New York Nursing License Guide (2026)

New York has the fourth-largest nursing workforce in the country, with over 300,000 licensed RNs. The state’s licensing system works differently than most—instead of a Board of Nursing, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) handles everything. Here’s what you need to know about getting licensed in the Empire State.

Understanding NYSED

Unlike most states with independent Boards of Nursing, New York regulates nursing through NYSED’s Office of the Professions.

NYSED Contact Information

Detail	Information
Agency	New York State Education Department
Division	Office of the Professions
Website	op.nysed.gov
Phone	(518) 474-3817 ext. 280
Address	89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234

What This Means for You

• License applications go through NYSED, not a nursing board
• All healthcare professions use the same portal and processes
• Policy decisions come from the Board of Regents, not nurses specifically
• Response times can be longer due to centralized processing

New York RN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Eligibility requirements:

• Graduate from NYSED-registered or approved nursing program
• Complete required curriculum including theory and clinical hours
• Meet English proficiency requirements (if educated outside US)

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Create NYSED account	Free
2	Submit Form 1 (Application)	$143
3	Submit Form 2 (Certification of Professional Education)	—
4	Complete fingerprinting	~$100
5	Receive ATT from NYSED	—
6	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
7	Pass NCLEX-RN	—
8	Receive license number	—

Timeline:

• Application processing: 4-8 weeks (for complete applications)
• Fingerprint clearance: 2-4 weeks
• NCLEX scheduling: Within 30 days of ATT
• License issuance: 1-3 weeks after passing

Total time to license: 2-4 months from application submission

Endorsement (From Another State)

If you’re already licensed as an RN in another state, you’ll apply for licensure by endorsement.

Eligibility requirements:

• Active RN license in another US state or territory
• Graduation from program substantially equivalent to NY requirements
• No disciplinary actions or pending investigations
• Complete background check

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit Form 1 (Application)	$143
2	Request license verification from original state	Varies
3	Submit proof of education (transcripts may be required)	Varies
4	Complete fingerprinting	~$100
5	Await NYSED review	—
6	Receive New York license	—

Timeline: 8-12 weeks for complete applications

RN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial application	$143
Triennial registration	$50
Limited permit (if eligible)	$35
Duplicate license	$28
Verification to another state	$35

RN Registration Requirements

New York uses “registration” instead of “renewal”:

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Every 3 years (triennial)
CE hours	None required (New York has no mandatory CE)
Fee	$50
Late penalty	License lapses; must apply for restoration

Important: New York is one of the few states with NO mandatory continuing education for RN license maintenance. However, many employers and certifications require CE regardless.

Limited Permits

New York offers limited permits that allow practice while awaiting full licensure.

Graduate Limited Permit

For new graduates awaiting NCLEX results:

Detail	Requirement
Eligibility	Completed approved nursing program, application pending
Duration	1 year (non-renewable)
Supervision	Must work under RN supervision
Fee	$35
Expires	Upon licensure or 1 year, whichever comes first

Endorsement Limited Permit

For nurses from other states awaiting New York license:

Detail	Requirement
Eligibility	Active license in another state, endorsement application pending
Duration	1 year (may be renewable)
Supervision	May practice without direct supervision
Fee	$35

Limited permits let you start working while NYSED processes your full license.

New York LPN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Requirements:

• Graduate from NYSED-approved practical nursing program
• Complete required clinical hours
• Pass criminal background check

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit application	$71
2	Submit education certification	—
3	Complete fingerprinting	~$100
4	Receive ATT	—
5	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
6	Pass NCLEX-PN	—

Timeline: 2-3 months total

LPN Endorsement

Requirements:

• Active LPN/LVN license in another state
• Equivalent education to New York standards
• Background check

Timeline: 6-10 weeks

LPN Fees

Fee Type	Amount
Initial application	$71
Triennial registration	$30
Limited permit	$35

New York NP and APRN Licenses

New York authorizes Nurse Practitioners as a separate licensure category, not just a certification added to RN license.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Requirements:

• Active New York RN license
• Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with NP preparation
• National certification in specialty area
• Collaborative practice agreement (for prescriptive authority)

Application:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Hold active NY RN license	—
2	Submit NP application	$143
3	Submit proof of graduate education	—
4	Submit national certification	—
5	Await NYSED approval	—

Practice authority:

• New York requires collaborative agreements with physicians
• NPs cannot practice fully independently
• Prescriptive authority requires additional application

Prescriptive Authority

NPs seeking to prescribe must:

1. Complete 3-hour pharmacology/controlled substance course
2. Submit prescriptive authority application
3. Establish written collaborative agreement
4. Register with DEA for controlled substances

Collaborative agreement requirements:

• Written practice agreement with physician
• Quality assurance reviews
• Defined scope of practice
• Documentation of collaboration process

Other APRN Roles

Role	New York Status
CNM	Licensed; collaborative practice required
CRNA	Licensed; physician supervision required
CNS	Certificate of specialization (not separate license)

New York Compact Status

New York is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Current Legislation

Senate Bill S.3916 would authorize New York to join the NLC. As of 2026:

• Bill introduced but not yet passed
• Faces opposition from some nursing unions
• No immediate timeline for adoption

What This Means

Factor	Impact
Working in NY	Must obtain New York license
Holding multistate license	Does not allow NY practice
Telehealth into NY	Must be licensed in NY
Travel nursing	Need separate NY license

If you’re coming from a compact state, your multistate license won’t work in New York. Plan ahead for endorsement processing time.

Background Checks

All New York nursing applicants must complete fingerprint-based background checks.

Process

1. Receive fingerprint authorization from NYSED
2. Schedule appointment through IdentoGO
3. Complete fingerprinting (~$100)
4. Results sent directly to NYSED
5. NYSED reviews and clears

Timeline: 2-4 weeks for clearance

Criminal History Considerations

New York evaluates applicants with criminal history individually. Factors considered:

• Nature and severity of offense
• Time elapsed since conviction
• Evidence of rehabilitation
• Relationship to nursing practice
• Number of offenses

Arrests without conviction generally don’t affect licensure. Convictions require disclosure and additional documentation.

International Graduates

New York has specific requirements for internationally-educated nurses.

Pathway

Step	Requirement
1	Credential evaluation (CGFNS or approved agency)
2	Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent)
3	Verification of nursing education
4	Standard application to NYSED
5	NCLEX-RN

English Proficiency Options

Test	Minimum Scores
TOEFL iBT	83 overall (reading 20, speaking 20, listening 20, writing 20)
IELTS Academic	6.5 overall (6.5 each section)
PTE Academic	53 overall

Exempt if educated in English-speaking country or completed degree taught in English.

CGFNS Requirements

Most international applicants need:

• CGFNS Certification Program, OR
• VisaScreen Certificate, OR
• Credential evaluation from NYSED-approved agency

Processing takes 3-6 months. Start early.

New York vs. Other Major States

How does New York compare to other large nursing states?

Factor	New York	California	Texas	Florida
Compact member	No	No	Yes	Yes
Processing time	8-12 weeks	6-12 weeks	2-3 weeks	2-3 weeks
Mandatory CE	No	Yes (30 hrs)	Yes (20 hrs)	Yes (24 hrs)
Application fee	$143	$100	$95	$110
Renewal cycle	3 years	2 years	2 years	2 years

New York’s longer processing times and non-compact status make it one of the slower states for licensing. Plan accordingly.

Application Tips

Speed Up Processing

1. Submit complete applications — Missing documents cause significant delays
2. Use online portal — NYSED Online Services is faster than paper
3. Order transcripts early — Schools can take weeks
4. Schedule fingerprints immediately — Don’t wait for NYSED request
5. Respond quickly — To any NYSED correspondence
6. Consider limited permit — Work while waiting for full license

Common Mistakes

1. Submitting Form 1 without Form 2
2. Using unofficial transcripts
3. Missing fingerprint deadline
4. Not disclosing prior disciplinary actions
5. Incomplete foreign credential evaluation
6. Wrong license type application

Check Application Status

Track your application at: op.nysed.gov (Application Status)

You can check:

• Application received date
• Missing documents
• Review status
• Expected processing time

Working in New York

Employment Landscape

New York offers diverse nursing opportunities:

Setting	Notes
NYC hospitals	Competitive, often union, strong benefits
Upstate hospitals	Less competitive, good work-life balance
Long-term care	High demand, especially upstate
Home health	Growing sector
Travel nursing	Premium rates for NYC assignments

Salary Overview

Role	NYC Metro	Upstate NY
RN (median)	$95,000	$75,000
LPN (median)	$55,000	$48,000
NP (median)	$125,000	$110,000

NYC salaries are higher but cost of living significantly offsets the difference.

Union Presence

Many New York healthcare facilities are unionized:

• NYSNA (New York State Nurses Association)
• 1199SEIU

Unions negotiate wages, staffing ratios, and working conditions. Benefits and pay scales are often standardized within union facilities.

Key Takeaways

• NYSED handles licensing — Not a separate Board of Nursing
• Not a compact state — Need NY-specific license regardless of other licenses
• No mandatory CE — One of few states without CE requirements
• Longer processing times — Plan 8-12 weeks for endorsement
• Limited permits available — Can work while waiting for full license
• 3-year registration cycle — Triennial instead of biennial

Next Steps

Ready to get your New York nursing license?

1. Create NYSED account — op.nysed.gov
2. Gather documents — Transcripts, verifications, ID
3. Schedule fingerprints — Through IdentoGO
4. Submit application — Forms 1 and 2 together
5. Consider limited permit — If you need to work immediately

Check our New York state page for additional details, or explore state-by-state licensing requirements if you’re coming from another state.

New York’s licensing process requires patience, but the state offers excellent nursing opportunities with competitive salaries and strong workplace protections. Start your application early and submit complete documentation for the smoothest path to practicing in New York.