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Tennessee Nursing License
Modern nurses are not just assistants to doctors. On the contrary, they coordinate the care for all aspects of a client’s overall health and take responsibility for the patient’s full care.
To take care of their health and be in reliable hands, patients, as a rule, prefer licensed professional nurses. They, in fact, know their responsibilities better, have a good command of nursing material and are very skilled.
Thus, becoming a licensed nurse will be the best way to practice nursing. For that, you will need to obtain a Tennessee nursing license.
The Tennessee nursing license guide will explain you the licensing process step by step.
How do I apply for a Tennessee nursing license?
Before you get to apply for the Tennessee nursing license, you must complete appropriate education and pass the nursing exam.
Get nursing education
In Tennessee, a future nurse must enroll in an approved professional nursing program to earn his/her degree. There are loads of approved programs that suggest getting an Associate’s degree (AND) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN).
It is important to state that an Associate’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for the NCLEX-RN exam. What is more, a Bachelor’s degree is becoming more and more commonly preferred among employers and healthcare systems.
Nonetheless, if you have made up your mind to earn an AND, then it may be the start of your nursing career. In the future, in case you want, you can continue your education and earn a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree.
Apply for licensure
If you have graduated from a Tennessee nursing school, then the educational institution must communicate exam eligibility to the Board. This way, you will receive an application packet.
However, if you have graduate from a nursing school in other states of the US, then you should use a paper form for verification of educational requirements. In this case, you should request the application packet from the Board.
Fingerprinting
In Tennessee, the Tennessee Board of Nursing regulates the licensing process. The body requires having your fingerprints taken before you get your nursing license.
It is an essential part of the licensing process, without which the license application will be incomplete.
Follow this link for electronic fingerprinting.
Take and pass the examination
Another major requirement on the way of licensing is to take the NCLEX. It is the main guarantee for becoming a reliable and skilled nurse.
You should register for the exam beforehand. Click here to register and schedule the exam. Do not forget to pay $200 for each examination attempt.
Contact Information
Tennessee Board of Nursing
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243Mailing Address
665 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37243TEL: 615-532-5166
FAX: 615-741-7899
Continuing education
In the state of Tennessee, you must renew your nursing license every two years.
For license renewal, you should complete required continuing education. For this reason, you should select two items of the followings:
- Five hours of continuing education
- Current national certification
- Copy of satisfactory employer/peer/family member evaluation
- Copy of a contract of renewal
- Transcript of two nursing goals
- Volunteer work as a nurse
- Educating nursing students
- Relevant nursing article
- Completion of a nursing refresher course/comprehensive nursing orientation program
- Two hours of nursing credit
- Proof of successfully retaken NCLEX
Is Tennessee a compact state for nursing?
Yes, the state of Tennessee is a member of the Nurse License Compact (NLC). This means, that professional nurses, who hold a nursing license in other compact states, do not need to obtain a Tennessee license to practice there.
Note that a professional nurse with a multistate license must adhere to the laws of the state, where the patient is located.
Apply by endorsement
If you want to switch your primary residency and move to Tennessee, then you will need to apply by endorsement to use your license in Tennessee.
For application, you will need to present a copy of your diploma or transcript from your nursing program. In similar fashion, remember to attach your verification of licensure and a passport style photo.
You should pay $115 for application.
What states accept Tennessee nursing license?
As it was mentioned above, Tennessee is a member of the NLC. Accordingly, NLC member states will issue and accept multistate licenses, which allow a professional nurse to practice as a nurse.
How much is a Tennessee nursing license?
In the state of Tennessee, unlike in other states, there is no initial application fee. To obtain your Tennessee nursing license, you will only need to pay $200 for each examination attempt.
There will also be $115 fee for licensure by endorsement.
To clarify, this is only the amount of money you will need to pay for the licensing process.
Equally important is earning a nursing degree, which will definitely cost you more. Different nursing schools have different tuitions.
With this purpose in mind, there are several programs for students, who are of less privileged background. You may also be eligible for scholarships and financial aid programs.
