To qualify for initial license by examination, you must have:

1. A U.S. Social Security Number:
   1. Note: This is not the same as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). North Dakota Law (NDCC 43-50-02) requires a U.S. social security number to issue any permit or license.
2. Completed a board-approved North Dakota education program, or an out-of-state/country program that is approved by another Board of Nursing and includes supervised clinical experience across the life span as part of the curriculum and is equivalent in the amount and time to the ND Board of Nursing approved programs.

1. Complete Initial LPN or RN License by Exam Application for Internationally Educated Nurses.
2. Submit your credentials evaluation from a ND BON approved agency to the ND BON.
3. Register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE.
4. Complete a Criminal History Record Check (CHRC)

Applicants who have tested under another Board of Nursing, who have not completed the requirements to be made eligible to test within 60 days of graduation, or have had any previous failed NCLEX attempts are not eligible to receive a Graduate Nurse Work Authorization, even if they did not receive one prior. The work authorization expires the sooner of 90 days or the processing of the initial failed NCLEX result.

The CHRC is the official name for the background record that the ND BON conducts with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for all initial license applications or reactivation applications as required by law and rule. Your CHRC is required to be completed for issuance of your license, but not required for you to be made eligible to test. As soon as you complete your exam application, you can submit your CHRC items as one packet to the ND BON: ND Board of Nursing, 919 S 7th Street Suire 504, Bismarck ND 58504

1. The CHRC form and instructions are found at: https://www.ndbon.org/NurseLicensure/CHRC/Index.asp
   1. Read all instructions completely and carefully to avoid errors that will result in delays completing your CHRC and issuing your license.
   2. The ND BON cannot accept any background check results from any other state agencies, schools, or places of employment.
2. The CHRC packet includes:
   1. CHRC form – completed and signed
   2. Fingerprint cards
   3. Payment payable to: ND Attorney General

The ND BON must have received both your passing NCLEX result and the results from the CHRC. Please allow 5-10 business days for processing of either item. You can check your application status any time on the ORBS nurse portal. All correspondence related to outstanding items or authorization/license issuance will be sent through there. All initial exam licenses are issued with an expiration date of 12/31 the following year. You can check your license expiration date anytime in the nurse portal or through Nursys (www.nursys.com). For more information on renewal of your license, please visit: https://www.ndbon.org/NurseLicensure/RenewReactivate/index.asp

In the event you fail your NCLEX attempt, you will be emailed a notification of such along with a Candidate Performance Report (CPR). The CPR contains important information regarding your performance on the NCLEX. Please review this to assist with further retesting. To retest for the NCLEX, you will need to submit both an exam retest application and register again with Pearson VUE. The CHRC is valid for 180 days from paying the CHRC processing fee with your application and needs to be completed every 180 days from paying the CHRC fee for retesting. For more information on retesting, please visit: https://www.ndbon.org/NurseLicensure/InitialExam/Retest.asp

Special testing accommodations are available to applicants who meet the criteria due specific mental health diagnoses. The list of accommodations available by Pearson VUE and NCSBN is included here. The request requires four things for approval, and all must be submitted to the ND Board of Nursing for review and approval before you are made eligible to test. Required documents may be submitted immediately after completing this application. Failure to provide all required documentation prior to your graduation may result in delays to your eligibility and Authorization To Test. Requirements to request special testing accommodations:

1. A statement from you in the explanation box of the application stating what your diagnosis is, how it affects you, what accommodations were provided during your program, and how those accommodations and the requested testing accommodations will help you overcome the effects of your diagnosis.
2. A letter from your nursing program stating what accommodations were provided to you during the program.
3. A letter from your healthcare provider, on official letterhead, stating what your diagnosis is, how it affects you, and what testing accommodations would help you overcome this.
4. The ND Board of Nursing form SFN 19800 to be completed by your healthcare provider.

Please provide 5-10 business days for processing of all items and responses to inquiries. All correspondence is required to be sent through the Nurse Portal unless otherwise instructed to do differently. Please do not submit redundant inquiries or to multiple departments/teams, as we will route any correspondence to the correct team. You can check your application or license status any time in your Nurse Portal profile.