Uniform Licensure
Requirements
Brenda McDougal, Chair
ULR Committee
References
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NCSBN. (1999). The 1999 Uniform Core Licensure Requirements
NCSBN. (2008). The 2008 UCLR Survey to Member Boards
NCSBN. Policy Compendium. Positions of the NCSBN Delegate
Assembly and the Board of Directors
State and federal information on criminal background checks and
fingerprint systems, including the Rap-Back System;
The Americans with Disabilities Act
NCSBN. (2010) Member Board Profiles
NCSBN. (2008). The report from the NCSBN and Nurse Licensure
Compact Administrators (NLCA) action plan that emerged from the
2008 focus groups
References
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National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2009, June).
Clarification of nurse practitioner specialty and subspecialty clinical
track titles, hours, and credentialing.
Fitzgerald Miller, J., & Holm, K. (2011). Graduate programs in
nursing for non nurses: a national perspective. Journal of Nursing
Regulation, 2 (2), (in press).
Polfliet, S. (2008, November). A national analysis of medical
licensure applications. Journal of the American Academy of
Psychiatry and the Law, 36 (3), p.369-374.
Priola Surowiec, V. (2010, October). Does past criminal behavior
predict future criminal behavior?. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 1
(3), p.33-37.
Schroeder, R., Brazeau, C., Zackin, F., Rovi, S., Dickey, J., Johnson,
M., & Keller, S. (2009, June). Do state medical board applications
violate the Americans with Disabilities Act?. Academic Medicine, 84
(6), p.776-781).
Consultants
 Dr. Victoria Priola Surowiec, Psy.D., Chair, Forensic and
Police Psychology, Adler School of Psychology
 Dr. Stephen P. Griffin, Psy.D., Chief Psychologist, Public
Safety and Security Services, Institute for Personality and
Ability Testing
 Dr. Karen Holm, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor, DePaul
University, College of Nursing
 Mr. Thomas G. Abram, Vedder Price
 Mr. Nathan Goldman, General Counsel, Kentucky Board of
Nursing
A. Initial Licensure
1999 UCLR Education
Requirement: RN
 Graduation from or verification of completion
and eligibility for graduation from stateapproved registered nursing program.
Revised ULR Nursing
Education Requirements: RN
Applicant Responsibility
Graduation or eligibility for
graduation from a Member
Board approved RN
prelicensure program*.
*For students enrolled in a 2nd degree
generic Masters Program: Successful
completion of all pre-licensure nursing
courses from a Member Board
approved program with attestation from
program director or dean.
Board Duty
Verification of graduation or
eligibility for graduation from a
Member Board approved RN
prelicensure program.
1999 UCLR Education
Requirement: PN
 Graduation from or verification of completion
and eligibility for graduation from stateapproved practical nursing program.
Revised ULR Nursing
Education Requirements: PN
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Graduation or eligibility for
graduation from a
Member Board approved
PN prelicensure program.
Verification of graduation
or eligibility for graduation
from a Member Board
approved PN prelicensure
program.
*Graduates from RN prelicensure
programs who wish to take the
NCLEX-PN must have successfully
completed a Member Board
approved PN role delineation
course.
1999 UCLR Education
Requirement for ForeignEducated Candidates: RN
 Graduation from nursing program
comparable to U.S. state-approved RN
nursing programs as verified by credentials
review agency.
Revised ULR Nursing
Education Requirements of
International Candidates:
RN
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Graduation from a nursing
program comparable to a
Member Board approved
RN prelicensure program
Verification by a
credentials review of
graduation from a nursing
program comparable to a
Member Board approved
RN prelicensure program.
1999 UCLR Education
Requirement for ForeignEducated Candidates: PN
 Graduation from nursing program
comparable to U.S. state-approved LPN/VN
nursing programs as verified by credentials
review agency.
Revised ULR Nursing
Education Requirements of
International Candidates:
PN
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Graduation from a nursing
program comparable to a
Member Board approved
prelicensure PN/VN
program.
Verification by a
credentials review of
graduation from a nursing
program comparable to a
Member Board approved
prelicensure PN/VN
program.
1999 UCLR NCLEX
Requirements
•
U.S. CANDIDATES: RN
– NCLEX-RN® examination, unlimited attempts.
•
U.S. CANDIDATES: LPN/VN
– NCLEX-PN® examination, unlimited attempts.
•
FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: RN
– NCLEX-RN® examination, unlimited attempts.
•
FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: LPN/VN
– NCLEX-PN® examination, unlimited attempts.
Revised ULR NCLEX
Requirements: All Applicants
Applicant Responsibility
Successful completion of
NCLEX RN or PN exam.
Board Duty
Verification that applicant
successfully completed
NCLEX RN or PN exam.
1999 UCLR Additional
Requirements for ForeignEducated Nurses
• FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: RN
– CGFNS certificate or equivalent credentials review that
includes verification of the candidate's education, training,
experience and licensure with respect to the statutory and
regulatory requirements for the nursing profession, as well
as oral and written competence in English.
• FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: LPN/VN
– Credentials review that includes verification of the
candidate's education, training, experience and licensure
with respect to the statutory and regulatory requirements
for the nursing profession, as well as oral and written
competence in English.
Revised ULR Additional
Requirements for International
Candidates:
RN and PN/VN
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Self disclosure of nursing licensure
status in country of origin, if applicable.
Verification of nursing licensure status
in country of origin, if applicable.
Successful passage of an English
proficiency exam that includes the
components of reading, speaking,
writing and listening, except for
applicants from nursing programs that
were taught in English and used
English textbooks.
Verification of successful passage of an
English proficiency exam that includes
the components of reading, speaking,
writing and listening, except for
applicants from nursing programs that
were taught in English and used
English textbooks
1999 UCLR Criminal
Background Check
Requirements: RN and LPN/VN
 Self report regarding all felony convictions
and all plea agreements and misdemeanor
conviction of lesser-included offenses
arising from felony arrests. Local/state and
federal background checks using current
technology (i.e., fingerprinting) to validate
self-reports.
Revised ULR Additional Public
Protection Requirements:
Criminal Background Check
Applicant Responsibility
-Self disclosure of all misdemeanor
convictions, felony convictions and plea
agreements (even if adjudication was
withheld).
Board Duty
Assessment of all misdemeanor convictions,
felony convictions and plea agreements
(even if adjudication was withheld) of all
individuals applying for licensure on a case
by case basis to determine board action
-Submit state and federal finger print checks
Psychological evaluation for all individuals
convicted of a sexual offense involving a
minor or performing a sexual act against the
will of another person. This evaluation should
be performed by a qualified expert approved
by the board. If the evaluation reveals a
diagnosis or equivalent classification of
sexual predator or pedophilia the board
should deny licensure.
1999 UCLR Chemical
Dependency and Functional
Abilities Requirements: RN and
LPN/VN
• CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
– Self report regarding any drug-related behavior
that affects the candidate's ability to provide safe
and effective nursing care.
• FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES - Eliminated
– Self report regarding any functional ability deficit that
would require accommodation to perform essential nursing
functions.
Revised ULR Additional Public
Protection Requirements:
Substance Use Disorders
Applicant Responsibility
Self disclosure of any
substance use disorder in the
last 5 years.
Board Duty
Verification of any applicant for
licensure who may be impaired
by drugs or alcohol that affects
her/his ability to practice
nursing safely.
Revised ULR Additional Public
Protection Requirements:
Other licenses,
certifications, registrations
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Self disclosure of any actions taken
or initiated against a professional
or occupational license, registration
or certification.
Identification of any actions taken
or initiated against a professional
or occupational license, registration
or certification and consideration of
the individual’s ability to practice
nursing safely.
B. Renewal/Reinstatement
Requirements
Revised ULR Criminal
Background Check
Applicant Responsibility
Self disclosure of all misdemeanor
convictions, felony convictions and plea
agreements (even if adjudication was
withheld) not previously reported to the
board.
Board Duty
Verification of all misdemeanor convictions,
felony convictions and plea agreements (even if
adjudication was withheld) not previously
reported to the board for determination of
eligibility for renewal or reinstatement of
licensure.
State and federal fingerprint checks using
automatic criminal background feedback system
(such as Rap-Back).
Psychological evaluation for all individuals
convicted of a sexual offense involving a minor
or performing a sexual act against the will of
another person. This evaluation should be
performed by a qualified expert approved by the
board. If the evaluation reveals a diagnosis or
equivalent classification of sexual predator or
pedophilia the board should deny licensure.
Examine all other charges on a case by case
basis
Revised ULR Substance Use
Disorders
Applicant Responsibility
Self disclosure of any substance
use disorder in the last 5 years.
Board Duty
Verification of any applicant for
renewal or reinstatement of
licensure who may be impaired by
drugs or alcohol that affects her/his
ability to practice nursing safely.
Revised ULR Nursing
Disciplinary Actions
Applicant Responsibility
Self disclosure of any Member
Board action taken on a nursing
license or current/pending
investigation by a Member Board.
Board Duty
Verification of any Member Board
action taken on a nursing license
or current/pending investigation by
a Member Board.
Check Nursys for discipline in other
jurisdictions.
Revised ULR Other licenses,
certifications, registrations
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Self disclosure of any actions taken
or initiated against a professional
or occupational license, registration
or certification not previously
reported to the board.
Review of any actions taken or
initiated against a professional or
occupational license, registration or
certification not previously reported
to the board and consideration of
the individual’s ability to practice
nursing safely.
C. Endorsement Requirements
Revised ULR Education, Exam
and Licensure Verification
Applicant Responsibility
Completion of a Member Board approved RN
or PN prelicensure education program.
Successful passage of the NCLEX/State
Board Test Pool Exam.
Board Duty
Verification of education.
Verification of successful passage of the
NCLEX/State Board Test Pool Exam.
Verification of all nursing licenses.
Self disclosure of status of all nursing
licenses (includes any board actions taken or
any current or pending investigations by a
Member Board)
Self disclosure of participation in an
alternative to discipline program in any
jurisdiction
Revised ULR Criminal
Background Check
Applicant Responsibility
Self disclosure of all misdemeanor
convictions, felony convictions and plea
agreements (even if adjudication was
withheld).
Board Duty
Verification of all misdemeanor convictions,
felony convictions and plea agreements
(even if adjudication was withheld) of all
individuals applying for licensure.
State and federal fingerprint checks.
Psychological evaluation for all individuals
convicted of a sexual offense involving a
minor or performing a sexual act against the
will of another person. This evaluation should
be performed by a qualified expert approved
by the board. If the evaluation reveals a
diagnosis or equivalent classification of
sexual predator or pedophilia the board
should deny licensure.
All other convictions should be determined on
a case by case basis.
Revised ULR Substance Use
Disorders
Applicant Responsibility
Self disclosure of a substance
use disorder within the last 5
years
Board Duty
Verification of any applicant for
licensure who may be impaired
by drugs or alcohol that affects
her/his ability to practice
nursing safely.
Revised ULR Other licenses,
certifications, registrations
Applicant Responsibility
Board Duty
Self disclosure of any actions taken
or initiated against a professional
or occupational license, registration
or certification not previously
reported to the board.
Verification of any actions taken or
initiated against a professional or
occupational license, registration or
certification and consideration of
the individual’s ability to practice
nursing safely.
Additional Recommendations
•
•
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Language has been changed to “Member Board”,
as defined in the ULR definitions, to include all
jurisdictions.
Requirements apply to full members of NCSBN
only, not associate members, as defined by
NCSBN.
Administrative code regulations such as child
support, payment of taxes, school loans, etc. are
not included in these licensure requirements as
these are state specific and do not solely apply to
the board of nursing.
Thank you for your attention!