Licensing authority
Tennessee Board of Nursing
Source quotation
Tennessee Board of Nursing 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37243
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
TN
Tennessee
Does this state recognize my multistate license?
Multistate license recognizedTN
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Applies to RN/LPN practice under a valid home-state multistate license. Employer credentialing and APRN authority are separate.
Supporting evidence and conditions
Applies to RN/LPN practice under a valid home-state multistate license. Employer credentialing and APRN authority are separate.
State legislature · wapp.capitol.tn.gov · verified 9 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- Yes SB 1725 / HB 1678; Public Chapter 591
- In force
- Yes date not published
- Issuing multistate licenses
- Yes issuing multistate licenses since 19 Jan 2018
Each answer links to the state rule it comes from. Open “Source quotation” for the exact wording.
Licensing authority
Board contacts, official applications and governing rules.
Licensing portal
Conditions & source context
LARS portal; reinstatement uses the mainMenu.do entry point in the same portal.
Source quotation
Complete the Online Application and UPLOAD the following documents and submit $150.00 payment (PAY ONE TIME ONLY) - do not submit duplicate payment) at: https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Contact
- Phone
- 615-532-5166
- Toll free
- 1-800-778-4123
- Nursing.Health@tn.gov
- Address
- 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243
Source quotation
Contact 615-532-5166 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide Nursing.Health@tn.gov Tennessee Board of Nursing 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37243
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Governing law
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63, Chapter 7; Board of Nursing rules chapter 1000-01
Conditions & source context
TCA Title 63 Chapter 7 confirmed by Public Chapter 591 amending Title 4 and Title 63 Chapter 7; RN statutes 63-7-103/104 and LPN 63-7-108/109 per endorsement instructions.
License requirements
License types, exams, expiration dates and multistate eligibility.
Licence types
RN
- State title
- registered nurse
LPN
- State title
- licensed practical nurse
Conditions & source context
LPN parallel in the same document (approved practical-nursing school plus written examination); fee schedule prices RN and LPN separately.
Source quotation
An applicant must be graduate of an approved school of registered nursing and licensed by written examination to be licensed as a registered nurse in Tennessee.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Multistate licences issued
Yes
Conditions & source context
Current endorsement instructions route applicants by compact status and require a PSOR declaration; multistate licensing is live board practice, not just statute.
Source quotation
If you declare your legal residence in another compact state and hold a multistate license, you are ineligible for a Tennessee license and your application will be placed on hold for up to one year until you declare Tennessee as your primary state of residence.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Licence term
- Years
- 2
Conditions & source context
Biennial renewal is confirmed; the precise expiration convention is unverified.
Source quotation
Biennial competency requirements (with each renewal).
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
NCLEX required to get licensed
Yes
Conditions & source context
Board page establishes approved-school eligibility and NCLEX required; RN/practical nurse exam application instructions linked by Board, revised 10/2024. Supports ordinary new-graduate route only; preserve foreign-educated and predecessor exam cases separately.
Source quotation
Only graduates of approved schools of nursing are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required for licensure.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Working across state lines
Compact membership, license privileges and application requirements.
NLC law enacted
- Status
- Yes
- Enacted
10 Mar 2016
- Citation
- SB 1725 / HB 1678; Public Chapter 591
NLC law in force
- Status
- Yes
- Delayed clause
- Yes
- Clause
- Earlier of December 31, 2018, or enactment by 26 states.
Conditions & source context
Enactment and compact implementation are separate dates.
Source quotation
This bill will take effect upon becoming a law, but the compact will not take effect until the earlier of December 31, 2018, or passage of the compact into law by 26 states.
wapp.capitol.tn.gov · State legislature
Issuing multistate licences
- Status
- Yes
- Connected
19 Jan 2018
Conditions & source context
Historical implementation date from NCSBN. Current Board instructions independently recognize out-of-state multistate licenses.
Conditions for privilege
- Hold a current RN or LPN multistate license issued by your compact home state.
- Follow the nursing practice laws where patients receive care.
Conditions & source context
Conditions apply to compact practice. Tennessee endorsement paperwork is a separate route.
Source quotation
A multistate nursing license or license endorsement will be recognized by all compact member states.
wapp.capitol.tn.gov · State legislature
Home-state residence rule
- Keys off home-state residence
- Yes
- If your home state changes
- Tennessee PSOR declaration before a held application proceeds
- Detail
- Compact-state residents holding a multistate license are ineligible for a Tennessee license until they declare Tennessee PSOR; proof may be requested (TN driver license or state ID).
Conditions & source context
PSOR declaration form PH-3913; held applications wait up to one year.
Source quotation
*Primary state of residence means the state of a person's declared fixed permanent and principal home for legal purposes; domicile.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Can I take a contract on privilege alone
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Conditions & source context
Applies to RN/LPN practice under a valid home-state multistate license. Employer credentialing and APRN authority are separate.
Source quotation
A multistate nursing license or license endorsement will be recognized by all compact member states.
wapp.capitol.tn.gov · State legislature
Apply from another state
Eligibility, application fees, background checks and temporary licenses.
Endorsement available
Yes
Source quotation
Instructions for Licensure by Endorsement - RN and LPN
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
What it is called
Licensure by Endorsement - RN and LPN
Source quotation
Instructions for Licensure by Endorsement - RN and LPN
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Where to apply
Conditions & source context
The published payment amount differs between Board documents; the total is marked unverified below.
Source quotation
Complete the Online Application and UPLOAD the following documents and submit $150.00 payment (PAY ONE TIME ONLY) - do not submit duplicate payment) at: https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
What you must provide
PSOR determination before applying (Tennessee or non-compact state)
- Detail
- Compact-state multistate holders are ineligible until declaring Tennessee PSOR.
Graduate of an approved nursing school and licensed by written examination
- Detail
- RN and LPN stated separately; transcripts sent directly to nursing.health@tn.gov.
Criminal background check with OCA code
- Detail
- RN 1703, LPN 1704; conviction documents plus explanation letter if applicable.
Verification of original licensure, via Nursys for most states
- Detail
- California LPN and Pennsylvania contact their boards for instructions.
Acceptable exam scores (SBTPE or NCLEX at or above board minimum)
Notarized citizenship declaration (SAVE Act verification)
- Detail
- Form PH-41833, no digital signature.
Foreign graduates include CES report plus English proficiency exam unless exempt country
- Detail
- Via TruMerit; IELTS, TOEFL, MET, or OET.
Conditions & source context
Items apply to the relevant RN, LPN or international-education route.
Source quotation
The Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) provided scores are equal to or higher than the lowest passing scores required by this board.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Application fee
- Per
- RN/LPN endorsement application
- Published schedule usd
- 115
- Instructions payment usd
- 150
- Fingerprint fee usd
- 37.15
Conditions & source context
The Board fee schedule lists $115; its endorsement instructions request a $150 payment. The documents do not explain the difference, so a total application cost is unverified.
Source conflict — unresolved
Complete the Online Application and UPLOAD the following documents and submit $150.00 payment (PAY ONE TIME ONLY)
tn.gov says otherwise.
The instructions request $150. No verified breakdown reconciles it with the $115 fee schedule.
How long it takes
- Typical
- 42
- Basis
- published_by_state
Conditions & source context
Six weeks rendered as 42 days; status checks via the license-verification portal. Reinstatement review separately states six weeks.
Source quotation
Allow six weeks for processing. It is not necessary to call the board to check on the status of your application go to: https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Background check
- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- FBI check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- IdentoGO
- Fee
- 37.15
- From out of state
- Out-of-state applicants register with IdentoGO using agency OCA codes (RN 1703, LPN 1704); prints must be scanned within two weeks of registration or re-registration plus fee is required.
Conditions & source context
Use the Board’s RN or LPN OCA code. Fingerprints must be scanned within two weeks of registration.
Source quotation
All applicants applying for initial licensure in Tennessee (not renewal or reinstatement, required for nursing reinstatement) will be required to obtain a criminal background check conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Nursys verification
- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
Conditions & source context
Nursys fee, if any, is paid in Nursys and unstated here; fee_usd held null rather than zero. California-LPN and Pennsylvania exceptions documented.
Source quotation
Request Verification of licensure from the state where you were originally licensed. The Nursys website (http://www.nursys.com ) should be used for most states.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Renewal and education
Renewal dates, required education and reinstatement options.
Renewal interval (years)
2
Conditions & source context
Renewal fee $100 per fee schedule. Expiration convention unverified.
Source quotation
Biennial competency requirements (with each renewal).
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Renewal competency and CE
RN
- Requirement
- evidence of TWO competence items per renewal from a 14-item list
- Includes contact hour option
- Hours
- 10
- When required
- per renewal period
LPN
- Requirement
- evidence of TWO competence items per renewal from a 14-item list
- Includes contact hour option
- Hours
- 10
- When required
- per renewal period
Conditions & source context
Keep evidence of two qualifying activities for each renewal. Ten CE hours is one option on the list.
Source quotation
Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses maintain evidence of TWO items from the following list:
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
If your licence lapses
Reinstatement via the LARS portal with PSOR declaration, notarized citizenship declaration plus proof, fingerprint background check (OCA RN 1703, LPN 1704), and criminal-history documents if applicable; six-week review; fee $200.
Conditions & source context
Instructions revision 04/2021; $200 fee corroborated by the current fee schedule. Deficiency notices by email.
License verification
Official license-verification links and the information available from each source.
Licence lookup
Conditions & source context
Portal doubles as application-status check and license verification; returned fields unverified.
Source quotation
Allow six weeks for processing. It is not necessary to call the board to check on the status of your application go to: https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/.
tn.gov · State Board of Nursing
Ask the board of nursing
Tennessee's published rules don't answer these. Ask before you apply — tn.gov.
- Jurisprudence exam. Does Tennessee require a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
- Criminal-history requirements. What criminal-history requirements apply to nursing licensure in Tennessee?
Where the sources disagree or go quiet
Worth asking about directly.
Does the $150 LARS endorsement-portal payment bundle the $115 fee plus background check, and what is the current breakdown?
Do Tennessee RN/LPN licenses expire on an anniversary date or a fixed biennial date?
Does Tennessee offer any temporary permit for endorsement applicants pending licensure?