RN, LPN, NP, and nursing license verification
Anyone who practices as a registered nurse in the United States must hold an active RN license issued by a state board of nursing. The license is issued after graduation from an approved nursing program and a passing score on the national licensing exam. Licensed practical or vocational nurses and advanced practice registered nurses, such as nurse practitioners, hold separate credentials that are also tracked by the boards.
Many states belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact, which lets a nurse with a multistate license from a home state practice in other compact states without obtaining a separate license in each one. Other states issue single-state licenses only. That means a nurse working in your state may be authorized through a license issued somewhere else, which is one reason employers and staffing agencies verify through the issuing board or a national verification service rather than assuming.
Nursing licenses are renewed on a cycle set by each board, often every two years. Many boards require continuing education contact hours for renewal, and some require specific courses on subjects that state legislatures have identified as priorities. Some states verify compliance through audits rather than at every renewal. Advanced practice nurses usually have additional renewal requirements tied to national certification. Check the issuing board for exact hours and topics.
For families hiring a private-duty or home-care nurse, verification is just as important as it is for hospitals. Ask the nurse or agency which state issued the license, check it on the day you hire, and confirm that the license type matches the care required. If the nurse holds an APRN credential, also confirm any prescribing or practice authority that the board lists, since those details differ from the basic RN license.