How to get a US nursing licence when you trained abroad.

Who issues a US nursing licence?

The board of nursing in the state where you want to work. There is no national licence. NCSBN, the body that runs the NCLEX, publishes uniform licensure requirements for internationally educated nurses, and each board builds on them with its own forms, fees and accepted agencies.

Most states also belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact. NCSBN says 43 jurisdictions are part of it, and a nurse who lives in a compact state can apply for one multistate licence that covers the others.

What does a state board ask an internationally educated nurse for?

NCSBN's uniform requirements cover RNs and LPN/VNs alike:

• Comparable education: a credentials review agency verifies that your nursing program is comparable to a US-approved RN or LPN/VN program.
• The NCLEX: a pass on the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN.
• Licence history: you disclose your licence status in the country where you trained.
• English: a test covering reading, speaking, writing and listening, unless English is the native language of your country and your program was taught in English with English textbooks.
• Background checks: state and federal fingerprint checks, and disclosure of any offences.

Which evaluation agency a board accepts varies, so check your board's page before you order one.

Which state should I apply to if I live outside the US?

We usually recommend New York, especially when your first goal is to pass the NCLEX. Many nurses abroad have no US Social Security number, and New York's paper application says to leave it blank if you do not have one. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) handles it in one application:

1. Apply and pay: Form 1, with a $143 USD fee for the licence and first registration.
2. Education: TruMerit verifies it through its Credentials Verification Service for New York State, or your school certifies it on Form 2F with an official transcript. NYSED says going without TruMerit is often slower and harder.
3. Licence abroad: if you are licensed in another country, that regulator sends verification on Form 3F.
4. The NCLEX-RN: register with Pearson VUE. You can test once NYSED finishes its review.
5. Before the licence is issued: complete NYSED-approved child abuse reporting coursework, or qualify for an exemption.

Your registration then lasts about 3 years and renews every 3 years. Every 4 years you complete NYSED-approved infection control coursework, and NYSED lists no continuing education hours.

Do I write the NCLEX-RN or the NCLEX-PN?

It follows the licence you want. Registered nurses write the NCLEX-RN. Licensed practical nurses, called licensed vocational nurses in some states, write the NCLEX-PN. The NCLEX-RN is the same exam for Canadian and US licensure, and Australia uses it too.

Licence	Exam
Registered nurse (RN)	NCLEX-RN
Licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)	NCLEX-PN

How much does the NCLEX cost for a US licence?

These are NCSBN's fees for US licensure. Your state board charges its own application fee on top.

Fee	Amount (USD)
NCLEX registration	$200; $350 from 1 February 2027
Testing at a centre outside the US	$150 extra, plus VAT where it applies
Changing your board of nursing after registering	$50
Changing between RN and PN after registering	$50

Do I need a VisaScreen certificate?

Only for a work visa, not for the licence. Federal law (section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act) requires RNs and LPN/LVNs seeking an occupational visa to complete a screening program. TruMerit, formerly CGFNS, runs it as VisaScreen.

Can I write the NCLEX outside the US?

Yes. Pearson VUE runs international test centres, and NCSBN adds a $150 USD scheduling fee for testing outside the country of licensure. Your board must first make you eligible, and you register with Pearson VUE.