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Requirements
RNs and LPNs: 15 contact hours every renewal period
Important Information for New Massachusetts Nurse Licensees
- The mission of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (Board) is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth through the fair and consistent application of the statutes and regulations governing nursing practice and education.
- To practice nursing in Massachusetts, you must hold and maintain a valid, current nursing license issued to you by the Board. It is not legal to practice nursing as a “Graduate Nurse” or if you do not hold a valid, current Massachusetts nursing license.
- Your Massachusetts nursing license will be mailed to you in approximately 21 business days. However, your license number will appear on the Board’s website in approximately 7 business days. You can begin employment as a nurse when your license number appears on the Board’s website. License numbers are not available by telephone. Please note: NCLEX candidate numbers do not serve as license numbers.
- Registered Nurse (RN) license renewals occur on the RN’s birthday in even-numbered years. Practical Nurse (PN) license renewals occur on the LPN’s birthday in odd-numbered years. A license renewal form will be mailed to you approximately six (6) weeks before your birthday. Forms will be mailed to your last known address of record. To insure timely license renewal, you are required to notify the Board in writing within 30 days of any change in your name or address. Be sure to include your license number and type when corresponding with the Board. Changes may also be made at the Board’s website. Telephone notifications of name and address changes are not accepted.
- RNs: if your birthday occurs within three months of the issue date of your first Massachusetts RN license, you will not renew your license until your birthday in the next even-numbered year. LPNs: if your birthday occurs within three months of the issue date of your first Massachusetts LPN license, you will not renew your license until your birthday in the next odd-number year.
- If your birthday occurs more than three months after the issue date of your first Massachusetts nursing license, you will be required to renew your license in the current even-numbered year if you are an RN, or in the current odd-numbered year if you are an LPN.
- To demonstrate your continued competence to practice nursing, 15 contact hours of continuing education are required every two years for renewal of your license. One contact hour equals 50 minutes of study. Programs that qualify as acceptable continuing education are those that directly contribute to your professional nursing competence. You will not be required to provide evidence of continuing education for your first license renewal.
- Each nurse licensed by the Board is required to engage in the practice of nursing in Massachusetts in accordance with the Board’s regulations at 244 CMR 3.00-9.00, available at the State House Bookstore, Beacon Hill, Boston, telephone (617) 727-2834, on the Board’s web site, and in your license application handbook.
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