How to get a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license in Louisiana

Louisiana registered nurse licenses

Louisiana issues 2 registered nurse credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Louisiana registered nurse license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

What it covers

Practice of nursing: functions requiring specialized knowledge and skills from the biological, physical and behavioral sciences, including assessing health status, nursing diagnosis, planning and implementing care; it excludes medical diagnosis and medical prescriptions.⁷

Requirements

Education or training

Completion of a nursing education program approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, or an out-of-state/foreign program that meets or exceeds Louisiana standards. Non-traditional programs without substantial faculty-overseen clinical experience are not eligible (since July 1, 2018).¹
Who may teach it: LSBN-approved program (in-state) or a program approved by another board of nursing that meets Louisiana standards; LPNs cannot challenge the NCLEX-RN.⁴
Alternative: Internationally educated nurses: detailed credentials evaluation report sent directly to LSBN from CGFNS, Josef Silny & Associates or The Evaluation Company, the CGFNS Qualifying Exam certificate, and an English proficiency exam (TOEFL/iBT, IELTS academic, TOEIC, PTE Academic, MET or OET).³

Exam

NCLEX-RN²
Given by: Pearson VUE⁴
When you can take it: After the degree is conferred: the school submits the Affidavit of Graduation (in-state via portal; out-of-state form plus official transcript); LSBN then confirms eligibility and Pearson VUE sends the Authorization to Test. Register with Pearson VUE right after applying.³
Retakes: Must pass within four attempts (attempts in any jurisdiction count) and within four years of graduation; at least 45 days between attempts; retake request filed in the Nurse Portal with a $100 fee plus Pearson VUE re-registration.²
Time limit: Within four years of graduation.²
Exam waived: Endorsement applicants already licensed by examination elsewhere do not retake the exam; nurses with an active multistate license from another compact state practice on the privilege.¹

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required³
Every arrest or citation other than traffic must be reported (including dismissed or diverted charges) with a narrative and certified court records; expunged records need not be disclosed (La. C.Cr.P. art. 973(C)).⁴
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply⁸

Social Security number

A U.S. Social Security number must have been issued (Canadian social insurance numbers not accepted).³

Also required

Good moral character; no pending discipline by any health regulatory board and no pending civil or criminal charges.¹

Also required

Notarized Affidavit of Verification mailed to LSBN.³

Also required

English proficiency if a graduate of a foreign nursing program.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Create a Louisiana Nurse Portal account and submit the RN Licensure by Examination application online, uploading a government photo ID and any documents for "yes" answers; pay the $100 non-refundable fee by credit card.³ lsbn.boardsofnursing.org³
2. Mail the original signed, notarized Affidavit of Verification to LSBN.³
3. Have fingerprints taken at an IdentoGo location for the Louisiana State Police and FBI background check.³
4. Register and pay $200 with Pearson VUE immediately after submitting the LSBN application.³
5. Your school confirms graduation after the degree is conferred (in-state: Affidavit of Graduation portal; out-of-state: Affidavit of Graduation form plus official transcript).³
6. Receive the Authorization to Test and take the NCLEX-RN; official results arrive within about three weeks.³
7. Check the license on LSBN verification; candidates cannot work on a pass result until the license is issued.⁴

Apply online

lsbn.boardsofnursing.org³

Temporary or provisional license

Graduates of approved schools may get a 90-day temporary graduate permit (title "R.N. Applicant") pending the first NCLEX if they test within 3 months of graduation and live and plan to work in Louisiana; it allows staff-nurse practice with direct RN supervision and ends on receipt of results or 90 days after graduation. Not available to internationally educated nurses.³

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years³

When it expires

Initial licenses are calendar-year licenses; renewals are biennial. Renew online during the October 1 – December 31 renewal season; licenses run February 1 to January 31 and expire at midnight CST January 31 if not renewed.³

Renewal fee

$100²

Continuing education

At least 30 hours each renewal period²

Required topics

No mandatory RN CE topics are listed in LAC 46:XLVII.3335.C; alternative options: 900 practice hours verified by the employer, initial licensure by exam/endorsement in the previous calendar year, or current board-approved specialty certification.²

Approved courses

Board-approved contact hours: approved by LSBN or through ANCC (providers approved by the board, ANCC-accredited, or approved by an ANCC-accredited approver); 1 contact hour = 60 minutes. At least 3% of renewing licensees are audited (around March after renewal).²

Exemptions

Exemption or extension may be requested on the renewal application for: inactive status; active armed-forces duty of at least 6 months in the licensure period; disability preventing work for 2/3 of the audit period; enrollment in a board-approved refresher course; emergency or extenuating circumstances.²
RNs first licensed in Louisiana during the current year are not subject to the CE requirement at that renewal.¹⁰

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50¹⁰ (renewal submitted after December 31 (in addition to the renewal fee))

If it expires

Failure to renew makes the license inactive; practicing on an inactive or lapsed license is illegal practice. Reinstatement requires an application and fee.²
Reinstatement after less than 4 years: 15 board-approved contact hours per year of inactive status (or current license elsewhere plus compliance). After 4 years or more without practice elsewhere: a 160-hour board-approved refresher course, a 160-hour nursing course, individualised remediation, or passing NCLEX-RN.²

Renew online

lsbn.boardsofnursing.org³

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: RNs on active duty in the armed forces for at least six months of the licensure period may request a CE exemption or extension; military form 2058 is accepted as primary-state-of-residence evidence.²

Who needs a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

Work that does not need this license:

• Licensees holding an active RN multistate license in another compact state practice on the privilege and are not subject to Louisiana renewal.²

Renewal and continuing education

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Moving to Louisiana with a license from another state

These are the routes LSBN publishes for the single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license. The other registered nurse licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Multistate Registered Nurse (RN) license

Requirements

Residency or citizenship

Must declare Louisiana as primary state of residence (typically where the applicant votes and holds a driver's license, or the state on military form 2058).³

Also required

Multistate eligibility: no state or federal felony convictions; no nursing-related misdemeanor convictions (case by case); not currently in an alternative program; self-disclose alternative-program participation; declare Louisiana as primary state of residence.³

Fees

How to apply

1. For a multistate license, declare Louisiana as primary state of residence in the application; a current Louisiana single-state licensee files the separate Conversion Application ($50) in the Nurse Portal.³

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a registered nurse in Louisiana, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Louisiana is on the Louisiana license lookup page.

Look up a license

lsbn.state.la.us¹³

File a complaint

lsbn.state.la.us¹⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• La. R.S. 37:913 (definitions)
• La. R.S. 37:920 (licensure; qualifications; examination; renewal; temporary permits)
• La. R.S. 37:920.1 (criminal history record information)
• La. R.S. 37:927
• LAC 46:XLVII.3325 (licensure by examination), 3327 (endorsement), 3329 (temporary permits), 3330 (criminal history), 3333 (renewal), 3335 (continuing education)
• LAC 46:XLVII.3341

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2026: R.S. 37:920 was most recently amended by Acts 2025, No. 463, effective January 1, 2026 (per the statute history note); Acts 2023, No. 4 (eff. May 23, 2023) repealed R.S. 37:920(B)(1)(b).¹

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

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