Graduate Nursing Licensure Requirements by State

Students, including prospective students, should review state licensure requirements for licensure as a nurse prior to applying to or enrolling in any of Regis College’s programs. Completion of a Regis College program does not guarantee eligibility for state licensure or receipt of a license.

An indication is provided below regarding whether Regis College’s program meets a state’s licensure requirements, does not meet a state’s licensure requirements, or if Regis College has not yet made a determination whether such program meets a state’s licensure requirements.

For states in which Regis College has not yet made a determination whether such program meets a state’s licensure requirements, please contact the state agencies listed in the table below.

Please be advised that you should determine whether the program will meet your state’s licensure requirements prior to enrolling in such program. This document is for information purposes only and cannot be relied upon as an official listing of state licensure requirements.

State Does the Program Meet the Educational Requirements? Licensure Requirements Website
Alabama Yes
  1. RN in Alabama
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Alabama Board of Nursing
Alaska Yes
  1. RN in Alaska
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Alaska Board of Nursing
Arizona Yes
  1. RN in Arizona or multistate license
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
    The Arizona Board of Nursing (AZ BON) has approved Regis College’s online Nursing programs. Regis College submitted a full self-study to the AZ BON and Regis’ online Nurse Practitioner faculty teaching Arizona students have secured Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) certification in Arizona.
    Consequently, Regis College is in full compliance with the AZ BON regulations related to its APRN program. Based on prior non-compliance issues that Regis has corrected, the AZ BON has censured the Regis APRN program from March 2019 to March 2024. This censure does not affect Regis' ability to offer the APRN program in Arizona or affect students' ability to sit for the licensure examination.
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Arizona State Board of Nursing
Arkansas Yes
  1. RN license in Arkansas or compact state
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. A minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours in direct clinical practice during the program.
  4. Criminal background check
  5. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Arkansas State Board of Nursing
California Yes
  1. Unencumbered current CA RN license Master's degree in specialty area
  2. Successful completion of certification exam in specialty area:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 California Board of Registered Nursing
Colorado Yes
  1. Unencumbered current CO RN license Master's degree in specialty area
  2. Successful completion of certification exam in specialty area:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Colorado Board of Nursing
Connecticut Yes
  1. Unencumbered current CT RN license Master's degree in specialty area
  2. Successful completion of certification exam in specialty area:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing
Delaware Yes
  1. Hold an active RN license either in Delaware or a compact state
  2. Master’s degree in nursing - graduate from specialty program within last two years
  3. To practice as an APRN in Delaware you must have a collaborative agreement only if you have practiced as an APRN less than two years or fewer than 4,000 hours. If you are required to have a collaborative agreement, you are not allowed to start practicing as an APRN in Delaware until your APRN license has been issued
  4. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) License
District of Columbia Yes
  1. RN license in DC
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. Passport photos
  4. Criminal background check
  5. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 DC Health
Florida Yes
  1. Unencumbered current FL RN License Master's degree in specialty area
  2. Successful completion of certification exam:
    • ANCC,
    • NCC,
    • NBPNP
  3. Proof of Malpractice insurance Electronic Fingerprinting
 Florida Board of Nursing
Georgia Yes
  1. Must hold a Georgia state RN license
  2. Master’s degree with transcript showing advanced pharmacology, physical assessment and pathophysiology Must submit a paper application
  3. Submit proof of US citizenship status (driver’s license or passport)
  4. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • AANP
    • PNCB
 Georgia Board of Nursing
Hawaii Yes
  1. RN license in Hawaii
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Idaho Yes
  1. RN license in Idaho
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 State of Idaho Board of Nursing
Illinois Yes
  1. An applicant for licensure as an advanced practice nurse shall file an application on forms provided by the Division. The application shall include: Current Illinois registered professional nurse license number.
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Proof of current national certification from one of the following:
    • AANP
    • ANCC (CNS)
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Illinois Nursing Workforce Center
Indiana Yes
  1. Current Indiana RN license or compact state license
  2. Successful completion of graduate program – submit transcripts Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Indiana State Board of Nursing
Iowa Yes
  1. RN license in Iowa
  2. Master’s degree or higher in nursing
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Iowa Board of Nursing
Kansas Yes
  1. Hold a current RN license in Kansas Master's degree
  2. Confirmed that 500 hours are needed for each clinical track – per KS BON 11/22/16
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Kansas Board of Nursing
Kentucky Yes
  1. Current RN license in Kentucky or compact state
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Fingerprint card and national background check Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Kentucky Board of Nursing​
Louisiana No Regis is not authorized to enroll students from Louisiana in our nursing programs. Only students who complete Regis' program and clinical placements entirely outside of Louisiana (in another state) may apply for licensure after graduation. Please contact the Louisiana Board of Nursing with questions. Louisiana Center for Nursing
Maine Yes
  1. Unencumbered current Maine RN license or compact license Master's degree in area of specialization
  2. Successfully complete certification within five years of graduation:
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
    • AANP
  3. 45 hours of Pharmacology
 Maine State Board of Nursing
Maryland Yes
  1. RN license in Maryland or compact state
  2. Master’s degree – sealed official transcripts required
  3. Copy of current national certification OR letter of eligibility to take the certification exam:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
  4. Effective October 1, 2015: If you have never been certified in Maryland or any other state you are required to have a Mentor for 18 months from the date of application. Your Mentor must be a Maryland licensed Nurse Practitioner or Physician with a license in good standing.
 Maryland Board of Nursing
Massachusetts Yes
  1. Unencumbered current MA RN License Master's degree in specialty area
  2. Good Moral Character form
  3. Completion of Advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology
  4. Successful completion of certification exam:
    • AANC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
Michigan Yes
  1. Good moral character
  2. Holds a current Michigan RN license Successful completion of certification exam:
    • AANC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Michigan Board of Nursing
Mississippi Yes
  1. Current RN in Mississippi
  2. Graduated from a nationally approved school of nursing with a Master’s degree or higher;
  3. Taken and passed a national certification exam in the specialty area of practice:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
  4. Completed a 720 hours residency that was monitored by either a licensed physician or certified APRN and evidence of this must be submitted to the Board of Nursing and accepted in order to begin unmonitored practice and be eligible to apply for controlled substance privilege;
 Mississippi Board of Nursing
Missouri Yes
  1. Current RN license in Missouri or compact state
  2. Master’s degree
  3. National certification in area of specialty from:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
  4. Notarized application
 Missouri Board of Nursing
Montana Yes
  1. Current Montana RN license, or a compact state
  2. Official transcript, with degree awarded and date degree was conferred, is sent from the advanced nursing educational program directly to the Montana Board of Nursing
  3. Evidence of preceptorship is sent from the educational institution directly to the Montana Board of Nursing
  4. National certification in the APRN role and population focus:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
  5. Fingerprint and background check
 Montana Board of Nursing
Minnesota Yes
  1. Have a current Minnesota Registered Nurse (RN) license or eligibility for licensure
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Current certification by a national certifying body:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Minnesota Board of Nursing
Nebraska Yes
  1. Current RN in Nebraska or compact state
  2. Master’s degree
  3. National certification in area of specialty:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PNCB
 Nurse Licensing
Nevada Yes
  1. Active RN license in NV
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
    • AANP
 Nevada State Board of Nursing
New Hampshire Yes
  1. Hold a current and unencumbered RN license issued by the NH board or a multi- state license issued by another compact state
  2. Master's degree in area of specialization Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 New Hampshire Board of Nursing
New Jersey Yes
  1. Hold a current and unencumbered RN license issued;
  2. Master's degree in area of specialization Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 New Jersey Board of Nursing
New Mexico Yes
  1. Hold a current and unencumbered RN license in NM or hold a compact-multi-state RN license; Master's degree
  2. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 New Mexico Board of Nursing
New York No Regis is not authorized to enroll students from New York in our nursing program. Only students who complete Regis' program and clinical placements entirely outside of New York (in another state) may apply for licensure after graduation. Please contact the NY Board of Nursing with questions. New York Office of the Professions: Nursing
North Carolina Yes
  1. Master’s degree or higher
  2. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 North Carolina Board of Nursing
North Dakota Yes
  1. Active RN license in ND or compact state
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
  4. Criminal background check
 North Dakota Board of Nursing
Ohio Yes
  1. RN license in Ohio
  2. Master’s degree – transcripts required Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Ohio Board of Nursing
Oklahoma Yes
  1. RN license in Oklahoma
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
  4. Submit a written statement from an Oklahoma licensed physician supervising prescriptive authority as required by the Board in its rules;
 Oklahoma Board of Nursing
Oregon No Regis is not authorized to enroll students from Oregon in our nursing program. Only students who complete Regis' program and clinical placements entirely outside of Oregon (in another state) may apply for licensure after graduation. Please contact the Oregon Board of Nursing with questions. Oregon State Board of Nursing
Pennsylvania Yes
  1. Active RN license in Pennsylvania
  2. Master’s degree – transcripts required Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Pennsylvania Department of State: Professional Licensing
Rhode Island Yes
  1. Hold a current and unencumbered RN license issued by the RI board or a multi- state license issued by another compact state;
  2. Master's degree in area of specialization Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Rhode Island Department of Health: Licensing
South Carolina Yes
  1. RN license in SC
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Holds current specialty certification by a board-approved credentialing organization:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 South Carolina Board of Nursing
South Dakota Yes
  1. RN license in SD or compact state
  2. Master’s Degree – with transcripts
  3. Certified background check with fingerprints Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 South Dakota Board of Nursing
Tennessee No Regis is not authorized to enroll students from Tennessee in our nursing program. Only students who complete Regis' program and clinical placements entirely outside of Tennessee (in another state) may apply for licensure after graduation. Please contact the TN Board of Nursing with questions. Board of Nursing
Texas Yes
  1. RN license in Texas or have a current valid RN license with multistate privilege
  2. Master’s degree or higher
  3. Minimum of 500 separate, non-duplicated clinical hours for each advanced role and specialty within the advanced educational program.
  4. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Texas Board of Nursing
Utah Yes
  1. Hold a current and unencumbered RN license issued by the board or a multi-state license issued by another compact state;
  2. Master's degree in area of specialization
  3. Successfully complete certification through a national certifying agency If not successful within five years need to repeat a new program:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
  4. Psych – 1000 clinical hours required
  5. Need 3000 hours within five years of graduation
 Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing: Nursing
Vermont Yes
  1. Unencumbered current VT RN license Master's degree in area of specialization
  2. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Vermont State Board of Nursing
Virginia Yes
  1. Hold a current, active license as a RN in Virginia or hold a current multistate licensure privilege as a registered nurse;
  2. Graduate degree in nursing or in the appropriate nurse practitioner specialty from an educational program designed to prepare nurse practitioners that is an approved program.
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 Virginia Board of Nursing
Washington Yes
  1. Unencumbered current Washington RN license Master's degree in specialty area
  2. Official transcripts from institution where graduate degree obtained Successful completion of certification exam in specialty area:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
  3. Regis College is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to conduct practice experiences in the state of
    Washington for the MSN, DNP, and Post Master’s Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs.
 Nursing Commission
West Virginia Yes
  1. Hold a current, active license as RN in West Virginia or hold a current multistate licensure privilege as a registered nurse;
  2. Graduate degree in nursing or in the appropriate nurse practitioner specialty from an educational program designed to prepare nurse practitioners that is an approved program
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
 West Virginia RN Board
Wisconsin Yes
  1. RN license in Wisconsin or compact state
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • AANP
    • ANCC
    • PNCB
    • NCC
  4. Passes a Jurisprudence Exam
 Wisconsin Board of Nursing
Wyoming Yes
  1. RN license in Wyoming or compact state
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Certification through a national certifying agency:
    • ANCC
    • AANP
    • NCC
    • PCNB Fingerprints
 Wyoming State Board of Nursing

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