Uniform Licensure Requirements

Brenda McDougal, Chair

ULR Committee

References

NCSBN. (1999). The 1999 Uniform Core Licensure Requirements NCSBN. (2008). The 2008 UCLR Survey to Member Boards NCSBN. Policy Compendium. Positions of the NCSBN Delegate

Assembly and the Board of Directors State and federal information on criminal background checks and

fingerprint systems, including the Rap-Back System; The Americans with Disabilities Act NCSBN. (2010) Member Board Profiles NCSBN. (2008). The report from the NCSBN and Nurse Licensure

Compact Administrators (NLCA) action plan that emerged from the 2008 focus groups

References

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2009, June). Clarification of nurse practitioner specialty and subspecialty clinical track titles, hours, and credentialing.

Fitzgerald Miller, J., & Holm, K. (2011). Graduate programs in nursing for non nurses: a national perspective. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 2 (2), (in press).

Polfliet, S. (2008, November). A national analysis of medical licensure applications. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 36 (3), p.369-374.

Priola Surowiec, V. (2010, October). Does past criminal behavior predict future criminal behavior?. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 1 (3), p.33-37.

Schroeder, R., Brazeau, C., Zackin, F., Rovi, S., Dickey, J., Johnson, M., & Keller, S. (2009, June). Do state medical board applications violate the Americans with Disabilities Act?. Academic Medicine, 84 (6), p.776-781).

Consultants

Dr. Victoria Priola Surowiec, Psy.D., Chair, Forensic and Police Psychology, Adler School of Psychology

Dr. Stephen P. Griffin, Psy.D., Chief Psychologist, Public Safety and Security Services, Institute for Personality and Ability Testing

Dr. Karen Holm, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor, DePaul University, College of Nursing

Mr. Thomas G. Abram, Vedder Price Mr. Nathan Goldman, General Counsel, Kentucky Board of

Nursing

A. Initial Licensure

1999 UCLR Education Requirement: RN

Graduation from or verification of completion and eligibility for graduation from state-approved registered nursing program.

Revised ULR Nursing Education Requirements: RN

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Graduation or eligibility for graduation from a Member Board approved RN prelicensure program*.

*For students enrolled in a 2nd degree generic Masters Program: Successful completion of all pre-licensure nursing courses from a Member Board approved program with attestation from program director or dean.

Verification of graduation or eligibility for graduation from a Member Board approved RN prelicensure program.

1999 UCLR Education Requirement: PN

Graduation from or verification of completion and eligibility for graduation from state-approved practical nursing program.

Revised ULR Nursing Education Requirements: PN

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Graduation or eligibility for graduation from a Member Board approved PN prelicensure program.

*Graduates from RN prelicensure programs who wish to take the NCLEX-PN must have successfully completed a Member Board approved PN role delineation course.

Verification of graduation or eligibility for graduation from a Member Board approved PN prelicensure program.

1999 UCLR Education Requirement for Foreign-Educated Candidates: RN

Graduation from nursing program comparable to U.S. state-approved RN nursing programs as verified by credentials review agency.

Revised ULR Nursing Education Requirements of

International Candidates: RN

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Graduation from a nursing program comparable to a Member Board approved RN prelicensure program

Verification by a credentials review of graduation from a nursing program comparable to a Member Board approved RN prelicensure program.

1999 UCLR Education Requirement for Foreign-Educated Candidates: PN

Graduation from nursing program comparable to U.S. state-approved LPN/VN nursing programs as verified by credentials review agency.

Revised ULR Nursing Education Requirements of

International Candidates: PN

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Graduation from a nursing program comparable to a Member Board approved prelicensure PN/VN program.

Verification by a credentials review of graduation from a nursing program comparable to a Member Board approved prelicensure PN/VN program.

1999 UCLR NCLEX Requirements

• U.S. CANDIDATES: RN – NCLEX-RN® examination, unlimited attempts.

• U.S. CANDIDATES: LPN/VN – NCLEX-PN® examination, unlimited attempts.

• FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: RN – NCLEX-RN® examination, unlimited attempts.

• FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: LPN/VN

– NCLEX-PN® examination, unlimited attempts.

Revised ULR NCLEX Requirements: All Applicants

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Successful completion of NCLEX RN or PN exam.

Verification that applicant successfully completed NCLEX RN or PN exam.

1999 UCLR Additional Requirements for Foreign-

Educated Nurses

• FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: RN – CGFNS certificate or equivalent credentials review that

includes verification of the candidate's education, training, experience and licensure with respect to the statutory and regulatory requirements for the nursing profession, as well as oral and written competence in English.

• FOREIGN-EDUCATED CANDIDATES: LPN/VN– Credentials review that includes verification of the

candidate's education, training, experience and licensure with respect to the statutory and regulatory requirements for the nursing profession, as well as oral and written competence in English.

Revised ULR Additional Requirements for International

Candidates: RN and PN/VN

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of nursing licensure status in country of origin, if applicable.

Successful passage of an English proficiency exam that includes the components of reading, speaking, writing and listening, except for applicants from nursing programs that were taught in English and used English textbooks.

Verification of nursing licensure status in country of origin, if applicable.

Verification of successful passage of an English proficiency exam that includes the components of reading, speaking, writing and listening, except for applicants from nursing programs that were taught in English and used English textbooks

1999 UCLR Criminal Background Check

Requirements: RN and LPN/VN

Self report regarding all felony convictions and all plea agreements and misdemeanor conviction of lesser-included offenses arising from felony arrests. Local/state and federal background checks using current technology (i.e., fingerprinting) to validate self-reports.

Revised ULR Additional Public Protection Requirements:

Criminal Background Check

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

-Self disclosure of all misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions and plea agreements (even if adjudication was withheld).

-Submit state and federal finger print checks

Assessment of all misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions and plea agreements (even if adjudication was withheld) of all individuals applying for licensure on a case by case basis to determine board action

Psychological evaluation for all individuals convicted of a sexual offense involving a minor or performing a sexual act against the will of another person. This evaluation should be performed by a qualified expert approved by the board. If the evaluation reveals a diagnosis or equivalent classification of sexual predator or pedophilia the board should deny licensure.

1999 UCLR Chemical Dependency and Functional

Abilities Requirements: RN and LPN/VN

• CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY– Self report regarding any drug-related behavior

that affects the candidate's ability to provide safe and effective nursing care.

• FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES - Eliminated– Self report regarding any functional ability deficit that

would require accommodation to perform essential nursing functions.

Revised ULR Additional Public Protection Requirements: Substance Use Disorders

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of any substance use disorder in the last 5 years.

Verification of any applicant for licensure who may be impaired by drugs or alcohol that affects her/his ability to practice nursing safely.

Revised ULR Additional Public Protection Requirements:

Other licenses, certifications, registrations

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of any actions taken or initiated against a professional or occupational license, registration or certification.

Identification of any actions taken or initiated against a professional or occupational license, registration or certification and consideration of the individual’s ability to practice nursing safely.

B. Renewal/Reinstatement Requirements

Revised ULR Criminal Background Check

Applicant Responsibility Board DutySelf disclosure of all misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions and plea agreements (even if adjudication was withheld) not previously reported to the board.

Verification of all misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions and plea agreements (even if adjudication was withheld) not previously reported to the board for determination of eligibility for renewal or reinstatement of licensure.

State and federal fingerprint checks using automatic criminal background feedback system (such as Rap-Back).

Psychological evaluation for all individuals convicted of a sexual offense involving a minor or performing a sexual act against the will of another person. This evaluation should be performed by a qualified expert approved by the board. If the evaluation reveals a diagnosis or equivalent classification of sexual predator or pedophilia the board should deny licensure.

Examine all other charges on a case by case basis

Revised ULR Substance Use Disorders

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of any substance use disorder in the last 5 years.

Verification of any applicant for renewal or reinstatement of licensure who may be impaired by drugs or alcohol that affects her/his ability to practice nursing safely.

Revised ULR Nursing Disciplinary Actions

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of any Member Board action taken on a nursing license or current/pending investigation by a Member Board.

Verification of any Member Board action taken on a nursing license or current/pending investigation by a Member Board.

Check Nursys for discipline in other jurisdictions.

Revised ULR Other licenses, certifications, registrations

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of any actions taken or initiated against a professional or occupational license, registration or certification not previously reported to the board.

Review of any actions taken or initiated against a professional or occupational license, registration or certification not previously reported to the board and consideration of the individual’s ability to practice nursing safely.

C. Endorsement Requirements

Revised ULR Education, Exam and Licensure Verification

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Completion of a Member Board approved RN or PN prelicensure education program.

Successful passage of the NCLEX/State Board Test Pool Exam.

Self disclosure of status of all nursing licenses (includes any board actions taken or any current or pending investigations by a Member Board)

Self disclosure of participation in an alternative to discipline program in any jurisdiction

Verification of education.

Verification of successful passage of the NCLEX/State Board Test Pool Exam.

Verification of all nursing licenses.

Revised ULR Criminal Background Check

Applicant Responsibility Board DutySelf disclosure of all misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions and plea agreements (even if adjudication was withheld).

Verification of all misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions and plea agreements (even if adjudication was withheld) of all individuals applying for licensure.

State and federal fingerprint checks.

Psychological evaluation for all individuals convicted of a sexual offense involving a minor or performing a sexual act against the will of another person. This evaluation should be performed by a qualified expert approved by the board. If the evaluation reveals a diagnosis or equivalent classification of sexual predator or pedophilia the board should deny licensure.

All other convictions should be determined on a case by case basis.

Revised ULR Substance Use Disorders

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of a substance use disorder within the last 5 years

Verification of any applicant for licensure who may be impaired by drugs or alcohol that affects her/his ability to practice nursing safely.

Revised ULR Other licenses, certifications, registrations

Applicant Responsibility Board Duty

Self disclosure of any actions taken or initiated against a professional or occupational license, registration or certification not previously reported to the board.

Verification of any actions taken or initiated against a professional or occupational license, registration or certification and consideration of the individual’s ability to practice nursing safely.

Additional Recommendations

• Language has been changed to “Member Board”, as defined in the ULR definitions, to include all jurisdictions.

• Requirements apply to full members of NCSBN only, not associate members, as defined by NCSBN.

• Administrative code regulations such as child support, payment of taxes, school loans, etc. are not included in these licensure requirements as these are state specific and do not solely apply to the board of nursing.

Thank you for your attention!