244 CMR 8.03 - Initial Licensure as a Practical Nurse by Examination

(1) An applicant for initial licensure as a Practical Nurse by examination shall submit to the Board the following documentation to establish the applicant's eligibility to write the NCLEX-PN:

(a) proof satisfactory to the Board of good moral character as required by M.G.L. c. 112, § 74A and as established by Board policy;

(b) proof satisfactory to the Board of the applicant's graduation from an approved nursing education program for Practical Nurses or 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 Practical 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, the applicant's graduate status shall be certified by the Board or its designee;

4. if the applicant was a former student in good standing at an approved nursing education program for Registered Nurses, withdrew from such program in good standing and, as of the applicant's withdrawal date, had completed a program of study, theory, and clinical practice equivalent to that required for graduation from an approved nursing education program for Practical Nurses, the applicant shall arrange for the following items to be sent directly to the Board from the program as proof satisfactory to the Board of completion of such equivalent program:

a. certification by the program administrator or the program administrator's designee of completion of a program of study, theory, and clinical practice equivalent to that required for graduation from an approved nursing education program for Practical Nurses; and

b. an original transcript from the Registered Nurse education program from which the applicant withdrew verifying date of withdrawal;

(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 8.03(1)(a) through (d), proof satisfactory to the Board that the candidate has passed the NCLEX-PN during the NCLEX eligibility period.

(2) A candidate who fails the NCLEX-PN may write the NCLEX-PN again as permitted by the Board's NCLEX Retake Policy.

Notes

244 CMR 8.03

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1445, eff. 6/11/2021.