Please review the below list of application requirements and additional information. ​

Complete the Application and Submit Fee

• Submit the application through the Kentucky Board of Nursing Nurse Portal. You will need to create an account throu gh the nurse portal and then you will select Apply for a License located on the Nurse Portal Dashboard.
• Pay application fee of $125 (All Fees are Non-Refundable)
• For more information on the nurse portal and a tutorial on how to create an account, please go to: Kentucky Nurse Portal - Kentucky Board of Nursing

Retaking the NCLEX

• Initial Exam Applications are valid for one year unless you are Unsuccessful on the NCLEX twice in that timeframe, the application will be voided.
• If requirements are not met within one year, your application will expire, and you will have to start the process over again.
• If you are unsuccessful twice, you will have to reapply for the 'Examination RETEST' application after the 2nd unsuccessful attempt

Provisional License

• A provisional license is valid for six month s, unless the applicant has failed the NCLEX examination twice during that period, it will then be voided.
• In this event, the provisional licensee must immediately cease practicing in a licensed nursing position.

ADA Accommodations

• Special Accommodations - In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), KBN provides reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities that may interfere with their performance on the NCLEX to apply for special accommodations for the NCLEX
• If applying for accommodations, you must complete the application and register and pay for the NCLEX with Pearson Vue.
• Once these steps are completed, you will then submit the ADA Accommodation Request Form.
• The completed form and required documentation must be submitted through the nurse portal message center (using the "RN/LPN Examination" category) following the KBN application and Pearson Vue registration submission.
• It is imperative that these documents be submitted soon after registering in order to have accommodations approved before the school verifies your education.
• For more information on testing accommodations through Pearson Vue, please visit the Pearson Vue Test Accommodations page.​
  
  

​Pass the Jurisprudence Exam with a score of 80% or higher

• Complete the Jurisprudence Exami​​nation after completing the ​application.
  
• The Jurisprudence Examination cannot be accessed prior to having a current application on file with the KBN.

Complete the state and federal criminal background check through IdentoGO®

Credential Evaluation

Puerto Rico is not a member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN); therefore, all education must be evaluated. If you were educated in Puerto Rico after September 1, 2006, you will need to apply for a Credential Evaluation using one of the following, approved Credential Evaluation companies. Once the evaluation has been completed, the report needs to be sent to the Kentucky Board of Nursing at KBN.Credentials@ky.gov​ or by mail to:​

• Kentucky Board of Nursing
• ATTN: Examination
• 312 Whittington Pkwy Suite 300
• Louisville, KY 40222
  
• 
  

English Language Proficiency Examination Requirements

If the credential evaluation received states that your language of instruction and the textbooks used in your nursing program were not in English, you are required to take and pass the English Language Proficiency Exam.​
The full list of English Language Proficiency Exams that we will accept are:

• Cambridge Assessment English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 qualifications exams) https://​www.cambridgeenglish.org/​
  
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) http://www.ielts.org/
• MET (Michigan English Test) https://michiganassessment.org/michigan-tests/met-new/
• OET (Occupational English Test) https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/
• Pearson PTE Academichttps://www.pearsonpte.com/
• TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based Test) http://www.toefl.org/
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) https://www.ets.org/toeic.html

For more information on the tests and their acceptable scores, please visit: https://www.trumerit.org/services/certification/visascreen-visa-credentials-assessment/

Once you have taken and passed the exam with the qualifying score, the report needs to be sent to the Kentucky Board of Nursing at KBN.Credentials@ky.gov or by mail to:

• Kentucky Board of Nursing
• ATTN: Examination
• 312 Whittington Pkwy Suite 300
• ​Louisville, KY 40222
  

Complete the Pearson Vue NCLEX Registration and Submit the Fee

• Apply to Pearson Vue and pay the $200 application fee.
• Online: www.pearsonvue.com/nclex
  
• By Phone: 866-496-2539
• Be sure to apply using the first and last name that match your valid government issued ID that you will be using the day of the test.
• ​​​*Effective February 1, 2027, the fee established by NCSBN for Pearson Vue will be updated to $350.
• ​The date of registration determines the fee, not the exam date.  
• Registrations completed before February 1, 2027, will be charged the current fee. ​​
• ​​See the NCLEX Update​ for details. ​​​​

Verification of Completion of Program of Nursing

• If you attend a Kentucky program of nursing the school will submit your program completion through an Affidavit of Graduation (AOG) process.
• If you attend an out of state program of nursing, you will need to submit an official transcript to the KBN.
• An official transcript is a transcript that is sent directly from the program of nursing, through a clearinghouse to the KBN.
• Transcripts can be sent electronically via a clearinghouse such as Parchment or the program of nursing directly to KBN via the email address: kbn.credentials@ky.gov
• NOTE:​ If your nursing education was earned from a Florida program of nursing, an official transcript will be required as part of the examination application process and after initial review of your transcript, you will be contacted to send additional information as requested.

Transcripts May Also be Mailed to

• Kentucky Board of Nursing
• ATTN: Examination​
  
• 312 Whittington Pkwy., Suite 300
• Louisville, Kentucky 40222

One Time Content Specific CE Requirements​

• Graduates of Kentucky programs of nursing need to earn the following within 3 years of licensure:
• 2 contact hours of Suicide Prevention
  
• 1 contact hour of Alzheimer’s Disease​ and Other Forms of Dementia
  


• ​​Graduates of programs outside of Kentucky must earn following within 3 years of licensure:
• 3 contact hours of Domestic Violence
• 1.5 contact hours of Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• 2 contact hours of Suicide Prevention
  
• 1 contact hour of Alzheimer’s Disease​ and Other Forms of Dementia
  

Reporting Criminal Convictions

• If you have any criminal convictions, they will need to be reported on your application. The exception to this is traffic misdemeanors, other than DUIs. For information about what qualifies as a criminal conviction please review the Mandatory Reporting of Criminal Convictions.
  

Provisional License

Review the information regarding provisional lic​enses.

How long does it take for a provisional license or license to be issued?

Applications and documents are reviewed within 14  business days. All requirements must be completed, including your school/KBN approving your education. However, if you respond "Yes" to the disciplinary or conviction questions it can take up to three months to process your application.

• Log in to the Kentucky Board of Nursing Nurse Portal and go under Submitted License Applications and click View Status next to the application submitted.
• View your online validation once your license is issued​​