Nursing Licensing Guide 2024 Fiscal Year

MICHIGAN NURSING LICENSING GUIDE

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MICHIGAN NURSING LICENSING GUIDE

OVERVIEW

The registered nurse license type and licensed practical nurse license type allow a licensee to engage

in the practice of nursing.

NOTE: The content contained below is a general overview of licensing requirements. Links to access the Public

Health Code and Administrative Rules for this profession can be found at the end of this guide.

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

APPLICATION AND FEES

 Online Application for a Registered or Practical Nurse License - Complete all fields, answer all questions,

and upload any supporting documentation.

 Online applications can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus

 Application Fee + 2 year license fee: (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover

credit or debit card)

RN by Examination or Endorsement $212.90

LPN by Examination or Endorsement $212.90

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ALL APPLICANTS

 Criminal Background Check – Once the online application is completed and submitted you will be emailed

an Application Confirmation letter containing instructions to complete the Criminal Background Check

(except those applicants seeking relicensure if the license expired within the last three years).

 Good Moral Character Questions – Documentation and explanation will be required if you answer “yes” to

either question to show at the current time you have the ability to, and are likely to, serve the public in a fair,

honest and open manner, that you are rehabilitated, or that the substance of the former offense is not

reasonably related to the occupation or profession for which you are seeking a license.

 Human Trafficking Training – Beginning January 6, 2022, completion of a one-time training to identify victims

of human trafficking is required for individuals seeking licensure that meets the standards of Administrative

Rule 338.10105.

 Implicit Bias Training – Beginning June 1, 2022, completion of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5

years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration is required.

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 Social Security Number (SSN) – An individual applying for licensure is required to provide his or her social

security number at the time of application. If exempt under law from obtaining an SSN or you do not have

an SSN, the SSN affidavit form will be required to be uploaded at the time the application is submitted.

 Verification of Licensure – Verification of licensure must be submitted directly to our office by the licensing

agency of any state of the United States or country in which you hold or ever held a license. The verification

must show that disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the applicant and sanctions are not in force

at the time of application. Verification can be emailed to [email protected], mailed to the Bureau of

Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909, or obtained by visiting www.nursys.com and

choosing Request Verification under the Verification for Endorsement section.

 Professional Education – Name of school attended, and name of educational program completed.

 English Language Proficiency – An individual applying for licensure must demonstrate a working knowledge

of the English language. This can be established if either the applicant’s required health professional

educational program was taught in English, a transcript establishes the applicant earned not less than 60

college level credits from an English-speaking graduate or undergraduate school, or that the applicant

obtained a passing score on an approved English proficiency exam as established by the department under

R 338.7002b(2) of the Public Health Code – General Rules.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RN LICENSURE BY EXAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE

GRADUATES OF NURSING SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES OR GRADUATES OF

APPROVED SCHOOLS IN CANADA

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Final, Official Transcripts or the Michigan Nursing School Certification Form, if applicable – This must be

submitted directly to our office from the nursing school attended and meet the standards set forth by the

Board. Transcripts can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of Professional

Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

To be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination, an applicant must have successfully completed a

registered nurse education program that satisfies one of the following within 3 years of graduation:

a) The registered nurse program is located in this state and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing.

b) The registered nurse program is located in Canada and is accredited by the Canadian Association of

Schools of Nursing (CASN).

c) The registered nurse program is located in another state and is accredited by the Accreditation

Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation

(CNEA), or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

d) If the registered nurse program located in another state was not accredited by the Accreditation

Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation

(CNEA), or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an applicant must additionally

have one of the following submitted for review:

1) A letter to the department from the program, on official program letterhead, signed by the director

of nursing, attesting that the program curriculum complies with both of the following:

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 The registered nurse education program includes courses providing theory and clinical

practice that comply with R 338.10306 to R 338.10308.

 The registered nurse education program curriculum contains the core curriculum for

registered professional nurse students, as that term is defined in R 338.10301(l).

2) If the program is closed, a letter from the state board of nursing where the program was located

attesting that the nursing program was in good standing when the applicant completed the

program.

 Written certification of skills competency or extension to the 3-year time requirement – An applicant who did

not pass the NCLEX-RN examination within 3 years after graduation is not eligible to repeat the NCLEX-RN

examination until the applicant satisfies one of the following:

1) Receives a written certification of skills competency from an approved nurse education program.

A certification of skills competency must cover the following skills:

(a) Head-to-toe physical assessment, including vital signs.

(b) Medication administration.

(d) Surgical asepsis and infection control.

(e) Safety, including fall prevention, body mechanics, and transfers.

The applicant has 1 year after the date of a certification of skills competency to pass the NCLEX-

RN examination.

2) Requests and is approved for an extension to the time requirement to sit for the NCLEX-RN if the

board finds the failure of the licensee to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination was due to the applicant’s

disability, military service, absence from the continental United States, or a circumstance beyond the

applicant’s control that the board considers good and sufficient. Along with a valid application and

proof of graduation, an applicant must submit documentation to support the request to the board. The

board may grant up to a 6-month extension. The request and supporting documentation must be

submitted to the Department at least 30 days prior to the next board meeting.

 Passing NCLEX-RN Examination Scores – Score reports will be received directly from the National Council

of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RN LICENSURE BY EXAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE

GRADUATES OF NURSING SCHOOLS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Verification that the applicant is a graduate of a registered professional nurse education program or an

equivalent education program that is outside the United States and he or she graduated from a program

with substantially equivalent education credentials as a program approved by the board by having one of

the following submitted directly to this office for review:

 A Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) professional report from the Commission on Graduates of

Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)

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 A certification from the CGFNS Certification Program (CP)

 An Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials for Boards of Nursing from Josef Silny &

Associations, Inc. International Education Consultants (JS&A).

An applicant shall be exempt from obtaining an evaluation or certification of his or her educational credentials

through CGFNS or JS&A if he or she is a graduate of a Canadian Registered Nurse program in Canada,

has passed the NCLEX-RN examination, and establishes he or she graduated from a program with

substantially equivalent education credentials as a program approved by the board by submitting proof of

program accreditation by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

 Written certification of skills competency or extension to the 3-year time requirement – An applicant who did

not pass the NCLEX-RN examination within 3 years after obtaining one of the required evaluations or

certifications above, is not eligible to repeat the NCLEX-RN examination until the applicant satisfies one of

the following:

1) Receives a written certification of skills competency from an approved nurse education program.

A certification of skills competency must cover the following skills:

(a) Head-to-toe physical assessment, including vital signs.

(b) Medication administration.

(d) Surgical asepsis and infection control.

(e) Safety, including fall prevention, body mechanics, and transfers.

The applicant has 1 year after the date of a certification of skills competency to pass the NCLEX-

RN examination.

2) Requests and is approved for an extension to the time requirement to sit for the NCLEX-RN if the

board finds the failure of the licensee to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination was due to the

applicant’s disability, military service, absence from the continental United States, or a

circumstance beyond the applicant’s control that the board considers good and sufficient. Along

with a valid application and proof of graduation, an applicant must submit documentation to support

the request to the board. The board may grant up to a 6-month extension. The request and

supporting documentation must be submitted to the Department at least 30 days prior to the next

board meeting.

 Final, Official Transcripts – This must be submitted directly to our office from the nursing school attended or

an approved credentialing service. Transcripts must be translated into English. Transcripts can be emailed

to [email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI

48909.

 Passing NCLEX-RN Examination Scores – Score reports will be received directly from the National Council

of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RN LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT FOR THOSE

LICENSED AS A REGISTERED NURSE IN ANOTHER STATE OR CANADA

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Must possess an active, unencumbered license in another U.S State and have been initially licensed by

taking the NCLEX- RN examination in another state or must be currently licensed in good standing in

Canada and was initially licensed by passing the NCLEX-RN examination or the Canadian Registered Nurse

Examination before 2015. - Verification of licensure will be required to be submitted directly to this office by

the licensing agency of any state of the United States or Canada in which you hold or ever held a license.

 Final, Official Transcripts – This must be submitted directly to our office from the nursing school attended or

an approved credentialing service. Transcripts must be translated into English. Transcripts can be emailed

to [email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI

48909.

 If an applicant has been licensed as a Registered Nurse in another state or Canada for less than 5 years

and did not complete an approved Michigan registered nurse program or a registered nurse program that is

accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission for Nursing

Education Accreditation (CNEA), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the Canadian

Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), the applicant would additionally be required to have one of the

following submitted for review directly to this office:

1) For graduates of schools located in the United States: Either one of the following:

a) A letter to the department from the program, on official program letterhead, signed by the

director of nursing, attesting that the program curriculum complies with both of the following:

 The registered nurse education program includes courses providing theory and clinical

practice that comply with R 338.10306 to R 338.10308.

 The registered nurse education program curriculum contains the core curriculum for

registered professional nurse students, as that term is defined in R 338.10301(l).

b) If the program is closed, a letter from the state board of nursing where the program was

located attesting that the nursing program was in good standing when the applicant

completed the program.

2) For graduates of schools located outside of the Unites States or Canada: Shall have one of the

following submitted directly to this office that shows he or she graduated from a program with

substantially equivalent education credentials for review:

 A Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) professional report from the Commission on

Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)

 A certification from the CGFNS Certification Program (CP)

 An Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials for Boards of Nursing from Josef Silny &

Associations, Inc. International Education Consultants (JS&A).

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If an applicant is a graduate of a Registered Nurse education program that is located outside of the United

States or Canada, has passed the NCLEX-RN examination, and has maintained an active license with no

disciplinary sanctions in the United States for at least 5 years immediately preceding the application for a

Michigan license, then the applicant shall be exempt from obtaining an evaluation or certification of his or

her educational credentials through CGFNS or JS&A.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THOSE WHO HOLD CURRENT SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION

FOR A NURSE ANESTHESTIST, NURSE MIDWIFE, NURSE PRACTITIONER, OR CLINICAL

NURSE SPECIALIST

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Online application can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus, select MiPLUS Login, select

“Modification” next to your license number and this will start the specialty application process.

 Application Fee: (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover credit or debit card)

RN Specialty Certification: $41.35 or $56.55 (Valid for up to 1 to 2 year(s) from date issued)

 Holds a current and valid Registered Nurse license in Michigan.

 Possesses national certification from a certification organization that meets the standards set forth by the

Board. – Verification of current certification as a nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or

clinical nurse specialist will be required to be submitted directly to this office from the certifying agency.

Verification can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO

Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

Acceptable certification organizations

Nurse Anesthetist: National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

Nurse Midwife: American Midwifery Certification Board, Inc. (AMBC)

Nurse Practitioner: The American Nurses Credentialing Center, The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board,

The National Certification Corporation for Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Nurse

Practitioner, The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners for Emergency Nurse Practitioners, Family

Nurse Practitioners, and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners, The Oncology Nursing

Certification Corporation, or The American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation for

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

Clinical Nurse Specialist: The American Nurses Credentialing Center or The American Association of Critical

Care Nurses Certification Corporation

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LPN LICENSURE BY EXAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE

GRADUATES OF APPROVED NURSING SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES OR

GRADUATES OF APPROVED SCHOOLS IN CANADA

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Final, Official Transcripts or the Michigan Nursing School Certification Form, if applicable – This must be

submitted directly to our office from the nursing school attended and meet the standards set forth by the

Board. Transcripts can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional

Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

To be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN examination, an applicant must have successfully completed a

Licensed Practical Nurse program that satisfies one of the following within 3 years of graduation:

a) The licensed practical nurse program is located in this state and approved by the Michigan Board of

Nursing.

b) The licensed practical nurse program is located in Canada and is accredited by the Canadian

Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

c) The licensed practical nurse program is located in another state and is accredited by the Accreditation

Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation

(CNEA), or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

d) If the licensed practical nurse program is located in another state was not accredited by the Accreditation

Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation

(CNEA), or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an applicant must additionally

have one of the following submitted for review:

1) A letter to the department from the program, on official program letterhead, signed by the director of

nursing, attesting that the program curriculum complies with both of the following:

 The practical nursing education program is not less than 40 weeks in duration and includes

courses in both theory and clinical practice that comply with R 338.10306, R 338.10307, and

R 338.10309.

 The practical nursing education program curriculum contains the core curriculum for licensed

practical nurse students, as that term is defined in R 338.10301(k).

2) If the program is closed, a letter from the state board of nursing where the program was located

attesting that the nursing program was in good standing when the applicant completed the program.

 Written Certification of skills competency or extension to the 3-year time requirement – An applicant who did

not pass the NCLEX-PN examination within 3 years after graduation is not eligible to repeat the NCLEX-PN

examination until the applicant satisfies one of the following:

1) Receives a written certification of skills competency from an approved nurse education program.

A certification of skills competency must cover the following skills:

(a) Head-to-toe physical assessment, including vital signs.

(b) Medication administration.

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(d) Surgical asepsis and infection control.

(e) Safety, including fall prevention, body mechanics, and transfers.

The applicant has 1 year after the date of a certification of skills competency to pass the NCLEX-

PN examination.

2) Requests and is approved for an extension to the time requirement to sit for the NCLEX-PN if the

board finds the failure of the licensee to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination was due to the applicant’s

disability, military service, absence from the continental United States, or a circumstance beyond the

applicant’s control that the board considers good and sufficient. Along with a valid application and

proof of graduation, an applicant must submit documentation to support the request to the board. The

board may grant up to a 6-month extension. The request and supporting documentation must be

submitted to the Department at least 30 days prior to the next board meeting.

 Passing NCLEX-PN Examination Scores – Score reports will be received directly from the National Council

of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LPN LICENSURE BY EXAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE

GRADUATES OF NURSING SCHOOLS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Verification of obtaining a professional report evaluation of your education completed by the Credentials

Evaluation Service (CES) of CGFNS, have a full course-by-course credential evaluation of your education

certified by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member organization, or

obtain an evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials for Boards of Nursing from Josef Silny &

Associations, Inc. International Education Consultants (JS&A). - This must be submitted directly to our office

from CGFNS, JS&A, or NACES agency and meet the standards set forth by the Board.

An applicant shall be exempt from completing the CGFNS, JS&A, and NACES certification process if an

applicant has passed the NCLEX-PN Examination, is a graduate of a Canadian Practical Nurse program,

and submits proof of program accreditation by the College of Nurses of Ontario.

 Final, Official Transcripts – This must be submitted directly to our office from the nursing school attended or

an approved credentialing service. Transcripts must be translated into English. Transcripts can be emailed

to [email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI

48909.

 Written Certification of skills competency or extension to the 3-year time requirement – An applicant who did

not pass the NCLEX-PN examination within 3 years after graduation is not eligible to repeat the NCLEX-PN

examination until the applicant satisfies one of the following:

1) Receives a written certification of skills competency from an approved nurse education program.

A certification of skills competency must cover the following skills:

(a) Head-to-toe physical assessment, including vital signs.

(b) Medication administration.

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