The United States Boards of Nursing are government agencies that established standards and issued license to individuals to safely practice nursing throughout the 50 states and the other 5 US territories. The state Board of Nursing provides specific rules and regulations about nursing practice, license requirements that include continuing education for relicensure, and basic definition and scope of nursing practice as stated in Nursing Practice Act that varies from one state to another.

The 50 states Board of Nursing are members of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), a non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion of common interests on nursing issues that impact on public health, welfare, and safety. The NCSBN has other representatives from District of Columbia and the other US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

NCSBN is also responsible for the development of nursing licensing examinations, the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). Among the other functions of the organization include policy analysis, promotion of standardization of nursing practice throughout the US and the 5 US territories, performance of research, distribution of updates and information related to nursing licensure, and promotion of networking and discussion among its members.

If you need information on nursing or practical nursing licensure and reciprocity of licensure, visit the following offsite links for the State Boards of Nursing. Please direct all other inquiries to the following addresses for the Board of Nursing on the other US territories:


Guam
South Route 10, Suite 9, Mangilao, Guam 69613
(671)735-7406
Street address (for Fed Ex & UPS)
651 Legacy Square Commercial Complex,
South Route 10 Suite 9
Mangilao, Guam 96913Phone: (671) 735-7406 ; (671) 725-7411 FAX: (671) 735-7413

American Samoa
LBJ Tropical Medical Center, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.
(684)633-1222

Northern Mariana Islands
P.O. Box 501458, Saipan, MP 96950.
(670)664-4812

Puerto Rico
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Board of Nurse Examiners
Office of Regulations and Certifications of Health Professionals
P.O. Box 10200
Santurce, PR 00908-0200
Physical Address:
800 Roberto H. Todd Avenue
Room 202, Stop 18
Santurce, PR 00908 Phone: (787) 725-7506
FAX: (787) 725-7903

Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure
P.O. Box 4247, Veterans Drive Station
St. Thomas, VI 00803 Phone: (340) 776-7397; FAX: (340) 777-4003

Lists of State Boards of Nursing in the U.S.-An off-site links