How to get a single-state Registered Professional Nurse license in New Jersey

New Jersey registered nurse licenses

New Jersey 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 New Jersey registered nurse license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Education or training

Completion of all graduation requirements of a registered professional nursing program accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing or by another state's board of nursing, certified by the registrar.¹
Who may teach it: RN program accredited by the NJ Board (N.J.A.C. 13:37-1) or by a board of nursing in another state.¹
Alternative: Foreign graduates: CGFNS transcript review plus English test, and make-up coursework for any missing core clinical areas.¹

Exam

NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses)¹
When you can take it: Apply with a certification from your school's registrar that all graduation requirements were completed (with the graduation/conferral date).¹
Retakes: After three consecutive failures you must complete a 30-hour remediation course (within one year before the fourth attempt) taught by a qualified instructor; after a fourth failure you may retake twice more before remediation is required again. Re-exam uses a paper application.¹
Exam waived: Graduates of foreign programs need a CGFNS transcript review and a passing TOEFL, IELTS, OET or TOEIC score from the past two years; missing medical, surgical, pediatric, obstetric or psychiatric nursing coursework must be made up in a Board-accredited RN 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.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Decide the license type: if New Jersey is your primary state of residence and you meet the compact requirements (including a US Social Security number), the Board issues a multistate license; otherwise a single-state NJ license.³
2. Complete an RN program accredited by the NJ Board or another state board; your school's registrar certifies completion and the graduation date to the Board.¹
3. Submit the online RN "Candidate" application with the $75 application fee ($100 for foreign graduates) in the MyLicense eGov portal; the $120 initial license fee also applies.¹ newjersey.mylicense.com³
4. Complete the criminal history background check; the Board also queries the National Practitioner Data Bank, which can take several days.³
5. Pass the NCLEX-RN (first-time candidates). License status can be checked in the Division of Consumer Affairs verification system.¹

Apply online

newjersey.mylicense.com³

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary courtesy license for military spouses only (one year, $60 + $120 initial fee).¹

Processing time

No overall processing time is published; the NPDB query alone may take several days after all other requirements are met.³

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Biennial renewal; the Board sends a notice at least 60 days before expiry and you must renew (with the $5 Alternative to Discipline surcharge) before the expiration date. The Board CE FAQ example uses a renewal period running June 1 to May 31 two years later.⁴

Renewal fee

$120¹ (Active status; plus $5 Alternative to Discipline surcharge)

Continuing education

At least 30 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

At least 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs (alternatives to opioids for pain, risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction and diversion).¹

Approved courses

Courses related to nursing approved by an NCCA-accredited credentialing agency, an IACET provider or ANCC-accredited entities, plus AMA/AOA/APMA CME, ACPE providers, accredited college courses (5 hours per credit) and other listed activities; online courses accepted. Up to 15 extra hours carry over. Keep records four years for audits.⁴

Exemptions

Individual hardship waivers (severe illness, disability, military service): apply in writing at least 90 days before renewal. Inactive licensees do not complete CE.⁴

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50¹ (renewal 1-30 days after expiry; plus the renewal fee)
Reinstatement fee: $100¹ (after administrative suspension (plus all past renewal fees and surcharges))
Renewal fee: $60¹ (paid inactive status)

If it expires

Late renewal is allowed up to 30 days after expiry (renewal fee + $50 late fee + surcharge); after that the license is administratively suspended. Reinstatement within five years needs back renewal fees, the $100 reinstatement fee, CE certification and an employment affidavit; after more than five years you must meet all initial licensure requirements again and complete a 30-hour refresher course.¹

Renew online

newjersey.mylicense.com³

From another state

Requirements for a single-state Registered Professional Nurse license

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

Background check

Background check required¹
The Board must also query the National Practitioner Data Bank (P.L. 2021, c. 335) before issuing or renewing a license; this can take several days after all other requirements are met.³

Residency or citizenship

US citizenship is not required; residents of other states (including those who cannot prove NJ residence) may hold a single-state NJ license.⁴

Social Security number

A social security number is not required for a single-state RN license.⁴

Renewal and continuing education

Moving to New Jersey with a license from another state

These are the routes the New Jersey Board of Nursing publishes for the single-state Registered Professional Nurse license. The other registered nurse licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Multistate Registered Professional Nurse license

Requirements

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required²
The Board must also query the National Practitioner Data Bank (P.L. 2021, c. 335) before issuing or renewing a license; this can take several days after all other requirements are met.³

Residency or citizenship

New Jersey must be your primary state of residence (proof: NJ driver's license or NJ State ID); otherwise only a single-state NJ license is available.⁴

Social Security number

A valid US Social Security number (not a TIN) is required for a multistate license.⁴

Also required

NLC uniform requirements: active unencumbered license, no felony conviction or agreed disposition, misdemeanours related to nursing reviewed case by case, not in an alternative-to-discipline program (e.g. RAMP or PAP).⁴

Fees

How to apply

1. Already hold a NJ license? Apply for multistate status "by Upgrade" with the online Multistate License Application ($75 application fee, criminal history authorization form, NJ driver's license or State ID as proof of residence).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 New Jersey, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in New Jersey is on the New Jersey license lookup page.

Look up a license

newjersey.mylicense.com⁴

File a complaint

njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• N.J.S.A. 45:11-23 et seq. (Nursing statutes)
• N.J.S.A. 45:11-26 and 45:11-27 (qualifications; referenced by N.J.A.C. 13:37-2.1)
• N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.5
• 56 N.J.R. 2195(b) (Nov. 4, 2024), Notice of Readoption, N.J.A.C. 13:37, effective Oct. 9, 2024, expires Oct. 9, 2031

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

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