Licensure
Nursing licensure, state by state.
The NCLEX is national. Your license is state. Application steps, fees, and NLC participation for every state.
The national exam, the state license
The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN are administered by NCSBN. They are the national licensing exams. But your actual license to practice is issued by a state Board of Nursing. Each state has its own application process, fee schedule, background-check rules, and renewal requirements.
Some states are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) ↗, which means one license covers practice in every NLC state. Others require a separate license per state. If you plan to travel, work telehealth across state lines, or move within the next five years, the NLC question matters a lot.
The full map
Every state guide (71)
California (5)
Best LVN-to-BSN Programs in California
If you are a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in California, an LVN-to-BSN bridge program is the fastest route to becoming a registered nurse with the degree m…
Best RN-to-MSN Programs in California
An RN-to-MSN program lets you turn clinical experience and an associate degree into a master of science in nursing without first earning a separate BSN. Most …
California's Top Nursing Schools & Programs
California pays registered nurses more than any other state, and demand keeps climbing. Here is what the top programs cost, how to get licensed, and what you …
The Best LVN Programs In California
California and Texas are the only two states that use the title LVN (licensed vocational nurse). Everywhere else the role is called LPN (licensed practical nu…
The Best Nurse Practitioner Programs In California
California pays nurse practitioners more than any other state, averaging about $166,610 a year against a national NP median near $132,000 (BLS, May 2024). Dem…
Florida (3)
Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs
Florida is one of the strongest states in the country for nurse practitioners, with high NP employment and steady demand for primary and specialty providers. …
Florida Nursing Schools And Programs
Florida is one of the top states in the country for nurse employment, and its large healthcare systems and aging population keep demand high. This guide cover…
The Top MSN Nursing Programs In Florida
A master of science in nursing (MSN) is the degree that moves you from bedside RN to nurse practitioner, nurse educator, nurse-midwife, or nurse administrator…
Indiana (2)
Indiana Nursing Schools And Programs
Indiana is a practical place to train as a nurse. Tuition runs below what neighboring states charge, the cost of living is low, and state schools post strong …
RN-to-MSN Programs in Indiana
An RN-to-MSN bridge lets you go from an associate degree or diploma straight to a master of science in nursing without stopping for a separate BSN. If you are…
Maryland (2)
Best Maryland Nurse Practitioner Programs
If you want to become a nurse practitioner in Maryland, the school you pick shapes your specialty options, your cost, and how fast you finish. Here are the st…
Maryland Nursing Schools And Programs
Maryland gives you a wide range of accredited nursing programs, from community college ADNs to doctoral work at Johns Hopkins. This guide covers the schools w…
Massachusetts (2)
Best Nurse Practitioner Programs In Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one of the best states in the country to practice as a nurse practitioner. The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks it in the top third for NP em…
Massachusetts Nursing Schools & Programs
Massachusetts pays RNs among the best wages in the country and anchors some of its top teaching hospitals, including Massachusetts General. That combination m…
Michigan (2)
Best Michigan RN To MSN Programs
Michigan's nursing shortage is opening doors for RNs ready to advance. If you already hold a BSN and an RN license, an MSN is the next step toward specializat…
Michigan Nursing Schools And Programs
Michigan has more than 75 state-approved ADN and BSN programs, which is a lot to sort through. This guide narrows it to the schools worth knowing, walks throu…
Mississippi (2)
Mississippi Nursing Schools And Programs
Mississippi pairs low tuition with the lowest cost of living in the country, so a nursing salary that looks modest on paper stretches further here than almost…
Top Mississippi MSN Programs + Online Options
Mississippi needs nurses. The state ranks last for healthcare access and outcomes, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health, and an MSN positio…
Missouri (3)
Missouri Nursing Schools And Programs
Missouri has nearly 70 associate and BSN programs, so the real task is narrowing the field, not finding options. This guide covers the accredited programs wor…
The Best Missouri Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
A nurse practitioner credential moves you from bedside care to primary care, treating patients across the lifespan. This guide covers Missouri's online and hy…
Top Medical Assisting Programs + Online Training Options in Missouri
Medical assisting is one of the faster-growing healthcare fields in Missouri. Certified medical assistants in the state now average roughly $40,000 to $43,000…
Jersey (2)
New Jersey MSN Programs
If you are an RN ready to move into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching, a master of science in nursing (MSN) is the next step. Here are New Jersey's M…
New Jersey Nursing Schools And Programs
New Jersey nurses are in demand and earn well above the national average, which makes the state a strong place to build a career. This guide covers top nurse …
York (5)
Best Nurse Practitioner Programs In New York 2026
New York is one of the top five states for nurse practitioner employment, and NPs here earn an average of $145,390 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 202…
New York Nursing Schools and Programs
New York has some of the highest nursing salaries in the country and a long list of accredited programs, from accelerated BSNs to doctoral tracks. This guide …
New York RN-to-MSN Programs
New York pays nurses among the highest wages in the country. As of May 2024, RNs in the state averaged about $100,130 a year and nurse practitioners about $14…
NYC Nursing Salaries
New York City employs more registered nurses than any other metro in the country, and it pays near the top of the national scale. The catch is cost of living:…
Online DNP Degree Programs In New York
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepares nurses for advanced roles such as nurse practitioner, and online programs let working nurses earn it without leavi…
Pennsylvania (2)
Best Nursing Programs And Schools In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania graduates strong nurses and employs a lot of them. From 2023 to 2024, 94 percent of the state's registered nursing students passed the NCLEX on t…
Pennsylvania Nursing Schools And Programs
Pennsylvania pairs a deep bench of nursing programs with one of the highest NCLEX-RN pass rates in the country. This guide walks through the strongest program…
Texas (2)
Texas Nursing Schools And Programs
Texas has hundreds of nursing programs across associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. This guide breaks down how to choose a program, why accred…
The Top Nurse Practitioner Programs In Texas
If you are an RN in Texas thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner, the state is one of the best places in the country to do it. Texas ranks second among …
Virginia (2)
The Best Virginia Nurse Practitioner Programs
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who hold graduate degrees and specialty licenses and provide primary and specialty care ac…
Virginia Nursing Schools And Programs
Virginia runs more than 60 nursing programs at the associate, bachelor's, and doctoral levels. This guide covers the state's programs, how to earn an RN or AP…