Nursing Licensure
Nursing Licensure Disclosure
COCC prepares students for jobs that require a license to practice in Oregon. If you plan to work in another state, please check with that state's licensing board. Remember that licensure can help you find a job, even in states that don’t require one.
Beyond training or licensure, states may require t things like living in the state for a certain amount of time, taking state-approved tests, signing up with the state, having previous work experience, or proving you have an Oregon license.
COCC provides the information below at the direction of the U.S. Department of Education and National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA).
Since rules can change, be sure to check the state you want to move to and ask about current guidelines.
| STATE/TERRITORY | COCC SATISFIES REQUIREMENTS? | PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OR LICENSE AUTHORITY | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | YES | Alabama Board of Nursing P.O. Box 303900 Montgomery, AL 36130-3900 |
You must apply for RN licensure by endorsement in order to become licensed as an RN in Alabama. |
| Alaska | YES | Alaska Board of Nursing 550 W 7th Ave, Ste 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501 |
An applicant for initial authorization to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse as defined in AS 08.68.850 (1) and 12 AAC 44.400 (1) must have satisfactorily completed a formal accredited graduate educational course of study in nursing that: is a minimum of one academic year in length, prepares registered nurses to perform an expanded role in the delivery of health care; includes a combination of classroom instruction and a minimum of 500 separate, non-duplicated hours of supervised clinical practice |
| Arizona | YES | Arizona State Board of Nursing 1740 W Adams Street, Suite 2000 Phoenix, AZ 85007 |
The Board shall grant a license to practice as a registered or practical nurse to any applicant who meets the criteria established in statute and this Article. |
| Arkansas | YES | Arkansas State Board of Nursing 1123 South University Ave., Suite 800 Little Rock, AR 72204 |
Eligibility for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is considered after verification of active practice of nursing as a registered nurse for a minimum of two-thousand (2,000) hours and verification of certification directly from the Board approved national certifying body evidencing current certification in good standing. |
| California | YES, with additional requirements | California Board of Registered Nursing Board of Registered Nursing PO Box 944210 Sacramento, CA 94244-2100 |
Proof of successful completion of anatomy, physiology, and microbiology coursework, with or without a laboratory component must be provided to the BRN via a complete transcript, submitted by the school, of the courses prescribed by the Board for licensure as outlined in CCR section 1410. At least two years practicing in another US state or territory, in which the applicant is licensed. Verification of licensure in the other jurisdiction, to ensure that the applicant is safe to practice in California. |
| Colorado | YES | Colorado Board of Nursing 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202 |
A Graduate of a nursing education program approved by a board of nursing of another
state or territory of the United States is eligible to take the NCLEX examination for professional or practical nursing |
| Connecticut | YES | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Registered Nurse Licensure 410 Capitol Ave., MS #12 APP Hartford, CT 06134 |
Graduate nurses from a nursing education external degree program who are licensed in another state of the United States on the basis of standards which meet or exceed the requirements of this state, shall be eligible for licensure without examination in Connecticut |
| Delaware | YES, with additional requirements | Delaware Division of Professional Regulation Board of Nursing Cannon Building Suite 203, 861 Silver Lake Blvd. Dover, DE 19904 |
Candidates must apply for a temporary permit to practice. If not employed 1000 hrs over 5 yrs or 400 over 2 yrs, a refresher course must be taken. See Delaware General Assembly, Regulations, Administrative Code Title 24, 1900 Board of Nursing, Section 6. |
| Florida | YES | Florida Board of Nursing 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-02 Tallahassee, FL 32399 |
Has actively practiced nursing in another state, jurisdiction, or territory of the United States for 2 of the preceding 3 years without having his or her license acted against by the licensing authority of any jurisdiction |
| Georgia | YES | Georgia Board of Nursing 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217 |
Has graduated from a licensing-board-approbed RN educational program |
| Hawaii | YES, with additional requirements | Hawaii Board of Nursing DCCA-PVL Attn: BON Honolulu, HI 96801 |
All applicants for a Hawaii nurse license are required to be fingerprinted for a criminal history record check. You will be required to submit a self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank ("NPDB") |
| Idaho | YES | Idaho Board of Nursing P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0061 |
Graduate from a RN program that is approved by the Board of Nursing in the home state. The program must meet substantially the same basic educational requirements as graduates of Idaho nursing education programs |
| Illinois | YES | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62786 |
Proof of graduation from a nursing education program that meets the requirements of Section 1300.40 |
| Indiana | YES, with additional requirements | Indiana State Board of Nursing Indiana Government Center South, Room W072 402 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
Applicants wishing to apply for licensure by Endorsement must hold an active license in at least one State or territory in the United States |
| Iowa | YES, with additional requirements | Iowa Board of Nursing 400 SW 8th Street, Suite B Des Moines, IA 50309 |
Verification of the license from the original state of licensure, which may be done through www.nursys.com or using the verification form depending on the requirements of the original state of licensure. |
| Kansas | YES, with additional requirements | Kansas Board of Nursing 900 SW Jackson Street, Suite 1051 Topeka, KS 66612 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program. RN Education regulations found in K.A.R. 60-2-104 and contain the following requirements: Content in biological, physical, social and behavioral sciences – must have A&P Content in growth & development / developmental psychology. A minimum of 30 credit hours in nursing courses Nursing courses must have theory and direct clinical experience across the lifespan |
| Kentucky | YES | Kentucky Board of Nursing 312 Whittington Pkwy, Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40222 |
The Kentucky Board of Nursing does recognize graduates from prelicensure nursing education programs that are approved/accredited by other state boards of nursing as eligible for licensure in Kentucky. |
| Louisiana | YES, with additional requirements | Louisana State Board of Nursing 17373 Perkins Rd Baton Rouge, LA 70810 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program |
| Maine | NO | Maine State Board of Nursing 161 Capitol St. 158 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program. The program must be approved by another BON. When Maine reviews applications from individuals that graduated from another state, the program must be equitable to a program approved in Maine. |
| Maryland | YES | Maryland Board of Nursing 4140 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 |
A registered nursing education program approved by the Board; or An education program in registered nursing in any other state or country that the Board finds substantially equivalent to the education program in this State at the time of the applicant's graduation. |
| Massachusetts | MAYBE | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing 250 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 |
See attachment in email (re: curriculum) |
| Michigan | YES, with additional requirements | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Board of Nursing 611 W Ottawa Street Lansing, MI 48933 |
See Nursing Licensing Guide: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/nursing#Licensing_Information |
| Minnesota | YES | Minnesota Board of Nursing 1210 Northland Drive, Suite 120 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 |
Must not hold an encumbered RN license in another state or territory |
| Mississippi | YES | Mississippi Board of Nursing 713 Pear Orchard Road, Plaza II, Suite 300 Ridgeland, MS 39157 |
Submit verification of your original license by visiting www.nursys.com. Click the link titled "Nurse License Verification for Endorsement." |
| Missouri | YES | Missouri Division of Professional Registration Board of Nursing P.O. Box 656 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0656 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program |
| Montana | YES | Montana Department of Labor and Industry Board of Nursing Board of Nursing PO Box 200513 Helena, MT 59620-0513 |
Has completed the basic professional curriculum in an approved school of nursing and holds a diploma from that school |
| Nebraska | YES | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Nurse Licensing Licensure Unit Attn: Nursing PO Box 94986 Lincoln, NE 68509-5026 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program |
| Nevada | YES | Nevada State Board of Nursing Reno Office: 5011 Meadowood Mall Way, Ste 300 Reno, NV 89502 Las Vegas Office: 4220 South Maryland Pkwy., Building B, Suite 300 Las Vegas, NV 89119 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program |
| New Hampshire | YES | New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Board of Nursing 7 Eagle Square Concord, NH 03301 |
Graduated from a board approved nursing education program in the United States or Canada that meets the requirements set forth in Nur 600, including the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN course requirements |
| New Jersey | YES | New Jersey Board of Nursing Mary E. Fortier EdD, RN, CNL Executive Director P.O. Box 45010 Newark, NJ 07101 |
The board may issue a license to practice professional nursing without examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed or registered as a registered or professional nurse by examination or by original waiver under the laws of another State, territory or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or any foreign country, if in the opinion of the board the applicant has the qualifications required by this act for the licensing of professional nurses, or equivalent qualifications. |
| New Mexico | YES | New Mexico Board of Nursing PO Box 3628 Albuquerque, NM 87190 |
Successful completion of a Board approved program. |
| New York | YES, with additional requirements | New York State Education Department Office of the Professions Office of the Professions, Registration Unit, State Education Building 89 Washington Ave. - 2nd Floor Albany, NY 12234 |
LPN: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/licensed-practical-nurses/license-requirements RN: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/license-requirements |
| North Carolina | YES |
North Carolina Board of Nursing PO Box 2129 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program. |
| North Dakota | YES | North Dakota Board of Nursing 919 S 7th St, Suite 504 Bismarck, ND 58504 |
A board approved in-state nursing education program; or an out-of-state nursing education program that meets the following requirements: Is approved by another board of nursing; and Includes supervised clinical experience across the life span as part of the curriculum and is equivalent in amount and time to the ND Board of Nursing approved programs |
| Ohio | YES | Ohio Board of Nursing 17 S. High Street, Suite 660 Columbus, OH 43215 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program |
| Oklahoma | YES | Oklahoma Board of Nursing PO Box 52926 Oklahoma City, OK 73152 |
Present evidence of licensure as a registered nurse in another state, territory or country with employment in a position that requires nursing licensure with verification of at least 520 work hours during the past five (5) years |
| Oregon | YES | Oregon State Board of Nursing 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd. Portland, OR 97224 |
N/A |
| Pennsylvania | YES | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing P.O. Box 2649 Harrisburg, PA 17110 |
Has satisfactorily completed a program in practical nursing prescribed and approved by the board in a school, hospital or other educational institution, of not less than fifteen hundred hours and within a period of not less than twelve months, or has completed a program considered by the board to be equal to that required in this Commonwealth at the time such program was completed. |
| Rhode Island | YES | Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education 3 Capitol Hill Room 105A Providence, RI 02908 |
Have successfully completed the prescribed curriculum in a Board-approved basic professional nursing education program and holds a diploma from the program |
| South Carolina | YES | South Carolina Board of Nursing Synergy Business Park, Kingstree Building 110 Centerview Dr. Columbia, SC 29210 |
RN or LPN |
| South Dakota | YES | South Dakota Board of Nursing 4305 S. Louise Ave., Suite 201 Sioux Falls, SD 57106 |
RN or LPN |
| Tennessee | YES | Tennessee Board of Nursing 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37243 |
Must have a notarized declaration of citizenship form, complete criminal background check, submit copy of nursing diploma or transcript, fill out online application, and send signed and dated photgraph. |
| Texas | YES | Texas Board of Nursing George H. W. Bush State Office building 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200 Austin, TX 78701 |
Fill out an application on the Texas Nurse Portal. |
| Utah | YES | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing SM Box 146701 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6701 |
Must graduate from a board-approved program |
| Vermont | YES | Board of Nursing - VT Secretary of State's Office 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor Montpelier, VT 05620 |
Licensed as a registered nurse in a United States jurisdiction on the basis of a U.S. nursing education program and has practiced nursing in that jurisdiction for a minimum of: 50 days (400 hours) in the previous 2 years; or 120 days in the previous 5 years. |
| Virginia | YES, with additional requirements | Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Nursing Perimeter Center 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300 Henrico, VA 23233 |
Must have a Social Security Number, complete criminal background check, verify OR license, submit to a credential evaluation, and provide proof of residence in current state. See online application wizard for more information. |
| Washington | YES | Nursing Care and Quality Assurance Commission (housed at the WA Department of Health) 111 Israel Road SE, MS 47864 Tumwater, WA 98501 |
Verify active OR license and fill out online application |
| West Virginia | YES, with additional requirements | West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses 5001 MacCorkle Ave. SW South Charleston, WV 25309 |
Oregon RNs must register via WV's nurse portal, verify OSBN approval, submit an OR criminal history, pay for and complete a fingerprint-based national electronic criminal history. |
| Wisconsin | YES |
Wisconsin Board of Nursing Board of Nursing |
Use LicensE online system to verify current Oregon license and through the NURSYS system. Contact Wisconsin Board of Nursing if license is not current to apply for a limited license and a refresher course. |
| Wyoming | YES, with additional requirements | Wyoming State Board of Nursing 130 Hobbs Ave, Suite B Cheyenne, WY 82002 |
RN or LPN/VN applicant shall graduate from a licensing board-approved RN or LPN/VN pre-licensure nursing education program; |