NURSE LICENSURE GUIDE 2023
Find Your Nursing Licensure Guide
Louisiana, LA
FEES
Endorsement Application: $100.00
Temporary License: $100.00
Complete Background Check: $39.25
LiveScan: $10.00
TIMING
Permanent License
Approximately 4-6 weeks upon receipt of all required materials.
Temporary License
Can be issued the same day (Monday-Friday 9:00a-3:00p).
LICENCE RENEWAL
- Renewal cadence: Initial licenses are valid for 1 year. Subsequent licenses are valid for 2 years. The renewal period is between October 1st and December 31st.
- Renewal fee: $200 if renewed on time. Late renewals will incur an additional fee of $50
- Required contact hours: Full-time nurses (1600 practice hours) a minimum of 5 contact hours required. Part-time nurses (160 practice hours) a minimum of 10 contact hours required. Inactive nurses (less than 160 hours) a minimum of 15 hours required
- If your license has not been renewed by January 31, your license will lapse and you will be unable to work until your license has been reinstated.
Important Things to Know
- You will be notified through the message center in the Nurse Portal when the application has been approved or if additional information is required.
- Your application is valid for 12 months. If incomplete after 12 months have passed, your application will be discarded and you must reapply and repay the application fee.
Licensure by Endorsement
Process
Permanent License
- Submit an application online and pay the fee.
- Provide your Social Security Number. You must have a valid United States SSN. Canadian Provinces are not accepted.
- Request verification of licensure via Nursys from your original state of licensure and the state where you are currently employed. If these states do not participate in Nursys, you will need to contact that state’s BON and request verification be sent to the Louisiana BON via the Verification of Licensure form. If you are currently unemployed, official verification is required from the state Board of Nursing where you last worked or where your last RN license was issued. If your current/active RN license is also your original licensure by examination, then only 1 official verification is required.
- Submit an original, signed, notarized Affidavit of Verification sent directly to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing office via US postal mail.
- Provide a background check with fingerprints. The Complete Background Check packet along with a copy of your receipt of payment must be submitted directly to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing via postal mail after you have submitted the application. Fingerprinting instructions can be found in this packet.
- Upload a copy of a current/valid government-issued photo identification (US Residency Card or Green Card, passport or driver’s license).
Temporary License
- If you wish to be issued a provisional license, please indicate this on your application.
- Temporary permits are valid for 90 days.
- Once all items have been received by the BON except verification of licensure and background check results, you may be issued a provisional license.
- Temporary permits can only be distributed to nurses who reside in and plan to work in Louisiana.
Walk-Through License
- Submit an application online and pay the fee
- Arrive in person and provide an original and valid government-issued photo identification (such as a US passport or driver’s license)
- Provide a completed and notarized Affidavit of Verification form
- Provide a completed cover sheet (p. 6 in this packet)
- Provide a completed authorization forms CBC1a & CBC1b (p. 7 & 8 in this packet)
- Provide a background check with fingerprints. You will have your fingerprints scanned on-site for the required Complete Background Check and will need to pay the associated fee in person.
- The Louisiana Board of Nursing will look up your education and your RN licenses while you are there.
- Walkthrough permits are valid for 90 days.