Getting your Nurse License
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To work in a particular state, you must be licensed in that state. There are 23 states that have a compact nurse license agreement that allows you to use your license from any one of those states to work in any one of the other states.
The first thing you must do is go to an accredited nursing school. This is true whether you want to be an RN or an LPN. Click here to learn more about these different types of nurses.
Next, once you have graduated, you will move onto your next challenge, passing the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN. This is required by every state board of nursing. Remember to check the NCLEX pass rate for a school before you decide to attend there. You need to know that you will be properly prepared for the NCLEX because you cannot become a nurse without passing it. The NCLEX is the same in every state. It is a national test just like the SAT is.The third step to officially becoming a nurse is a getting a criminal background check. This is because nurses work with narcotics and have so much responsibility in life or death situations. You may possibly have to do a drug test too. Don’t be offended, this is for the general public’s safety.
- Continuing education hours needed
- Number of hours worked in previous years
- Whether you work in direct patient care or other types of nursing work
Click here to find your local State Board of Nursing. You will find each board’s website, licensure fees, and continuing requirements.
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