Graduates of the prelicensure nursing programs are eligible to apply for licensure and, if approved, to take the licensing exam. All candidates for RN licensure must pass the NCLEX-RN^® exam and meet all other requirements, as specified by the specific state board of nursing, to be licensed and to practice as a registered nurse. Learners who intend to apply for licensure outside the states where the College operates its Supervised On-Ground Field Experiences (SOFE) areas must verify with the corresponding state board of nursing to ensure that initial licensure will be possible in the desired state.

Learners may be able to first become licensed in a state where the College operates its SOFE sites and then endorse the license into another state. Learners should research the licensure and testing requirements on the respective state board of nursing website.

Note: The College publishes a list of states in which the College has not determined its graduates’ licensure eligibility.

Information about salaries, career advancement, and employment mobility can be found in resources such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, available at www.bls.gov.

Completion of an academic program does not guarantee licensure or employment; however, the College provides licensure exam preparation coaching, career support services, and placement assistance without additional charges.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Waiver
Certain states allow learners who have completed the first academic semester of a prelicensure nursing program to apply for CNA certification. For more information, see the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Waiver Catalog Insert.

License Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Equivalency
In exceptional circumstances, learners who successfully complete the BSN 346 course in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program may apply for an LPN licensure by equivalency in Utah. To qualify for the equivalency waiver, the learner must be a Utah resident, must complete mandatory career counseling, as well as request, pay for, and pass the HESI RN Specialty: PN – BSN Mobility exam with a minimum HESI score of 900. Learners may have up to two (2) attempts to pass the exam.

Upon successfully passing the exam and completing the counseling, the learner may request official transcripts to be submitted to the corresponding state licensing authority to begin the application process, which includes taking the NCLEX-PN exam. Learners are expected to complete the academic program at the College upon being licensed as an LPN. For inquiries, learners should contact NCLEX Coaching at nclexcoaching@nightingale.edu.

Notes: Learners are responsible for obtaining LPN licensure equivalency process and eligibility information directly from the corresponding state board of nursing. LPN licenses obtained by equivalency may not be endorsable into any other U.S. state or jurisdiction. Learners will be required to sign a statement in which they commit to completing the remainder of their academic program.