- 1). Choose the academic path that best suits your academic and professional goals as all options eventually lead to the student becoming a nurse in North Carolina. Choose a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) if you plan on pursing a graduate degree in nursing or if you want greater career opportunities within the field. Choose an associate degree in nursing or a diploma program if you wish to begin your career within two to three years. Associate degrees and diploma programs are shorter in duration as they focus solely on nursing courses, unlike a BSN program that includes liberal arts courses to create an interdisciplinary program.
- 2). Choose to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) if you wish to begin your nursing career after only one year of academic study. Remember that LPNs are not eligible to apply for a registered nurse license and this will impact your possibilities for career advancement. Although, if you choose this option there are many accelerated LPN to BSN programs available if you later decide to advance your academic credentials.
- 3). Submit an application to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in order to garner authorization to test for the National Council for Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. You must also submit an application to the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBoN). Schedule an examination date within 180 days of receiving clearance from the NCBoN and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Examination results are mailed by the NCBoN within 30 days of the test date. Satisfactorily passing a criminal background check is also required for licensure.
- 4). Access the NCBoN online application for renewal if your registered nurse license has expired. Submit the online application for endorsement to North Carolina if you hold a registered nurse license in a state participating in North Carolina endorsement. Endorsement means that North Carolina will accept a valid license from another state. The only states that do not offer endorsement are Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and Wyoming. Register with the NCBoN to retake the NCLEX-RN if you live in one of the previously mentioned states. A criminal background check is also necessary for endorsement applicants. Ensure that you also apply for a temporary license, if necessary, as the endorsement process takes six to eight weeks to complete.
- 5). Register for the NCLEX-RN if you are a graduate of an international nursing program. The NCBoN does not accept reciprocity from any international nursing authorities. Consult the NCBoN online site whenever you would like to find more information regarding the status of your application.
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