How to get a single-state Professional (Registered) Nurse license in Rhode Island

Rhode Island registered nurse licenses

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

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required¹

Education or training

Completion of the prescribed curriculum in a Board-approved basic professional nursing education program, holding its diploma.¹
Who may teach it: Board-approved basic professional nursing program; foreign graduates need a credentials evaluation by a Board-approved agency (RIDOH points to TruMerit).²
Alternative: Foreign-trained RNs already licensed in another state: credentials evaluation, NCLEX and a Board-approved English proficiency exam.¹

Exam

NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination), applied for through NCSBN¹
Given by: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)²
When you can take it: RIDOH cannot make the candidate eligible for the NCLEX until the official transcript (with graduation date and degree) arrives from the school.²
Retakes: Failed candidates may retake as often as the NCLEX service allows, resubmitting the non-refundable fee ($135 re-examination fee).¹
Exam waived: Endorsement: no exam for nurses currently licensed by examination or endorsement in another state, territory or DC who meet RI qualifications.¹

Also required

Application documents: official transcript sent by the school, photograph, non-refundable fee and BCI result.¹

Also required

Proof of primary state of residence (driver's license, voter card, federal tax return or military form 2058) is required from all applicants.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.

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

How to apply

1. Get the national fingerprint background check through the Attorney General (BCI).²

Apply online

healthri.mylicense.com²

Temporary or provisional license

Professional (Registered) Nurse temporary permit (90 day), fee $135.³

Processing time

The Board must act on each application within 90 days of submission.¹

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Licenses expire 1 March every other year (odd/even by license number); renewal applications are due before 15 February; RIDOH sends notices about 60 days before expiry and renewal is online.¹

Renewal fee

$135³

Continuing education

At least 10 hours each renewal period⁴

Required topics

2 of the 10 hours on substance abuse (RIDOH page).⁴
One hour of Alzheimer's disease training once per career (effective August 1, 2019).⁴

Approved courses

Courses presented, accepted or approved by ANCC or its local chapter, recognized nursing organizations, board-approved schools of nursing, or other Board-approved bodies; 1 CE hour = 1 contact hour; keep proof 4 years (random audit); sign an attestation at renewal.¹

Exemptions

One 6-month extension of the CE requirement for hardship.¹

If it expires

Lapsed license: reinstated on application and payment of the current renewal fee; practicing while lapsed is subject to penalties.¹
Board reinstatement guidance (June 2023): out of practice 2-5 years = Board-approved competency test plus clinical demonstration; over 5 years = Board-approved RN refresher course.⁴
Inactive list: no renewal fee while inactive; to resume, pay the renewal fee and attest to CE for the inactive period (5 hours per year) or complete a Board-approved re-entry program.¹

Renew online

healthri.mylicense.com⁴

From another state

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

Work that does not need this license:

• Persons exempt under R.I. Gen. Laws 5-34-31 need no license.¹

Requirements for a single-state Professional (Registered) Nurse license

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

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required²
Good moral character required; BCI national check processed before licensure; applicant either submits BCI notice of no disqualifying information or has BCI send the report to RIDOH.¹

Residency or citizenship

Single-state license for nurses whose primary state of residence is a non-compact state, or who are not eligible for the multistate license.²

How to apply

1. Finish a Board-approved RN program (high-school diploma or equivalent required).¹
2. Register on healthri.mylicense.com, choose "Single State" and the obtained-by option (examination or endorsement), and pay $135.² healthri.mylicense.com²
3. By exam: school sends the official transcript, then register with NCSBN for the NCLEX-RN. By endorsement: request verification from every state where licensed via Nursys (PA via PALS).²
4. Foreign-educated applicants complete TruMerit credentials evaluation and a Board-approved English proficiency exam.²

Renewal and continuing education

Multistate Professional (Registered) Nurse license

Requirements

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required²
Good moral character required; BCI national check processed before licensure; applicant either submits BCI notice of no disqualifying information or has BCI send the report to RIDOH. Multistate: felony disqualifies under the compact ULRs.¹

Residency or citizenship

Multistate license for nurses whose primary state of residence is Rhode Island (or will be within 60 days of applying); eligible RI-resident nurses are required to take the multistate license.²

Social Security number

Valid US Social Security number (NLC uniform requirement).⁵

Also required

Multistate license: must meet the NLC uniform licensure requirements (no felony conviction or agreed disposition, no nursing-related misdemeanour (case by case), not in an alternative program, active unencumbered license, valid US SSN).⁵

How to apply

1. Confirm Rhode Island is (or within 60 days will be) your primary state of residence and gather proof (driver's license, voter card, federal tax return or military form 2058).²
2. Existing RI single-state licensees: log in with your registration code and RI license number to upgrade; no new background check needed.²
3. New applicants: register on healthri.mylicense.com, choose "Multistate" and pay $135.² healthri.mylicense.com²
4. Exam applicants: have the school send the official transcript and register with NCSBN for the NCLEX-RN; endorsement applicants: verify other licenses on Nursys.²

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

Look up a license

healthri.mylicense.com⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 216-RICR-40-05-3 Licensing of Nurses and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs (eff. January 4, 2022)
• 216-RICR-10-05-2 Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services (§ 2.9 Nursing; eff. March 25, 2026)

Rule changes since January 2024

• March 25, 2026: Current RIDOH fee rule version (RN fees $135 per item).³
• January 1, 2024: Rhode Island rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compact; RI multistate RN licenses issued (compact map implementation date January 8, 2024).²

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

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