How to get a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license in New York

New York registered nurse licenses

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

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹⁶

How to apply

Apply online

eservices.nysed.gov⁷⁸

Who needs a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license

Diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through case finding, health teaching, health counseling and care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist or other authorized practitioner.¹

Requirements for a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license

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

Education or training

Graduate from a nursing education program acceptable to NYSED: an NYSED-registered RN program (associate, bachelor's, master's or diploma), an RN program approved by another US state or territory, or a general nursing program of at least two academic years abroad that NYSED accepts.⁶
Who may teach it: Before enrolling in New York, check that the program is registered by NYSED as licensure-qualifying for RN.³
Alternative: Recent Canadian BN/BSN/BScN graduates (degree after January 1, 2015, outside Quebec, with an NCSBN Canadian Program Code) apply under Pathway #4.⁹

Education or training

2 clock hours²
Child abuse identification and reporting coursework (NYSED-approved), unless the applicant graduated from an NYSED-registered RN program after September 1, 1990 or qualifies for an exemption.³
Who may teach it: NYSED-approved course providers (online courses available).³
Alternative: Exemption if the nurse will have no contact with persons under 18 or residents of nursing homes or residential care schools.³

Education or training

NYSED-approved infection control coursework (not needed at licensure if the applicant graduated from an NYSED-registered RN program within the past four years).³
Who may teach it: NYSED-approved infection control course providers (in person or online).³
Alternative: Exemption for equivalent infection control training or where the nature of practice makes it unnecessary.³

Exam

NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses)³
Given by: Pearson VUE (NCSBN examination)³
Passing score: Reported as a single score.⁶
When you can take it: Apply to NYSED (Form 1, $143) and register with Pearson VUE; NYSED tells Pearson VUE when you are eligible, and Pearson VUE then issues the Authorization to Test (ATT).³
Retakes: Re-register with Pearson VUE and pay its $200 fee; no new NYSED application or fee is needed.⁴
Exam waived: RNs already licensed in another state, US territory or Canada who passed the SBTPE or NCLEX-RN have met the exam requirement.³

Background check

Background check required³
Applicants answer conviction, pending-charge and discipline questions; NYSED decides case by case whether a conviction disqualifies.³

Residency or citizenship

No US citizenship requirement; US citizens and others lawfully in the US may qualify.⁴

Social Security number

An SSN is not required, but if you have one you must disclose it.⁴

Also required

BSN in 10: RNs licensed after the June 18, 2020 cut-off who are not exempt must earn a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure to keep registering.⁶

Also required

Applicants must be of good moral character.¹

How much a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license costs

You pay the State Board for Nursing (5 fees) and Pearson VUE (2 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. If you did not graduate from an NYSED-registered RN program recently, complete an NYSED-approved infection control course and (if needed) the child abuse identification and reporting course, or plan to request an exemption.⁹
2. Submit Online Form 1 (Application for Licensure – RN) and pay the $143 license and first registration fee by credit card.⁹ eservices.nysed.gov⁷
3. Out-of-state and foreign graduates: have the school complete Form 2 (or Form 2F) and send it with an official transcript directly to NYSED; foreign graduates may instead use the TruMerit Credential Verification Service.⁹
4. If you hold or held a nursing license elsewhere, have it verified to NYSED through Nursys or Form 3.⁹
5. Register with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX-RN and pass it (Pearson VUE issues the ATT after NYSED confirms eligibility).⁹
6. Optional: apply for a $35 limited permit (Form 5 plus Form 5CS from your supervisor) to work as a Graduate Nurse before passing the NCLEX-RN.⁹
7. Once licensed, NYSED mails the license parchment and registration certificate; check the online verification for your license number.¹²

Temporary or provisional license

Limited permit (Graduate Nurse, GN): for graduates who meet every requirement except the NCLEX-RN and have never taken it; employer-specific, under on-unit RN supervision, valid up to 1 year or 10 days after notice of NCLEX failure. Graduates of NYSED-registered programs who have applied for license and permit may practice as GN for 90 days after graduation.³

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 3 years³

When it expires

The license is for life; the registration (authority to practice) runs 3 years. The second registration is shortened so later periods line up with your birth month, with a prorated fee. Online renewal opens in the last 5 months of the period and up to 4 months after it ends.³

Renewal fee

$73⁴

Required topics

Infection control and barrier precautions (including sepsis) coursework every four years; attest at each registration.¹³

Approved courses

NYSED-approved infection control course providers.³

Exemptions

Infection control exemption for equivalent training or where the nature of practice makes it unnecessary.¹³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $10⁵ (per month that registration is delayed (not charged to licensees who tell NYSED they are not practicing))

If it expires

You may not practice while the registration is expired.³
Not practicing in New York? Register inactive at no charge; to resume, file a Delayed Registration Application.¹⁰
BSN in 10: a non-exempt RN without the degree after 10 years may get a one-year conditional registration (fee equal to and in addition to the triennial fee) or a two-year temporary educational exemption.¹

Renew online

eservices.nysed.gov¹⁰

Moving to New York with a license from another state

These are the routes the State Board for Nursing publishes for the Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license. The other registered nurse licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Limited Permit

Practise nursing only at the facility named on the permit, employed by it, with the supervising RN on the care unit; title "Graduate Nurse (GN)" on badges and signatures.³

Requirements

Education or training

Must have applied for the RN license and met all license requirements except the NCLEX-RN (including child abuse coursework); never have taken the NCLEX-RN.³
Alternative: Foreign-educated applicants may need an English proficiency test before a permit issues.⁴

Exam

Not required⁶

Background check

Background check required⁶

Fees

How to apply

1. File Online Form 1 for the RN license ($143) if not already done.⁸
2. Submit Online Form 5 with the $35 fee, plus Form 5CS completed by your supervisor.⁸ eservices.nysed.gov⁸
3. If you change employer you need a new permit; a change of supervisor or setting needs an amended permit (no fee).³

Renewal

How often

Every year³

When it expires

Expires one year after issue, on denial of the license application, or 10 days after notice of NCLEX failure, whichever is first; stays valid until 10 days after results if the applicant is awaiting results when it would expire.¹

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 York, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in New York is on the New York license lookup page.

Look up a license

op.nysed.gov¹²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• N.Y. Education Law art. 139, §§ 6900-6912 (nursing)
• N.Y. Education Law art. 130, §§ 6501, 6502, 6505-b (licensing, registration, infection control)
• 8 NYCRR Part 64 (Regulations of the Commissioner of Education: nursing)
• NYSED Office of the Professions Fees Chart (Rev. 2/21)

Rule changes since January 2024

• April 29, 2026: Amendment to the Commissioner's Regulations took effect clarifying the BSN-in-10 requirement for non-exempt RNs.³

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming