Initial Licensure as a Registered Nurse by Examination
Effective Apr 25, 2025Mass. Register #1546MGL c. 13, § 14 MGL c. 112, §§ 74, 74A, 75, 76, 76B, 81B, and 81CBoard of Registration in Nursing
(1) An applicant for initial licensure as a Registered Nurse by examination shall submit to the Board the following documentation to establish the applicant's eligibility to write the NCLEX- RN:
- (a) proof satisfactory to the Board of good moral character as required by M.G.L. c. 112, § 74 and as established by Board policy;
(b) proof satisfactory to the Board of the applicant's graduation from an approved nursing education program for Registered Nurses:
1. if such program is located in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory, the applicant shall arrange for the following items to be sent directly to the Board from the program:
- a. certification of graduation by the program administrator or the program administrator's designee; and
- b. an original transcript from the Registered Nurse education program from which the applicant graduated verifying date of graduation and the credential conferred;
- 2. if such program is not located in the United States, the District of Columbia, a U.S. Territory, or Canada, the applicant's graduate status shall be certified by the Board or its designee by the applicant's receipt of a CGFNS Certificate, a CGFNS credentials review, or other Board-designated credentials review;
- 3. if such program is located in Canada and the applicant is not eligible for licensure by reciprocity under 244 CMR 8.04(3), the applicant's graduate status shall be certified by the Board or its designee;
- (c) proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has achieved a minimum score as specified by the Board on a Board-designated test of English proficiency where the applicant graduated from a nursing education program whose language of instruction or textbooks, or both, was not English;
- (d) payment of all required fees, unless waived in accordance with M.G.L. c. 112, § 1B; and
- (e) after meeting the eligibility criteria in 244 CMR 8.02(1)(a) through (d), proof satisfactory to the Board that the candidate has passed the NCLEX-RN during the NCLEX eligibility period.
- (2) A candidate who fails the NCLEX-RN may write the NCLEX-RN again as permitted by the Board's NCLEX Retake Policy.