North Carolina Board of Nursing

RENEWAL OF LICENSE

CARDLESS LICENSURE SYSTEM: Effective with licenses renewed or reinstated with a January 31, 2007 expiration date and thereafter, a plastic license card will not be issued. Instead, a postcard notice of licensure renewal/reinstatement will be mailed to your last known address on file with the Board of Nursing. The postcard notice contains specific directions on how to verify your licensure status either online at www.ncbon.com or by using the automated telephone verification system at (919) 881-2272. The Board of Nursing's electronic database serves as the primary source of licensure information for nurses in North Carolina.

CONTINUING COMPETENCE RULE (21 NCAC 36.0232) FOR NORTH CAROLINA REGISTERED NURSES (RNs) AND LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES (LPNs)

Beginning July 1, 2006, upon license renewal or reinstatement, all RNs and LPNs will be required to complete a self assessment of their practice, develop a learning plan, and select an approved learning activity option* which must be completed prior to the next renewal date in order to comply with Continuing Competence requirements.

Effective July 1, 2008 and thereafter, upon application for license renewal or reinstatement, all licensees will be required to attest to completion of a self assessment of their practice, development of a learning plan, and completion of one of the approved learning activity options during the preceding renewal cycle or prior to reinstatement of license. Licensees should be prepared to submit evidence of completion if selected for audit by the Board.

*Approved learning activity options, details about the NC Nursing Continuing Competence Rule, explanatory materials, and an informational webcast are available here. A Practice Consultant is also available to answer your questions at:lburhans@ncbon.com or at 919-782-3211 ext. 265.

Maintaining minimum number of hours employed in the nursing field is not required.

RENEWAL OF LICENSE

You are required by law in North Carolina to have an active license in order to practice nursing. Renewal postcard notifications are mailed out approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of your license. Renewal is for a two-year period, which is now set to end on the last day of your birth month. This means that if you were born in May and your license expires in 2009, it will expire on May 31, 2009.

You may renew your license, via our website under "Online Services" - "Renew – Reinstate", paying the fee with a valid credit or debit card (VISA or Mastercard). You also have the option of requesting a paper application by checking the appropriate box on the postcard notification and returning it to our office.

You are responsible for keeping the Board of Nursing informed of your current mailing address. Failure to receive the renewal application does not relieve the licensee of responsibility to maintain a current license.

Renewal applications must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the license. If your expiration date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, applications postmarked or received at the Board by the end of the next business day will be accepted. Your timely postmark determines the fee(s) to be charged. A reinstatement fee will be required if the renewal notice and fee are not postmarked by the expiration deadline. If you are renewing online, you must complete the process before midnight of the last day of your birth month to avoid any additional late fees.

If you do not renew until the final 10 days of your renewal month, please allow time for processing your renewal. If your license expires before the renewal process can be completed – you must stop working until your current license status can be verified and confirmed. This updated license information can be accessed through the automated phone system (919)881-2272 or through our website under "Verify License".

INACTIVE STATUS

If you plan to discontinue the practice of nursing in North Carolina, either permanently or temporarily, a request may be made to become inactive. Inactive status is requested when your license is up for renewal. This request may be made via our website (under "Quick Links" - "Online Services" - "Request Inactive Status") or by checking the appropriate box on the renewal postcard notification. Renewal postcard notifications are mailed out approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of your license. The request for inactive status MUST be made before the expiration of your current license.

A nurse with an inactive status license is not permitted by law to practice nursing. No fee is required while the license is inactive.

You may request a change from inactive status to active status by completing the on-line reinstatement application (under "On-Lines Services" then selecting "Renew – Reinstate") provided the license has been on inactive status less than five years. If preferred, a paper application may be requested by contacting our office at 919-782-3211 ext. 260 or 268.

If your North Carolina license has been on inactive status for over five years and you have not been licensed in another state during the last five years, a Board approved refresher course will be required prior to reinstating your license. Once the Board has been notified of successful completion of the refresher course, you will be mailed a reinstatement application. Your license must be reactivated within one year of completing the refresher course in order to be considered for current license status. When all required information is received from you and is deemed to be satisfactory, a current license to resume the practice of nursing will be issued. The Board may decline to reactivate a license if a determination of unsatisfactory ability to practice nursing is evident.

For additional information on refresher courses, return to our home page and select "Education Department" under the departmental tabs and then select "Refresher Courses".

Once the Board receives all materials for reactivation of a license, a minimum of two weeks processing time may be required.

RETIRED NURSE STATUS

A nurse who has retired has the option of placing his/her license on the retired nurse status when the license is up for renewal. This status may be selected via our website under "Quick Links" - "Online Services" - "Request Retired Nurse Status". Or, you may check the "Request Retired Nurse Status" box on the renewal postcard notification (which is mailed out approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of your current license). NOTE: There is a one-time $30 fee for the Retired Nurse Status.

The retired nurse status allows you to use the designation of either Registered Nurse - Retired or Licensed Practical Nurse – Retired. With the retired nurse status, you will receive a frameable certificate with this designation as well as a two-year subscription to the Bulletin. The retired nurse status does not permit the practice of nursing in North Carolina.

Once a license expires it cannot be placed on retired nurse status; therefore, the request must be made prior to the expiration date of the current license.