What Is The Role Of The State Board Of Nursing?

Your state board of nursing controls whether you can practice, what your license requires, and what happens if a complaint is filed against you. Here is what every nurse and nursing student needs to know about how these boards work.

What a Board of Nursing Does

State boards of nursing (BONs) oversee the administrative side of nurse licensing in each state.

All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, have their own boards of nursing. Together they make up the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which administers the NCLEX-RN, the exam every prospective RN must pass before practicing.

Licensure and the board exam exist to confirm nurses are competent and stay current. Some rules are the same everywhere, like passing the NCLEX-RN. Others vary by state, so check your own board for the requirements that apply to you.

The Four Main Functions

A board of nursing evaluates license applications, issues licenses, renews licenses, and disciplines misconduct.

• Evaluating applications: The board confirms applicants have the right education, passed the NCLEX-RN, and cleared a background check.
• Issuing licenses: The board issues licenses and maintains a public list of licensed nurses that employers and the public can verify.
• Renewing licenses: Renewal requires continuing education and good standing. Each board sets its own requirements.
• Discipline: When a nurse is accused of violating the law or nursing regulations, the board investigates and can act, from a reprimand to revoking the license.

How State Nursing Regulations Work

The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is the state law that sets license requirements, defines scope of practice, establishes license types, and determines how the board itself is structured and what it does. The board enforces the NPA through state-specific rules on licensure and scope of practice.

NPAs share common ground across states but differ in the details. To practice in a state, you must meet that state's requirements and follow its NPA.

How the NPA and the Board Connect

The NPA gives each board authority to write additional administrative rules that clarify the law's statutes. Those rules have to stay within the spirit of the NPA and cannot exceed what the law allows.

Once enacted, board rules carry the force of law. Nurses and other stakeholders can submit written comments or take part in hearings, so it pays to know your board and follow its actions.

Why Nurses Need a License

Like any profession that affects public health and safety, nursing requires a license. Licensure confirms a nurse has the knowledge and skills to practice safely and hold to ethical standards.

It also cuts administrative work for employers. The board centralizes credential verification and acts as an impartial body for reviewing complaints and disciplining misconduct, which protects institutions and the patients in their care.

How Nurses Become Licensed

Requirements and application steps differ by state, but the core is consistent. Every nurse graduates from an accredited program, passes the NCLEX-RN, and submits an application plus a background check. Application fees usually run $100 to $300.

After licensure, nurses renew on a regular cycle by completing approved continuing education. Common options include attending professional conferences, taking courses tied to nursing practice, and publishing in a peer-reviewed journal.

What Happens If a License Lapses

A nurse who keeps practicing after failing to renew is practicing without a license, a crime that exposes both the nurse and the employer to serious penalties.

If a license lapses because a nurse stopped practicing for a long stretch, the board may require a refresher course before they can return. Requirements vary by state, and a board can issue temporary waivers so nurses with recently lapsed licenses can work during emergencies.

Board of Nursing vs. American Nurses Association

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a national membership organization that represents nurses and the profession. Membership is voluntary and has nothing to do with licensure.

The difference is authority. The board of nursing is a government body that controls licenses. The ANA is an influential voice, and boards often weigh its recommendations, but it has no legal authority over your license.