Registered Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensure by Examination

Licensure by examination means the authority to practice is based on having passed the licensing examination, NCLEX®. If you have any questions about your application for licensure by examination, please contact:

RN                                                       LPN
Kelli Dalrymple                                     Mary Ann Moore
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs                            Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Division
Nursing                                                 Nursing
PO Box 94986                                     PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986                      Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Phone: (402) 471-4376                        Phone (402) 471-4925
E-Mail: kelli.dalrymple@dhhs.ne.gov     E-Mail:  maryann.moore@dhhs.ne.gov 

You must have a Nebraska nursing license or temporary permit prior to commencing practice as a nurse in Nebraska.

To apply for licensure by examination, you must submit the following:

1. Application
2. An official transcript showing graduation;
3. A recent, clear, autographed, billfold-size, head and shoulder photograph;
4. If applicable, the TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, CGFNS or Canadian Nurses Association (CNATS or CRNE) licensure examination official scores; and
5. An application to take the NCLEX® directly to the Testing Service.

You must submit a NCLEX® application along with the $200 fee directly to the Testing Service for National Council of State Boards of Nursing. To obtain an application and supporting information, please contact :

RN                                                       LPN
Kelli Dalrymple                                     Mary Ann Moore
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs                            Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Division
Nursing                                                 Nursing
PO Box 94986                                     PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986                      Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Phone: (402) 471-4376                        Phone (402) 471-4925
E-Mail: kelli.dalrymple@dhhs.ne.gov     E-Mail:  maryann.moore@dhhs.ne.gov 

Prior to being allowed to take the test, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure must notify the testing service that you are eligible to take the test. To be eligible, you must have submitted an application for Nebraska licensure, paid the licensure fee, submitted a photograph, and submitted evidence of program completion. For Nebraska graduates, your program must have sent a letter stating that you have completed the program. For out-of-state graduates, you must have submitted an official transcript.

Once your application to the Testing Service is complete and your State of Nebraska licensure application is complete, you will be made "eligible to test" by Licensing & Regulatory Affairs and will receive an "authorization to test" from the Testing Service. After receipt of your authorization to test, you must make an appointment and have taken the test within 90 days. The NCLEX® is administered at Pearson Testing Centers. Locations of the testing centers can be found on the web site at www.vue.com/nclex/

Temporary Permit

A temporary permit may be given to a graduate of a Nebraska program pending receipt of the official transcript. The applicant must have already passed the NCLEX®. Temporary permits may be granted for 60 days. Licenses are issued until the end of the renewal period that is October 31st of even years for RNs and October 31st of odd years for LPNs.