Skip to content
Nurse License Guide

New York Nursing License Lookup

Verify any New York (NY) registered nurse license for free. Below is the official New York State Board for Nursing lookup tool plus a step-by-step guide on how to use it.

NLC Pending

Official New York License Verification

Hosted by the New York State Board for Nursing. The board's own record is authoritative; check any update date shown or contact the board about recent changes.

For New York State (NYS) nurse license verification, use the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of the Professions search. Official verification guidance

Open New York License Lookup

Official source: New York State Board for Nursing

Get New York renewal reminders + CE deadline alerts

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll need to look up a New York nurse license

  • The nurse's first and last name (exactly as registered), OR
  • The nurse's license number
  • No login or account required

How to look up a nurse license in New York

  1. 1

    Visit the New York Board of Nursing license verification tool (link above).

  2. 2

    Enter the nurse's first and last name exactly as registered, or enter the license number if you have it.

  3. 3

    Submit the search and review the results list.

  4. 4

    Click into the matching record to see license status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions.

What each license status means

Status Meaning
Active Licensed and currently eligible to practice.
Inactive Not currently practicing, but the license can be reactivated.
Lapsed / Expired License was not renewed on time; nurse cannot practice until renewed.
Suspended Disciplinary action in place; practice is temporarily prohibited.
Revoked License was permanently terminated by the state board.

Looking up a multistate compact license?

New York does not issue multistate compact licenses directly. If you're trying to verify a nurse who practices in New York under a multistate license from another NLC state, use Nursys QuickConfirm, the national database operated by NCSBN.

Open Nursys QuickConfirm

New York nurse aide (CNA) registry lookup

Looking up a certified nursing assistant? CNAs are not in the New York State Board for Nursing RN/LPN lookup. New York keeps a separate nurse aide registry, run by New York State Department of Health - Nurse Aide Registry, that shows certification status, expiration, and any findings of abuse or neglect.

Open the New York nurse aide registry → Registry phone: (518) 402-1020 New York CNA certification guide →

Getting licensed in New York?

Requirements, fees, processing times, and renewal rules for each New York nursing license.

Comparing states? Nursing license cost by state, cheapest RN license states, and fastest RN license states.

Checking for disciplinary actions

The New York State Board for Nursing lookup tool shows any disciplinary actions (suspensions, revocations, probation, consent orders) as part of the public record. If you need more detail on a specific disciplinary case, most state boards publish formal action documents on their enforcement page.

Visit the New York State Board for Nursing website →

New York License Lookup FAQs

How do I look up a nurse license in New York?
Use the official New York State Board for Nursing license verification tool. Enter the nurse's full name or license number to review the available license status, expiration, and disciplinary information. The board's own record is authoritative; check any update date shown and contact the board if information is unclear.
Is New York nursing license lookup free?
Yes. The New York State Board for Nursing provides free public license verification. There is no cost to search, and you do not need to create an account for a basic lookup.
What does each license status mean?
Active means the nurse is licensed and in good standing. Inactive means the license is not currently in use but may be reactivated. Lapsed or Expired means the license was not renewed on time. Suspended or Revoked means disciplinary action was taken by the board and the nurse cannot legally practice.
Can I use New York license lookup results for hiring decisions?
No. Information from this page and from state board lookup tools is for general reference only. It is not a consumer report and cannot be used to make employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions. Employers who need FCRA-compliant background checks should use a licensed consumer reporting agency.
How current is the license information in New York?
The New York State Board for Nursing maintains the authoritative record. Nursys, NCSBN's national database, shows what this board has submitted to it: NCSBN states that it posts information "when, and as, submitted by the individual boards of nursing" and displays the date each board last updated. That date is the one to check — NCSBN publishes no standard refresh interval, and submission gaps do happen. When a status matters for a decision, verify it against the board's own record.
How do I look up a CNA in New York?
Certified nursing assistants are listed on the New York nurse aide registry, run by New York State Department of Health - Nurse Aide Registry, not on the nursing board's RN/LPN lookup. Search the registry by name or certificate number to confirm the CNA is active and in good standing.
Can I look up a multistate (compact) license from New York?
New York is not currently a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so licenses issued in New York are single-state only. You can still verify the license through the New York State Board for Nursing directly.