Applicant Frequently Asked Questions

All applicants are required to submit fingerprints for purposes of conducting a criminal history record check. Please visit our Fingerprint Information page for additional details and instructions.

If eight or more years have passed following the expiration date of your license and you do not presently hold a current and active registered nurse license in another state or U.S. territory, you are required to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) before your license can be reinstated. The NCLEX-RN is required to determine current clinical knowledge and fitness to resume the practice of registered nursing. For information on retaking the NCLEX-RN examination, please visit our 8-Year Retake page. If eight or more years have passed following the expiration date of your license and you presently hold a current and active registered nurse license in another state or U.S. territory, you do not have to re-take the NCLEX-RN. For information on how to renew your license, please refer to the 8-Year Renewal section of our website.

Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes. Contacting the Board before the indicated timeframe can cause additional delays. Processing timeframes may vary during graduation season.

Documents on file at the Board
Registration at Pearson VUE
Personal official identification
Authorization to Test (ATT)

Please refer to our Name/Change in Address of Record page for instructions on submitting your changes to the Board.

Licensure by Examination

Processing time depends on when the Board receives all required documents from schools, agencies, and other states. Prior convictions and special testing accommodations for disabilities may delay the process. Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes. If you have not received any correspondence from the Board and your application has exceeded the timeframe indicated, please contact the Board.

The NCLEX-RN examination is a Computerized Adaptive Test (CAT) designed to test knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry level. For detailed NCLEX-RN information please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website.

The examination registration fee is $200. If you choose to schedule your NCLEX-RN examination at any of the international test centers, you will have to pay an additional international scheduling fee of $150 plus a Value Added Tax (VAT) where applicable. These fees will be charged when you schedule your examination appointment. For additional NCLEX-RN examination information please visit the Pearson VUE website.

After the Board determines that you are eligible to test, you will receive an Authorization to Test by email from Pearson VUE (the organization that provides test administration and services test development). You must have your ATT to schedule an appointment to take the NCLEX-RN examination. Additionally, at the testing center, you must present acceptable identification to be admitted to the test. The name on your photo identification must match EXACTLY with your name that is on file with both the Board and with Pearson VUE.

The NCLEX-RN examination is administered at any Pearson Professional Center (PPC) located in the U.S. or its territories. Additionally, international testing centers are located in Australia, Canada, England, Germany (temporarily not testing at this location), Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, and Taiwan. For specific testing center information please visit the Pearson VUE website.

Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes. California candidates may access their unofficial results two business days after taking the exam, by purchasing Quick Results from Pearson VUE. You can order and pay for these results through your online Pearson VUE account, selecting the option “Quick Results” from the tool bar on the Home Page.

Candidates who fail the examination will receive a Candidate Performance Report (CPR). This report identifies the candidate's performance on the examination, provides the number of items administered to the candidate, and a summary of the candidate's relative strengths and weaknesses.

Please refer to our Repeat/Reapply for Examination page for instructions. If you do not pass the exam, test results will be sent by mail (see Processing Times), along with instructions on how to reapply.

If submitting your Application for Licensure by Examination by mail, check the "Request for Interim Permit" box and add an additional $100 to your total payment. If applying for licensure online, choose "Yes" from the corresponding dropdown menu when asked if you are requesting an Interim Permit. An additional $100 will be added to your application fee.

Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes. The Board must receive and process the fingerprint results from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before an Interim Permit is issued. If fingerprint requirements have been met and you have submitted your Interim Permit application, your $100 fee, and have received your eligibility notice for the NCLEX-RN, you may access the BreEZe License Verification system to check if your Interim Permit has been issued. An Interim Permit is valid for six months, or until the results of the first NCLEX-RN are received, whichever occurs first.

Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes.

A Request for Accommodation of Disabilities form must be submitted to the Board along with the application for licensure.

Licensure by Endorsement

Endorsement is the licensure method for registered nurses who hold a current and active license in another state, U.S. territory, or Canada. The endorsement applicant must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE), or the five-part Canadian examination (prior to 1980). The Canadian Comprehensive Examination is not acceptable. For additional endorsement information, please visit our Licensure by Endorsement page. If you have not taken one of these three examinations, you are not eligible for endorsement and must apply for Licensure by Examination.

In order to endorse, you must have a current and active license in another state and meet all other licensure requirements. Contact your state's nursing board and inquire as to the steps necessary to reactivate your license.

Nursys® is an online license verification system used to convey licensing and discipline information between state boards. At its September 23, 2010 Board meeting, Board members voted for the California BRN to contract with National Council of State Boards of Nursing to electronically share licensing information on a daily basis to Nursys®. The BRN is a participating member of Nursys® which allows the public to verify a nurse license, check discipline status, or see if a nurse is licensed in more than one state.

Visit the Nursys® website and follow the instructions to complete the online application. Payment is made by credit card. Once the application is complete and the credit card payment approved, the verification is posted immediately.

You may apply for a temporary license at the same time that you apply for licensure by endorsement or at any time prior to the issuance of a permanent registered nursing license. A temporary license is valid for a period of six months, allowing an applicant to work pending issuance of a permanent RN license. Please visit our Licensure by Endorsement page for application instructions. The Board must receive and process fingerprint results from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before a temporary license is issued. There may be a delay if the application or fingerprint results indicate a prior conviction(s) or other basis for denial. Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes.

You may access the BreEZe License Verification system to check if your temporary license has been issued.

Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes. Processing times depend on when the Board receives all required documents from schools, agencies, and other states or countries. Prior convictions or disciplinary actions may delay the process. Delays may also occur with the fingerprint processing at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Please note that the Board must receive and process the fingerprint results from the DOJ and the FBI before an interim permit, a temporary license, or a permanent RN license are issued.

Due to the implementation of the BreEZe system, we will no longer be able to issue temporary licenses at the Board’s office. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Advanced Practice Certification

Please visit our Advanced Practice Certification page for information and instructions on applying for Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Anesthetist (NA), Nurse-Midwife/Furnishing (NMW/NMF), Nurse Practitioner/Furnishing (NP/NPF), Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse (PMH), or Public Health Nurse (PHN) certifications.

International Graduates

California Code of Regulations Section 1413 states that the Board may request the applicant to take the English comprehension examination (TOEFL) if there is reasonable doubt of an applicant’s ability to comprehend the English language. The Board will also request TOEFL from the applicant if they completed their initial nursing program where the language of instruction was not in English. For additional information please visit the TOEFL website.

The Board of Registered Nursing requires the following minimum passing scores for TOEFL in each of the following sections:

TOEFL Section	Minimum Score
Reading	22
Listening	22
Speaking	26
Writing	22

Reporting Disciplinary Actions

Explanation of the current law on how BRN evaluates license discipline and criminal convictions can be found in the BRN Applicant Webinar.

As of July 1, 2020, applicants will no longer be asked about prior criminal conviction history. Criminal history will be discovered upon receipt of fingerprint results. All applicants with a history of criminal conviction will have their applications referred for an additional Enforcement Division review. Convictions within seven years from the date of application will receive a full enforcement review. The Board will not take action on any convictions that have been expunged under Penal Code section 1203.4 or dismissed; including expunged convictions within the seven years. The Board will not take action on convictions older than seven years, with exceptions. If the applicant was convicted of a serious felony as defined in section 1192.7 of the Penal Code or a crime for which registration is required pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of section 290 of the Penal Code, the BRN will consider the conviction even if it is more than seven years ago.

All prior or current disciplinary action against any other professional license must be reported, whether it occurred in California or in another state or territory. Applicants will be required to report prior formal discipline against another professional license.

A certified copy of the licensing agency disciplinary order
A detailed description of the circumstances surrounding your license disciplinary action and a thorough description of the rehabilitative changes in your lifestyle since the time of your disciplinary action which would enable you to avoid future occurrences. It would be helpful to include factors in your life which you feel may have contributed to your disciplinary action, what you have learned about yourself since that time, and the changes you have made that support your rehabilitation.

The applicant may also submit any of the following optional documents in support of their application:

Recent work performance evaluations
Recent Letters from professionals in the community; for example, AA/NA sponsor, counselor, probation officer, employer, instructor, etc. who can address an awareness of your past misconduct and current rehabilitation; for example, use/non-use of alcohol/drugs. The letters must be signed by the author of the letter and dated within the last year.
If applicable to your conviction(s) or license discipline, documented evidence of professional treatment and counseling you may have completed. Please provide discharge summary, if available.
Letters of reference on official letterhead from employers, nursing instructors, health professionals, professional counselors, parole or probation officers, or other individuals in positions of authority who are knowledgeable about your rehabilitation efforts.
Proof of community work, schooling, and/or self-improvement efforts.

Yes. Applicants with discipline or criminal conviction records can be issued a license; however, for some applicants, the process may take longer due to the type of discipline and criminal convictions . The BRN reviews all prior convictions that are substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a registered nurse. Each application is evaluated on a case by case basis (please refer to the BRN Disciplinary Guidelines). The BRN considers the nature, severity, and recency of all offense(s), as well as rehabilitation and other factors. The BRN cannot make a determination for approval or denial of licensure without evaluating the entire application and supporting documentation. The BRN will not take action on convictions older than seven years or that have been expunged under Penal Code section 1203.4 and/or dismissed. The preceding seven-year limitation does not apply if the applicant was convicted of a serious felony as defined in section 1192.7 of the Penal Code or a crime for which registration is required pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of section 290 of the Penal Code.

The BRN will not consider any prior license discipline if that discipline is based on a criminal conviction older than seven years from the date of application or based on a conviction that has been expunged pursuant to 1203.4 or similar statute. The BRN may require the applicant to submit a certified copy of the court expungement or dismissal order.

No, there is not any one specific type of conviction that will disqualify an applicant. The Board must review, on a case by case basis, all convictions and supporting documentation to determine if an application will be approved or denied.

The BRN will not deny a license on the basis of an arrest that resulted in a disposition other than a conviction, including an arrest that resulted in an infraction, citation, or a juvenile adjudication.

Certified copies of Arrest or Investigation Records from the arresting agency (Police, Sheriff, CHP, Campus Police Dept., etc.) For DUI’s, this includes evidence of the blood alcohol content, toxicology report, and Collision Report, if applicable.
Certified copy of court disposition record; usually titled “Final Minute Order”. This court record will show the final conviction charges, the sentencing information, and information showing completion of sentence.
The Enforcement Division review and decision is dependent on the receipt of records. Depending on the agency, it may take several weeks for the arresting agencies and courts to respond.
If the conviction has been dismissed or expunged, and the dismissal does not show on the fingerprint results, the applicant shall supply a certified copy of the final court order verifying the dismissal or expungement.

The Board is responsible for obtaining certified court documents and arrest reports related to your prior conviction sustained within the past seven years from the date of your application. The Board does not require applicants to submit these documents. You may voluntarily provide these documents and upload them to your application.

Applications received with certified arrest and certified court records may have significantly shorter wait times.