Please go to NYSED for information regarding New York State Nursing Licensure.
General Requirements
The practice of nursing or use of “Registered Professional Nurse” (RN) or within New York State requires licensure. To be licensed as a registered professional nurse in New York State you must:
- be of good moral character;
- be at least eighteen years of age;
- meet education requirements;
- complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider;
- meet examination requirements.
You must file an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material. The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Title 8, Article 139, Sections 6905 and 6906 of New York State Education Law and Part 64 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. Copies of the relevant sections of NYS Education Law and the Commissioner’s Regulations are also available upon request by e-mailing opforms@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 320. You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.
Regulations of the Commissioner of Education
Part 64, Nursing
Effective August 17, 2006
§64.1 Professional study of nursing | §64.2 Licensing examinations | §64.3 Limited permits | §64.4 Nurse practitioner certification | §64.5 Nurse practitioner practice | §64.6 Prescription and direction of nursing services | §64.7 Immunizations and emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, and purified protein derivative (PPD) mantoux tuberculin skin tests pursuant to non-patient specific orders and protocols
§64.1 Professional study of nursing
Registered professional nursing. To meet the professional education requirement, the applicant shall have graduated from:
- a program in nursing registered by the department as preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse;
- a program in nursing approved by the licensing authority in another state, territory or possession of the United States as preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse; or
- a general nursing course of at least two academic years in a country outside the United States and its territories or possessions that is satisfactory to the department and that the licensing authority or appropriate governmental agency of said country certifies to the department as being preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse. For issuance of a limited permit, an applicant shall obtain a score satisfactory to the department on a proficiency examination selected by the department as evidence of equivalent training, if the applicant’s nursing education was obtained in a school of nursing outside the United States and its territories and has not been determined by the department to be equivalent in quality and scope to a program of nursing education registered by the department.