| LICENSURE STATUS NOTE RENEWAL OF LICENSE INACTIVE STATUS RETIRED NURSE STATUS LICENSURE STATUS NOTE CARDLESS LICENSURE SYSTEM: The North Carolina Board of Nursing no longer issues the wallet size license card or mails notification that your license has been renewed/reinstated. Instead, please verify your licensure status either online at www.ncbon.com by selecting the "Verify License" link 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) 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 complete of one of the approved learning options during the preceding renewal cycle or prior to reinstatement of license. Effective July 1, 2011, licenses will no longer be issued before Continuing Competence (CC) requirements are met. Any nurse unable to demonstrate that he/she has met the CC requirements will have his/her license placed on inactive status, and will not be able to practice until compliance with the CC requirements is met and the license is returned to active status. Approved learning activity options, details about the NC Nursing Continuing Competence Rule, explanatory materials, and an informational webcast are available here. For questions contact tammy@ncbon.com or at 919-782-3211 ext 281. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK: Prior to reinstatement of licensure, a criminal background check is required for all applicants whose NC license has been inactive or expired for 6 months or more. Upon receipt of the reinstatement application, the criminal background check forms and instructions will be mailed to you. The fee for the criminal background check is $38.00. Once your completed Criminal Background Check forms have been received in our office, information regarding the status of your criminal background check can be accessed from the NC Board of Nursing Home Page by selecting Online Applications and Services. The Board of Nursing's electronic database serves as the primary source of licensure information for nurses in North Carolina.
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 2012, it will expire on May 31, 2014. You may renew your license, via our website under "Online Applications and Services" - "Renew – Reinstate", paying the fee with a valid credit or debit card (VISA or Mastercard), checking account or personal savings account. You are responsible for keeping the Board of Nursing informed of your current mailing address. Failure to receive the renewal notification does not relieve the licensee of responsibility to maintain a current license. A reinstatement fee will be required if the renewal application is not completed before midnight on the last day of your birth month. 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. The request for inactive status MUST be made before the expiration of your current license. Once a license expires it cannot be placed on the inactive status. Renewal postcard notifications are mailed out approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of your license. Click HERE to go directly to the online application for Inactive status. 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 (1) completing the online reinstatement application on our website under "Quick LInks > Online Applications & Services > Renew/Reinstate". A valid credit or debit card (VISA or MasterCard) or checking account is accepted for payment of the renewal fee. Prior to reinstatement, (2) a criminal background check is required for all applicants who have not held a NC license for six (6) months or more. The criminal background check packet is mailed to the nurse upon receipt of the online reinstatement application. The fingerprinting must be performed by a law enforcement official. The fee for the background check is submitted to the Board along with the completed fingerprint card. In addition, upon application for reinstatement, all applicants are required (3) to attest to completion of a self assessment, learning plan, and one of the approved learning activity options during the two year period prior to reinstatement. Additional information is available here: Continuing Competence If your license is inactive for five (5) years or longer, you will be required (4) to take a Board-approved refresher course or provide evidence of active licensure in another state or jurisdiction within the five years prior to reinstatement. Upon completion of the online reinstatement application, you will be instructed to submit evidence of licensure in another state or jurisdiction or evidence of successful completion of a Board-approved refresher course. 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, successful completion of a Board-approved refresher course is required prior to reinstating your license. The refresher course will satisfy the Continuing Competence requirement. When all required information and applications are received from you, a current license to resume the practice of nursing will be issued. Your license must be reactivated within one year of completing the refresher course in order to be considered for current license status. The Board may decline to reactivate a license if a determination of unsatisfactory ability to practice nursing is evident. Click HERE for additional information on refresher courses. Once the Board receives all materials for reactivation of a license, a minimum of six 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. The request for retired status MUST be made before the expiration of your current license. Once a license expires it cannot be placed on retired nurse status. Renewal postcard notifications are mailed out approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of your license. NOTE: There is a one-time $30 fee for the retired nurse status. Click HERE to go directly to the online application for 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. You may request a change from retired nurse status to active status by (1) completing the reinstatement application on our website (under "Quick Links>Online Services>Renew/Reinstate”). A valid credit or debit card (VISA or MasterCard) or checking account is accepted for payment of the renewal fee. Prior to reinstatement, (2) a criminal background check is required for all applicants who have not held a NC license for 6 months or more. The criminal background check packet is mailed to the nurse upon receipt of the online reinstatement application. The fingerprinting must be performed by a law enforcement official. The fee for the background check is submitted to the Board along with the completed fingerprint card. In addition, upon application for active status, all applicants are required (3) to attest to completion of a self assessment, learning plan, and one of the approved learning activity options during the two year period prior to reinstatement. Additional information is available here: Continuing Competence If your license is retired for five years or longer, you will be required (4) to take a Board-approved refresher course or provide evidence of active licensure in another state or jurisdiction within the five years prior to reinstatement. Upon completion of the online reinstatement application, you will be instructed to submit evidence of licensure in another state or jurisdiction or evidence of successful completion of a Board approved refresher course. Click HERE for additional information on refresher courses. Once the Board receives all materials for reactivation of a license, a minimum of six weeks processing time may be required. |