On September 15, 2025, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced the indictment of 12 defendants for their alleged participation in selling fraudulent documents, transcripts, and nursing degrees based on the ongoing FBI investigation of “Operation Nightingale”. This is the second phase of a multi-state coordinated effort by the FBI to investigate individuals engaged in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts. The alleged scheme involved the selling of fake and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) candidates. The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) has been working with the FBI, NCSBN, and other nursing regulatory bodies to identify licensees and applicants who may have received a fraudulent diploma or transcript for the purpose of licensure.
NCBON is committed to its mission to protect the public by regulating the practice of nursing and investigating any nurses licensed or applying in NC who may have presented fraudulent documents to obtain a license. NCBON has implemented a multi-layer process for review of applications from these identified programs. Submitting false information or withholding material information from the NCBON in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing is a violation of the Nursing Practice Act (G.S. §90-171.37(a)(1)), and a case may be assigned for investigation if further information is needed.
If you have any concerns about the authenticity of nurses’ education, please submit a complaint through the NCBON Complaint Portal.
The NCBON continues to gather information and evidence related to potentially fraudulent education diplomas or transcripts. As the NCBON completes these investigations and collects evidence indicative of fraud, we are taking action, consistent with lawful due process, to protect the public from individuals suspected of working or seeking licensure without the required education and training.
For more information on Operation Nightingale and the FBI and the US Attorney’s office’s efforts, visit:
List of Florida-based programs identified by the FBI Investigation:
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02/09/2023
On January 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and law enforcement announced the results of a multi-state investigation titled “Operation Nightingale.” The investigation focused on the alleged selling of fraudulent documents, transcripts, and nursing degrees. These documents permitted individuals to apply to take the NCLEX and, if they successfully passed, permitted these individuals to obtain a license to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN). It was reported that over 7,600 fraudulent nursing diplomas were issued by these Florida-based programs to individuals across the United States.
The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) has cooperated with law enforcement during this investigation and continues to work with law enforcement and other nursing regulatory bodies to gather supporting evidence on individuals who may have obtained a nursing license fraudulently. The NCBON is committed to protecting the public and thoroughly investigating these allegations into any nurses licensed in NC who presented fraudulent documents to obtain a license. Appropriate action, including revocation of a license, will be taken against any nurse licensed in NC who presented fraudulent documents to obtain a license. The NCBON will continue to provide more information as it becomes publicly available. An additional layer of protection is the use of a national licensure database system to report and communicate disciplinary actions to other states. The NCBON monitors and utilizes this system to retrieve reports to prevent nurses from attempting to obtain a license in NC using fraudulent credentials.
If you have any concerns about the authenticity of nurses’ education, please submit a complaint through the NCBON Complaints Portal.