No. You are not required to have a social security number. However, if you have a social security number, you must disclose it on your nursing license application and on your nursing registration renewal applications.

In New York State, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is responsible for "approving" (registering) nursing education programs. A list of NYSED registered nursing education programs is available at www.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html. All out-of-state and online nursing education programs must be registered or approved by NYSED in order to place students in clinical rotations in New York State (except in federal U.S. Armed forces or Veteran's Administration facilities).

To be licensed and registered as an LPN in New York State, you must:

1. be of good moral character;
2. be at least seventeen years old;
3. be a high school graduate (or the equivalent);
4. be a graduate of a nursing education program acceptable to the New York State Education Department (NYSED);
5. complete New York State required infection control coursework;
6. pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) or another license examination acceptable to NYSED; and,
7. apply for an LPN license with NYSED.

To learn about LPN licensure requirements, click here.

No, you must be a graduate of a nursing education program acceptable to the New York State Education Department to be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN to become licensed as an LPN.

To be licensed and registered as an RN in New York State, you must:

1. be of good moral character;
2. be at least eighteen years old;
3. be a graduate of a nursing education program acceptable to NYSED;
4. complete New York State required infection control coursework and child abuse reporting coursework;
5. pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or other license examination acceptable to NYSED; and,
6. apply for an RN license with NYSED.

To learn about RN licensure requirements, click here.

You must be licensed and registered as an LPN or RN by NYSED to practice nursing.

Yes. After you apply for and qualify for an LPN or RN license, NYSED will send you a nursing license parchment and a registration certificate. Your nursing license is valid for life unless it is surrendered, revoked, annulled or suspended by the New York State Board of Regents. Your registration certificate will authorize you to practice as a nurse for up to three years. You must renew your registration every three years to continue to practice nursing. You are not legally allowed to practice nursing while your registration is expired.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) sends PINs to nurses at the address it has on file. If you did not receive a PIN from NYSED, you may need to update your address (see question 4). To request a PIN, contact us. Your request must include the following information:

• Your full name
• Your profession (i.e., registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse practitioner)
• The last 4 digits of your social security number
• Your date of birth.

NYSED responds to PIN requests within two weeks. If your email request includes all required information, NYSED will reply with your PIN and a link where you can renew your registration online.

TIP: When you renew your registration online, enter only your 6-digit nursing license number, including any zeros at the beginning of your license number. Do not include letters, dashes, or numbers after slashes when entering your license number. In addition, keep in mind when you register that your PIN is case-sensitive.

If you are applying for an LPN or RN license, you must complete New York State Education Department (NYSED) approved infection control coursework or qualify for an exemption. Thereafter, you must complete NYSED approved infection control coursework every four years or qualify for an exemption.

• Graduates of NYSED registered LPN or RN education programs. If you recently graduated from an LPN or RN education program that is registered with NYSED as qualifying for LPN or RN licenses, you have already completed the infection control coursework requirement as part of your nursing studies. You do not have to take additional infection control coursework to qualify for a nursing license. However, after obtaining a New York LPN or RN license, you must take infection control coursework every four years or qualify for an exemption.
• Graduates of NYSED registered LPN or RN education programs. If you did not graduate from a NYSED registered LPN or RN education program, you must complete NYSED approved infection control course within 90 days of the date that you are licensed as an LPN or RN in New York, or qualify for an exemption. For more information about taking an approved infection control course and a list of approved course providers, click here. After obtaining a New York LPN or RN license, you must take infection control coursework every four years, or qualify for an exemption.
• Exemptions. You may qualify for an exemption from the infection control coursework requirement if you can demonstrate to the satisfaction of NYSED that: (1) you have taken infection control training that is equivalent to the infection control coursework required by NYSED; or (2) taking infection control coursework is not necessary due to the nature of your nursing practice. You can request this exemption when you apply for your nursing license. Thereafter, you must take NYSED infection control training, or apply and qualify for an exemption, every four years.

Before the New York State Education Department (NYSED) can issue you an RN license or limited permit, you must complete child abuse reporting coursework approved by NYSED or qualify for an exemption.

• If you graduated after September 1, 1990 from a nursing education program that is registered with NYSED as RN license qualifying, you already completed the child abuse reporting coursework requirement as part of your RN studies. You do not have to take additional child abuse reporting coursework to qualify for an RN license or limited permit.
• If you did not graduate from a New York State RN education program after September 1, 1990 and you do not qualify for an exemption, you must complete child abuse reporting coursework offered by a course provider approved by NYSED. For more information and a list of NYSED approved course providers, click here.
• You may qualify for an exemption from the child abuse reporting coursework requirement if you can demonstrate to NYSED that, during your nursing practice, you will not have contact with persons under the age of 18 or residents of nursing homes or residential care schools. You can request this exemption when you apply for your RN license.

NOTE: The child abuse reporting course requirement DOES NOT apply to LPNs.

Most LPN license applicants must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Vocational or Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The NCLEX-PN is designed to test knowledge and skills essential for safe and effective entry level LPN practice. In very rare circumstances, an applicant may qualify for a license by passing the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or other LPN license examination accepted by another state or US territory.

Most applicants for an RN license must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The NCLEX-RN is designed to test knowledge and skills essential for safe and effective entry level RN practice. In very rare circumstances, an applicant may qualify for a license by passing the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or other RN license examination accepted by another state or US territory.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) must review your RN or LPN license application to determine whether you are eligible to take the NCLEX. If NYSED determines that you are eligible to take the NCLEX, NYSED will inform Pearson VUE directly. Pearson VUE will then issue an ATT to you by mail or email. The ATT will include an ATT number. You must have an ATT number to schedule an appointment to take the NCLEX. Additionally, you must present the ATT and acceptable identification at the test center in order to be admitted to take the NCLEX.

No. The ATT or ATT number must be obtained directly from Pearson VUE.

The candidate must complete the "Request for Reasonable Accommodations for Testing" form and submit it to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) at the address noted on the form. NYSED must approve or disapprove the request for a reasonable accommodation(s) before a candidate can sign up to take the NCLEX.

You must register again with Pearson VUE and pay a $200 fee to retake the NCLEX. For more information, visit: www.pearsonvue.com/nclex or call 1-866-496-2539.

You DO NOT need to file another RN or LPN licensure application or pay additional fees to the New York State Education Department to retake the NCLEX.

In some limited cases, yes.

• Limited Permits. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) issues limited permits to nursing school graduates who apply for an LPN or RN license and a limited permit, who have met all criteria for the license except for taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The limited permit allows the new graduate nurse to practice under the direct supervision of an RN at the health care facility noted on the limited permit. The supervising RN must be on the patient care unit at all times when a new graduate provides care. The limited permit expires one year from the date of issue, or ten days after the limited permit holder is notified that she or he failed the NCLEX, whichever happens sooner. An expired limited permit does not legally authorize you to practice nursing.
   
  Note: If you graduated from a nursing school that was taught in a language other than English, you may have to pass a test to demonstrate that you are English Language proficient before NYSED will issue you a limited permit.
• New Graduate Practice. If you graduate from a nursing program registered by NYSED as qualifying for licensure as an LPN or RN, and you apply for an LPN or RN license and limited permit with NYSED, you may practice nursing under the direct supervision of an RN during the 90 day period immediately following graduation. The new graduate must practice under the direct supervision of an RN at the health care facility noted on the limited permit application form. The supervising RN must be on the patient care unit at all times when a new graduate provides care.

The correct title for an LPN license applicant who holds a limited permit is Graduate Practical Nurse (GPN). The correct title for an RN license applicant who holds a limited permit is Graduate Nurse (GN). These titles must be displayed on identification badges and must also be used when signing official patientcare documents.