Rhode Island Nursing License Requirements 2026
Rhode Island nursing licenses are issued by the Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education, part of the state Department of Health. Candidates complete a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX-RN (for RNs) or NCLEX-PN (for LPNs). As of January 1, 2024, Rhode Island is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, and eligible nurses with a Rhode Island primary residence can hold a multistate license.
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The Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (RI BON) handles initial licensure, endorsement, and renewal for RNs and LPNs in the state. Applications are submitted online through the Rhode Island Department of Health licensing portal at healthri.mylicense.com. Most first-time applicants choose their license type based on their education level. LPN programs typically run 12 to 18 months, while RN programs require an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Select the type of nursing license you’re looking for:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) requirements in Rhode Island
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) requirements in Rhode Island
- Registered Nurse (RN) requirements in Rhode Island
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) requirements in Rhode Island
Use the links below to jump to LPN requirements, RN requirements, renewal information, and resources for Rhode Island nurses.
- LPN licensing requirements
- RN licensing requirements
- License renewal and continuing education
- Nursing resources in Rhode Island
LPN Requirements in Rhode Island
LPN Education
To qualify for an LPN license in Rhode Island, you need a high school diploma or GED and completion of a state-approved practical nursing program. Most programs award a certificate or diploma and run for about 12 months. Rhode Island will also consider candidates who completed equivalent coursework within an RN-level nursing program. See LPN programs in Rhode Island for a list of approved options.
LPN Application Process
You’ll need to apply to both the RI BON and the NCSBN as part of the licensing process. Submit your application, official transcripts, and the $45 LPN application fee online through the RIDOH portal at healthri.mylicense.com. Transcripts must be sent directly from your nursing program and include your graduation date and degree. The board cannot make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN until your official transcript has been received. You can apply to the NCSBN for the NCLEX-PN at ncsbn.org or by calling toll-free (866) 293-9600.
You’ll also need to complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Rhode Island uses a Live Scan electronic fingerprinting process. A certified technician captures your fingerprints and sends them to the FBI through the Office of the Attorney General. The AG’s office notifies the RI BON whether you’re qualified to proceed. Disqualified candidates must pick up their records in person. No record information is sent directly to the board.
Once approved, you may be authorized to work as a Graduate Practical Nurse (grad-PN) for up to 90 days while waiting to take the NCLEX-PN. You must work under the supervision of a licensed professional nurse during that period. If you pass, your license is issued. If you don’t pass, grad-PN authorization ends. Rhode Island allows unlimited NCLEX retakes, subject to NCSBN waiting period rules, though additional fees apply for each attempt.
Out-of-State LPNs
If you hold an active LPN license in another state or the District of Columbia, you can apply for a Rhode Island license by endorsement. The fee is the same as for initial applicants ($45). You’ll need to provide license verification from every state where you’ve held a license and submit official transcripts to the board. A fingerprint-based background check is also required.
Nurses with a current, unencumbered license in another jurisdiction are permitted to practice in Rhode Island for up to 90 days while their endorsement application is processed. If you’re moving your primary state of residence (PSOR) to Rhode Island from a Nurse Licensure Compact state, you’ll apply for a Rhode Island multistate license. Acceptable proof of Rhode Island residency includes a driver’s license, voter registration card, federal tax return, or military form 2058.
Foreign-educated LPNs may be eligible for licensure if a RI BON-approved credential evaluation service finds their education equivalent to Rhode Island’s standards. The board currently directs foreign-trained graduates to TruMerit (trumerit.org) for credential evaluation. You’ll need to show equivalent high school education and nursing coursework completed in a government-approved school abroad.
RN License Requirements in Rhode Island
RN Education
Rhode Island RN candidates must complete an approved professional nursing program. The most common routes are a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Both qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The board reviews all applications to confirm eligibility before you can schedule the exam. Browse RN programs in Rhode Island for approved program options.
RN Application Process
Submit your application, official transcripts, and the $135 RN application fee online at healthri.mylicense.com. Transcripts must be sent directly from your nursing program with your graduation date and degree confirmed. The board cannot make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN until your transcript is received and reviewed, so submit it early. Apply separately to the NCSBN for the NCLEX-RN at ncsbn.org. A fingerprint-based background check is also required before the board will authorize you to schedule the exam.
Applications involving a criminal history or prior disciplinary action take longer to process and may require a personal appearance before the board.
If approved, you can work as a Graduate Professional Nurse (grad-RN) for up to 90 days while waiting to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Grad-RN practice must be supervised by a licensed RN. This authorization is a single-state privilege only. Multistate practice rights don’t apply until you pass the exam and a full license is issued. If you fail the exam, your grad-RN authorization ends, and additional paperwork and fees are required to retake.
Out-of-State RNs
RNs licensed in another jurisdiction can apply for a Rhode Island license by endorsement through healthri.mylicense.com. Provide official license verification through Nursys for all states where you’ve held a license. Pennsylvania verifications must be requested directly from PA and sent to the RI BON. If Rhode Island will be your new primary state of residence, provide proof of residency: a driver’s license, voter registration card, federal tax return, or military form 2058.
Internationally educated RNs may be eligible for licensure by examination if an approved credential evaluation service confirms their training meets Rhode Island’s standards. The board’s current approved evaluator for foreign-trained graduates is TruMerit (trumerit.org). Even if you’ve already been licensed in a U.S. state, Rhode Island still requires documentation of the credential evaluation and a passing score on an English language proficiency exam.
License Renewal in Rhode Island
Rhode Island nursing licenses expire on March 1 every two years following the date of initial issuance. The RI BON sends renewal notices 60 days before the expiration date. Renewal is completed online through the RIDOH licensing portal.
RNs and LPNs must complete 10 contact hours of continuing education (CE) per two-year renewal cycle. At least 2 of those hours must cover substance abuse. A one-time requirement of 1 CE hour on Alzheimer’s disease applies per nursing career. Once completed, it doesn’t repeat in future cycles. The RI BON accepts ANCC-accredited CE courses. You’ll attest to CE completion when submitting your renewal application.
APRNs with prescriptive authority have an additional requirement: 30 hours of pharmacology CE every six years, on top of the standard 10-hour cycle.
Nursing Resources in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education is located at 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908. Reach the licensing unit at (401) 222-5960 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, weekdays. Current licensing requirements, forms, and renewal information are maintained on the RIDOH Nurses licensing page. Applications and renewals are submitted through the online portal at healthri.mylicense.com.
The Rhode Island State Nurses Association (RISNA) and the Student Nurses Association of Rhode Island (SNARI) offer professional resources and cooperative scholarships for working and student nurses. The Rhode Island Foundation also administers nursing-specific scholarships alongside its general academic scholarship programs.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rhode Island participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes. Rhode Island rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) effective January 1, 2024. If your primary state of residence (PSOR) is Rhode Island, you can apply for a multistate license that allows practice in any NLC member state. Nurses whose PSOR is a non-compact state apply for a single-state Rhode Island license only.
How do I renew my Rhode Island nursing license?
Rhode Island RN and LPN licenses renew every two years through the RIDOH online portal. You must complete 10 CE hours per cycle, including 2 hours on substance abuse. The board sends a renewal notice 60 days before the March 1 expiration date. Failing to renew on time can result in a lapsed license that requires additional steps to reinstate.
Can I practice in Rhode Island while my application is being processed?
New graduates who have applied to the board may receive temporary authorization to practice while waiting to take the NCLEX. LPN graduates can practice as a Graduate Practical Nurse (grad-PN) for up to 90 days; RN graduates can practice as a Graduate Professional Nurse (grad-RN) for up to 90 days. Both require supervision by a licensed RN. Out-of-state nurses holding a current, unencumbered license can also practice in Rhode Island for up to 90 days while their endorsement application is reviewed.
What does Rhode Island’s fingerprinting process involve?
Rhode Island uses Live Scan electronic fingerprinting. A certified technician captures your fingerprints and sends them to the FBI via the Office of the Attorney General. The AG’s office notifies the RI BON whether you’re qualified to proceed. No actual record is transmitted to the board. Disqualified candidates can only retrieve their record in person from the AG’s office.
Can foreign-educated nurses get licensed in Rhode Island?
Foreign-educated nurses can apply for licensure if a RI BON-approved credential evaluation service confirms their training is equivalent to Rhode Island’s standards. The board currently directs foreign-trained graduates to TruMerit (trumerit.org) for the evaluation process. You’ll need to show equivalent high school education and nursing coursework from a government-approved school. If you’ve already been licensed in a U.S. state, Rhode Island still requires credential evaluation documentation and a passing English language proficiency score.
Key Takeaways
- RI BON issues all nursing licenses — The Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education, part of the state Department of Health, oversees RN and LPN licensure and renewal.
- Rhode Island rejoined the NLC in January 2024 — Eligible nurses with a Rhode Island primary state of residence can apply for a multistate license. Nurses whose PSOR is a non-compact state receive a single-state license only.
- Applications are submitted online — Initial applications and renewals go through the RIDOH licensing portal. Fingerprints are submitted electronically via Live Scan through the Office of the Attorney General.
- Licenses renew every two years — RNs and LPNs must complete 10 CE hours per renewal cycle, including 2 hours on substance abuse and a one-time 1-hour Alzheimer’s course.
- Temporary practice authorization covers the waiting period — New LPN graduates can practice as a grad-PN, and new RN graduates as a grad-RN, for up to 90 days under supervision while waiting to sit for the NCLEX. Authorization ends if the exam is not passed.
Select your state to find approved RN and LPN programs, application links, and current licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.