License Verification for Nurses

License Verification Process for RNs, LPNs, and CNAs

Verification of your license or certification will allow you to begin to peruse through our postings for CNA jobs, RN jobs, LPN jobs, and LVN jobs. License verification is one of the primary compliance pieces for PRN jobs. So, make this step a priority. Even while at this point you may not have uploaded all your nursing credentials to your digital professional portfolio, browsing through the PRN nursing job posts will perhaps assist you in understanding what certain facilities are looking for and thereby showing you how to tailor your resume to highlight certain skills.

Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs)

For registered nurses and licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses, the Nursys database is used to verify your state license. This is an online database that can be of service to both employers and individual nurses.

It provides three main services:

1. Notification - Employers and/or individual nurses can sign up for this free service, that will monitor the status of your license and send out notifications via email or text. This service is called Nursys e-Notify.
2. Confirmation - This service will provide fast online verification of a nursing license's status. This service is called QuickConfirm License Verification.
3. Endorsement - This service is for nurses looking to license in another state, Nursys can send online verification endorsement to the board of nursing in the state you are applying to. This service is called Nurse License Verification for Endorsement.

Nursys will verify NLC licenses as well. Currently, an NLC license allows nurses to work in 39 Jurisdictions and States. If you don't already have an NLC license but have an interest in having the freedom to work in other states, a compact license may be worth investigating. More information about a compact license can be found by visiting the NLC FAQ page provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)

For certified nursing assistants, there is no compact license agreement. You will have to have a certification for every state you wish to find employment in. Your certification is typically valid for two years, and renewal often is obtained with a form and a fee.

If you have been away from the profession for a while, you'll need to check to see if you're eligible for renewal. Extended absence from the profession will often include completion of a competency exam or a new application for a new certification. CNA training and certification requirements vary greatly by state. Here's the list of links state by state for information on CNA certification:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington D.C.
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

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