- There are three basic educational paths towards becoming a registered nurse. All states require that RNs graduate from a hospital-based diploma program, an associate degree in nursing program or a bachelor nursing program before applying for an authorization to take the national RN licensure exam from their state Boards of Nursing. In the past, most nurses graduated from hospital programs, which did not end in a degree but did allow students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Few diploma programs still exist as of 2011, however, and most nurses prefer to get either associate or bachelor degrees. Still, successfully passing an approved program in any of the three should allow you to receive permission to take the RN licensing exam (see references 1).
- Many state boards of nursing require nurses to submit to a national-level FBI criminal background check before either giving permission to take the NCLEX-RN or issuing licenses. Applicants generally must submit to fingerprinting and pay a fee to their BON or a private company contracted by the BON to do the investigation (see references 2).
- Once a new nurse has graduated from an approved program and has received an authorization to test from the state board of nursing for her state, she must still take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam before being issued a nursing license. The NCLEX-RN was created by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and is offered via computer throughout the year at private testing sites. As of 2011, Pearson VUE was responsible for administering the NCLEX-RN, both in America and an international testing centers outside the U.S.
- RN licenses are usually good for two years. Many states require both licensed vocational/practical nurses and registered nurses to gain a certain number of continuing education units before they can renew their nursing licenses. The exact CEU regulations vary by state. Some require at least one hour per month, resulting in 24 hours of CEUs before renewal, and other set the number of CEUs higher. Others, such as Arizona, Colorado and Hawaii, have no CEU requirement at all. CEUs may be gained through academic classes, seminars, participating in research or online.
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