New Jersey Board of Nursing

New Jersey is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact ("NLC"). Nurses who hold active, unencumbered nursing licenses issued by members of the NLC may practice in NJ. New Jersey licensed nurses may apply for a multistate license with the authority to practice in other Compact states by submitting an application for a License by Upgrade.  New applicants should submit an application as an RN or LPN Candidate.  A multistate Compact license will be issued if you meet the requirements. A single state NJ license may be issued if you do not meet the requirements for a Compact license.

New Jersey Residents (Home State)

To be eligible for a New Jersey issued multistate license, you must:

• Meet the requirements for licensure in New Jersey (state of residency);

• Have graduated from a board-approved education program; or has graduated from an international education program (approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and verified by an independent credentials review agency);

• Have passed an English proficiency examination (applies to graduates of an international education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual's native language);

• Have passed an NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® Examination or predecessor exam;

• Be eligible for or holds an active, unencumbered license (i.e., without active discipline);

• Have submitted to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks;

• Have not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law;

• Have no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (determined on a case-by-case basis);

• Not currently a participant in an alternative program;

• Be required to self-disclose current participation in an alternative program; and

• Have a valid United States Social Security number.

New Jersey Licensee and Applicant FAQs

1. I currently have an active New Jersey RN or LPN license. Do I automatically have a multi-state license?

   No. You must apply through the Board for a multi-state license. Applications are available on the website under "Applications and Forms". You must meet all requirements to obtain a multi-state license.

2. I currently have an active New Jersey RN or LPN license. Do I need to apply for the multi-state license to continue to work as a nurse in New Jersey?

   No. You may continue to work as a nurse In New Jersey if you hold an active New Jersey RN or LPN license.

3. I'm applying for a first time RN or LPN license in New Jersey. Which application should I complete?

   Apply by "Candidate" if you are seeking a NJ license as an RN or LPN, and you've never been licensed before or you're licensed in another state. A multi-state Compact license will be issued if you meet the requirements. A single state NJ license may be issued if you do not meet the requirements for a Compact license.

4. Is the APN license eligible for a multi-state license?

   No. The NLC pertains to RN and LPN licenses only.

5. I have a multi-state RN license issued by a remote state. May I apply for a NJ APN license using my multi-state RN license?

   Yes. RNs who hold a multi-state RN license from their home state may apply for NJ APN certification using the multi-state RN license.

6. What are the requirements to apply for a multi-state license?
1. Meets the requirements for licensure in the home state (state of residency);
2. Has graduated from a board-approved education program; or has graduated from an international education program (approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and verified by an independent credentials review agency);
3. Has passed an English proficiency examination (applies to graduates of an international education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual's native language);
4. Has passed an NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® Examination or predecessor exam;
5. Is eligible for or holds an active, unencumbered license (i.e., without active discipline);
6. Has submitted to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks;
7. Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law;
8. Has no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (determined on a case-by-case basis);
9. Is not currently a participant in an alternative program;
10. Is required to self-disclose current participation in an alternative program; and
11. Has a valid United States Social Security number (not a TIN).
    
    
7. What does primary state of residence mean?

   The state in which a nurse declares a primary residence for legal purposes. Proof of primary state of residence can be submitted through documents such as a driver's license, state ID, or military form no. 2058. Only one state can be identified as the primary state of legal residence for multi-state license compact purposes.
   

8. My primary state of residence is outside of New Jersey or I am unable to provide proof New Jersey is my primary state of residence.

   You are not eligible for a New Jersey multi-state license, but you may apply for a single state RN or LPN license.

9. My license is currently disciplined and/or restricted. Am I eligible for the multi-state license?

   No. You must hold an active, unencumbered license to be eligible for the multi-state license.

10. I'm currently in an alternative to discipline program, such as RAMP or PAP. Am I eligible for the multi-state license?

    No.

11. I have been convicted of, found guilty, or entered into an agreement of disposition of felony offense under state or federal law. Am I eligible for the multi-state license?

    No.

12. I have been convicted of, found guilty, or entered into an agreement of disposition of misdemeanor offense related to the practice of nursing. Am I eligible for the multi-state license?

    Previous misdemeanor convictions are reviewed and considered on a case by case basis.

13. Why would a nurse need a multi-state license?

    Nurses are required to be licensed in the state where the recipient of nursing practice is located at the time service is provided. A multi-state license allows the nurse to practice in the home state and all compact states with one license issued by the home state. This eliminates the burdensome, costly, and time consuming process of obtaining single state licenses in each state of practice.

14. How many multi-state licenses may a nurse hold?

    A nurse may hold only one multi-state compact license.

Employers FAQs

1. Is a nurse who holds a multi-state license in another state eligible to work in New Jersey?

   New Jersey is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Nurses who hold active, unencumbered, multi-state licenses issued by Nurse Licensure Compact member states have a privilege to practice in New Jersey under their multi-state license.

2. What states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?

   For an updated list of participating jurisdictions, please visit- www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm

3. How do I verify the status of a multi-state license issued by another state?

   Nursys (www.nursys.com) is a free database providing licensure and disciplinary information on all RNs and LPNs as contributed by compact states.  Employers and the public can access Nursys to look up a nurse's license and disciplinary status.  The report will contain the nurse's name, jurisdiction, license type, license number, compact status, license status, expiration date, discipline against license and discipline against privilege to practice.

   Additionally, employers may register their nursing workforce in e-Notify at nursys.com at no cost. Employers will receive e-notifications of disciplinary action taken on any license the nurse holds in the U.S.

4. How do we verify the status of a multi-state license issued by New Jersey?

   The multi-state license, as with single state New Jersey issued licenses, can be verified at https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/.

5. How do we report an issue (discipline, termination, etc.) with an employee nurse who has privilege to practice New Jersey though the multi-state license issued by a remote state?

   Please follow the same complaint procedure as required for reporting issues with New Jersey nurses and report all issues and complaints to the New Jersey Board of Nursing: https://njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us/board-complaints/.

Definitions

Compact
An interstate agreement between two or more states established for the purpose of remedying a particular problem of multi-state concern, in this case, the Nurse Licensure Compact ("NLC").  

Compact or Party State
Any state that has adopted the NLC.

Home State
The compact state that serves as the nurse's primary state of residence.

Remote State
A compact state other than the home state where the patient is located at the time nursing care is provided or, in the case of the practice of nursing not involving a patient, a compact state where the recipient of nursing practice is located.

Primary State of Residence ("PSOR")
The state (also known as the home state) in which a nurse declares a primary residence for legal purposes. It is the state in which the nurse holds a driver's license, pays taxes, and votes.

Multi-state License
A license to practice as an RN or LPN/VN which is issued by the home state licensing board and which authorizes the nurse to practice in all party states.

Single-state License
A nurse license issued by a party state that allows practice only within the issuing state. This license does not grant a privilege to practice in any other Compact state.

Nursys
This database (www.nursys.com) provides license and disciplinary information of all RNs and LPN/VNs, as contributed by compact states. The public, including nurse employers, can access Nursys for free to look up a nurse's license and discipline status.

Privilege to Practice ("PTP")
Current, official authority from a remote state permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or an LPN/VN in that party state. All party states have the authority, in accordance with existing state due process law, to take actions against the nurse's privilege, such as: revocation, suspension, probation or any other action which affects a nurse's authorization to practice.

For additional information, please visit Licensure Compacts | NCSBN