Training for Nurse Licensing Board Exams

Get trained for a nursing license

Training for nurse licensing boards can be accomplished in several ways. Whether you're an individual seeking nurse licensing or an employer planning to hire licensed nurses, one of your first steps should be learning about the training paths available.

Registered nurses are licensed by the state they will practice in and each state has different requirements. The educational requirements to sit for nurse licensing exams include diplomas, associate and baccalaureate degrees. To find out about more about the different options available to prepare for a license for nursing:

1. Get general information about licenses for nurses.

2. Look into diploma, associate and bachelor degree programs.

3. Consider options like distance learning and accelerated programs.

 

Get information from regulatory agencies in nursing

Get an overview of the certification process before choosing a program. Since requirements for nursing exams vary by state, find out more about your state's licensing board.
Try: Find links to state licensing boards at the National Council for State Boards of Nursing. Get information about credentialing for nursing programs from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Find out about diploma programs that lead to a nurse license

Many hospitals and other institutions offer private nursing education programs. These programs usually award a diploma and qualify nurses to sit for the licensing exam to become registered nurses. Some advantages of these programs are convenient schedules and clinical experience. Some also offer reimbursement for training if the nurse works at the hospital after graduation for a specified period.
Try: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission offers a directory of accredited diploma programs, as well as baccalaureate, associate, masters and doctorate programs. Discover Nursing, a service provided by Johnson & Johnson, provides a directory of diploma programs as well as information about nursing.

Find associate programs that qualify graduates to sit for nursing licensing board exams

Associate programs are the most popular training for registered nurses (RN). They offer shorter programs than diplomas or bachelor's degree education. Training is available at local colleges and schools as well as online through distance learning.
Try: UCEADirectory, a service of Educational Directories Unlimited and the University Continuing Education Association, lists distance and online associate programs for nurses. Excelsior College is one of the oldest virtual colleges in the nation. It offers Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science nursing degrees. The entire associates degree can be earned through distance programs.

Look into baccalaureate programs for nurse licenses

A Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares a nurse for more advanced roles and greater employment opportunities. Many registered nurses raining for nurse licensing boards earn an associates or diploma first, then get their BSN while working. BSN programs are offered at many colleges and universities. Some also offer distance and online degrees and accelerated degrees for graduates with a previous degree in a field other than nursing.
Try: AllNursingSchools includes a directory of online RN to BSN programs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides a directory of accelerated degree programs for graduates with a degree other than nursing.

 

• Keep in mind that nurses licenses don't transfer from one state to another. To work in a new state, a nurse must get licensed by that state's board.

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