Nursing Schools and Licensing Requirements in North Carolina

• Applicants whose state of residence is a Compact State other than North Carolina should apply for licensure in their home state. That license is good in all Compact States. If your home state is not a Compact State, apply for a single-state license in North Carolina.
• Complete a Board-approved RN education program
• Complete Nurse Gateway registration, which gives registrants access to license applications and other tools
• Apply to take the NCLEX-RN exam and submit the non-refundable $75 fee
• Submit the NCBON identification document
• Register to take the NCLEX-RN exam and pay the $200 fee
• Provide proof of completion of an approved education program. Graduates of an out-of-state school will need to have their institution submit official transcripts directly to the NCBON. International graduates are required to complete a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES Professional Report) or submit a CGFNS Certificate or VisaScreen. In most cases, international applicants will also need to pass an English proficiency exam.
• Take and pass the NCLEX-RN

Nursing licenses expire on the last day of the nurse’s birth month every two years and the Board of Nursing mails reminders three months prior to the expiration date. License renewals must be completed online no more than three months prior to expiration. Continuing Competence requirements must also be fulfilled on time. These include:

• 15 contact hours of continuing education and 640 hours of practice in the last two years
• National certification or re-certification
• 30 contact hours of continued education (CE)
• Completion of a refresher course that is Board approved
• Completion of at least two semester hours of post-licensure academic nursing education
• 15 contact hours of CE and completion of a nursing project as principal investigator or co-investigator
• 15 contact hours of CE and completion of CE education presentations that total at least five contact hours
• 15 contact hours of CE and publication of an article, paper, book or book chapter as the author or co-author

All nurses must meet one of the above requirements and submit a $100 fee to renew their licenses.

Advanced practice nurses are able to work in a specialized area of health care and often with minimal supervision. They are essentially registered nurses who have completed formal, advanced training to become certified nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners. Licensure requirements for these nurses are similar to the above, but also include a few additional steps:

• Complete a master’s or higher degree program in a nursing specialty
• Hold national certification in the specialty
• Submit an application for licensure in the field

The North Carolina Board of Nursing website has more information about advanced practice licensing and renewal.