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Nurse Licensure Compact State Information

Florida is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC allows a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed in a Compact State to practice across state lines in another Compact State without having to obtain a license in the other state unless the nurse moves and declares the new Compact State as their new primary state of residence. It is important to understand that the NLC requires nurses to adhere to the nursing practice laws and rules of the state in which they practice under their Compact license. The Compact does not include Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. If a nurse moves from one state to another and establishes residency, the nurse must apply for licensure in that state. Visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm for a list of states that have implemented the Compact.

Who is Eligible to Apply for Licensure by Examination?

Graduates from:

Florida approved nursing education programs as defined in section (s.) 464.003, Florida Statutes (F.S.).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited nursing programs that have been issued a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) code by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

Nursing education programs that have been approved or recognized by the jurisdiction in which it is based and that has been issued an NCLEX code by NCSBN.

Military nursing programs* that have been issued an NCLEX code by NCSBN.

Generic Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher programs that have been issued an NCLEX code by NCSBN.

A non-NCSBN jurisdiction or international education program that the Board of Nursing determines is equivalent to an approved program.

Practical Nurse examination based on practical nurse equivalency (PNEQ)- Applicants who have successfully completed courses equivalent to practical nursing education in a registered nursing program (See Nursing Education History, Section 7 in the application for more information).

Canadian Registered Nurses who took the Canadian Nurse Association Testing Service (CNATS) Examination after August 8, 1995 must take the NCLEX unless licensed in another U.S. state or territory. If test scores are in an acceptable range approved by the Board of Nursing, Canadian Registered Nurse applicants who took the CNATS prior to August 8, 1995 may be eligible for endorsement. Unless licensed in another U.S. state or territory, or have taken the NCLEX, Canadian Licensed Practical Nurses are required to apply by examination.

*Other military health related programs (not issued an NCLEX code by NCSBN) are not equivalent to professional nursing programs in Florida. Programs completed to qualify as a hospital corpsman, technician, physician or a physician’s assistant are not classified as registered or practical nursing programs and are not equivalent.

Important Information: In addition to applying for licensure with the board, all applicants must register with Pearson VUE and pay the fee. All fees paid to Pearson VUE are nonrefundable. You may view the NCLEX Candidate Bulletin and register with Pearson VUE online at www.vue.com/nclex or by telephone at

1-866-496-2539. Failure to register for the examination with Pearson VUE will delay the approval of your Authorization to Test (ATT). Applicants should register with Pearson VUE prior to approval by the board, except for applicants educated outside the United States, who should wait for board approval.

Per s. 464.008(3), F.S., any applicant who has failed a licensing examination three consecutive times, regardless of jurisdiction in which the examination was taken, shall be required to complete a board approved remedial course. https://floridasnursing.gov/education-and-training-programs/florida-board-of-nursing-approved-remedial-courses/

Fees must be paid in the form of a cashier’s check or money order, made payable to the Department of Health. An applicant who is denied licensure or withdraws their application is entitled to a $60.00 (Initial Licensure Fee, Student Loan Forgiveness Fund, and Unlicensed Activity Fee) refund. Fees are refundable for up to three years from the date of receipt.

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Mailing Address: (The address where mail and your license should be sent)

_____________________________________________________ ________ _______________________________

Street/P.O. BoxApt. No. City

_____________________________ _________ _____________________ ________________________________

Physical Location: (Required if mailing address is a P.O. Box- This address will be posted on the Department of Health’s website.)

_____________________________________________________ _________ ______________________________

StreetApt. No. City

________________________________ _________ ___________________ _______________________________

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DATA:

We are required to ask that you furnish the following information as part of your voluntary compliance with 41 CFR Part 60-3-Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedure (1978); 43 FR 38295 and 38296 (August 25, 1978). This information is gathered for statistical an d reporting purposes only and does not in any way affect your candidacy for licensure.

Email Notification: To be notified of the status of your application by email check the “Yes” box and fill in your email address on the line provided. If you choose to be notified via email you will be responsible for checking your email regularly and updating your email address with the board office.

Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not provide an email address or send electronic mail to our office. Instead contact the office by phone or in writing.

Name: _____________________________________________

4.NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT (NLC)

Requirements that must be met in order to qualify for a multistate license from Florida:

Florida must be the Primary State of Residence*

Florida’s requirements for initial licensure must be met

License status must be clear and unencumbered **

Must not have a felony conviction***, regardless of adjudication

Must not be enrolled with the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN) or any other treatment program for impaired practitioners

Must have a U.S. Social Security number

Terminology:

*Primary state of residence is defined by the Compact as the “person’s declared fixed permanent and principal home for legal purposes; domicile."

**Encumbrance means “revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing, imposed by a licensing board.”

***Felony conviction is defined as being “convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition other than a disposition that results in nolle prosequi, for a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law.”

Proof of primary residence may include but is not limited to:

Driver license with a home address

Voter registration card displaying a home address

Federal income tax return declaring the primary state of residence

W2 from U.S. Government or any bureau, division, or agency thereof indicating the declared state of residence

A. Do you declare Florida to be your primary state of residence and are you providing a Florida address?

Yes No

If you do not have a current Florida mailing address, and wish to have a multistate license, you must provide one of the documents listed above. If Florida is not your primary state of residence, you are not eligible for a Florida multistate license and your application will be processed for a single state license.

A nurse may only hold one multistate license. If your declared primary state of residence is another Compact state and you are not changing your primary residence to Florida, you are not eligible for a multistate license in Florida and should not submit this application, as your NLC license allows you to practice in Florida.

Name: _____________________________________________

5.APPLICANT BACKGROUND

A.List any other name(s) by which you have been known in the past. Attach additional sheets if necessary.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

B.What name did you use when you were first licensed? ___________________________________________

E.Do you hold, or have you ever held a license to practice nursing or any other health-related license(s)?

Yes No

F.List all health-related licenses (active, inactive or lapsed).

6. DISASTER

Would you be willing to provide health services in special needs shelters or to help staff disaster medical

Name: _____________________________________________

7.EDUCATION HISTORY

A. List the nursing school(s) you attended.

*Graduation date or anticipated graduation date.

B.What name(s) did you use when you received your nursing education?

______________________________________________________________________________________

Practical Nurse Equivalency

Applicants who have successfully completed courses equivalent to practical nursing education in a professional nursing program may qualify for NCLEX-PN based on practical nurse equivalency (PNEQ). All professional courses taken must have been successfully completed with a grade of “C –” or better and must have included theory and clinical instruction. The professional or practical nursing curriculum must document clinical experience and theoretical instruction in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing. Each curriculum plan must document clinical training experience in appropriate settings that include, but are not limited to, acute care, long-term care, and community settings.

Only LPN PNEQ applicants- Place a checkmark here if you did not graduate from the RN program you attended and are applying for NCLEX-PN based on PNEQ, as defined above. Do not check if you are in or graduated from an LPN program.

PNEQ applicants are required to have their school submit the following items directly to the board office:

Official Transcripts

Course Descriptions

Practical Nurse Equivalency Application Letter (found at the back of the application)

Documentation must be mailed to:

Board of Nursing

4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C‐02

Tallahassee, FL 32399‐3252

Name: _____________________________________________

Applicants educated outside the U.S., or Graduates from U.S. Territories whose regulatory nursing board is not a member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) are required to have a full education credentials review by a Florida board-approved credentialing agency.

An original copy of the credentials report must be sent electronically to the board directly from the agency. The board does not accept paper copies. Applicants are responsible for paying all fees the agency charges for these services.

Credentials reports received from a credentialing agency not listed below will not be accepted.

Board-Approved Education Evaluation Providers