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Advanced Practice Licensure

INITIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCED LICENSURE  NDAC 54-05-03.1-04   

Applicants for advanced practice registered nurse licensure must:

1. Possess or submit one of the following:
   1. Have a current license to practice as a registered nurse in North Dakota.  Make sure to include your current ND RN license number on the advanced practice application where indicated.
   2. Have a current compact RN license in another compact state if you are claiming another compact state as your primary state of residence.
   3. Submit an online Initial RN License by Endorsement application if you do not currently have a ND RN license or an RN license from another compact state. 

A compact state is referring to a state that belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). 

• The Nurse Licensure Compact allows the multistate licensure privilege to practice in other compact states as an RN or LPN. 
• The Advanced Practice license is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• For more information on the Nurse Licensure Compact and for a list of states belonging to the compact see www.ncsbn.org

2. Submit evidence of completion of an accredited graduate level advanced practice registered nurse program in one of the four roles and with at least one population focus (official transcripts from program);
    
3. Submit evidence of current certification by a national nursing certifying body in the advanced practice registered nurse role and population foci appropriate to educational preparation.  Primary source verification of certification is required;
    
4. Hold a license or privilege to practice that is not encumbered by any state or territory;
    
5. Submit a completed “Initial Advanced Practice License with or without Prescriptive Authority Application” and pay the appropriate fee;
    
6. Certify the Scope of Practice is consistent with your nursing education and nursing certification by checking the appropriate box on the application;
    
7. After December 31, 2015, all applicants for advanced practice registered nurse licensure must meet the licensure requirements in this chapter.

• An applicant for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse who completed an advanced nursing education program and was licensed or certified in advanced practice before December 31, 2015, may apply for and receive an advanced practice license if that applicant meets the requirements that were in effect at the time the applicant qualified for initial advanced practice licensure.

8. Complete a Criminal History Record Check if you have not completed a Criminal History Record Check for the ND Board of Nursing in the past 180 days. 

PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY:
An advanced practice registered nurse who desires to include prescriptive authority within the practitioner's scope of practice may apply for prescriptive authority for an additional fee of $75.00 from the North Dakota Board of Nursing. 

Prescriptive authority must be requested by the advanced practice registered nurse by completing the required portion of the application. The application process involves a review by board staff. When the application meets all the requirements established by the board the registered nurse/advanced practice license will be reissued with prescriptive authority. The authorization to prescribe will be communicated by the Board of Nursing to the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy.

If the application process has not been completed in one year, the application fee will be forfeited and a new application will be required. 

To Apply 

1. RN Licensure
   • If you have never held an RN license in North Dakota and will be claiming ND as your primary state of residence OR
   • If you are claiming a state that does not belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact as your primary state of residence OR
   • If you are currently claiming another compact state as your primary state of residence but will be changing your primary state of residence to ND when you come to work here
     • Complete the online Initial RN/LPN Endorsement Application below
       • You will be prompted to pay at the end of this online application via credit card, debit, card, Paypal account or checking account information.  The non-refundable initial exam/processing fee is $170.  A receipt will display when your application has been submitted.  Print or save this receipt electronically as proof of payment.  
       • Initial RN/LPN Endorsement Application   when you have completed the RN Endorsement application, return to this screen to complete the Initial Advanced Practice License with or without Prescriptive Authority below.
2. Official Transcripts

• The Board requires a completed transcript with a degree posted from an accredited graduate-level advanced practice registered nurse program;  Copies of transcripts sent by applicants will not be accepted.  Only official transcripts sent directly from the nursing program to the Board office are accepted. 
  • Preferred Method - Transcripts may be sent electronically through one of the following or another secure transcript service:
    • National Student Clearing House -  Instructions for ordering transcripts from the National Student Clearing House
    • e-script
    • Parchment
      • If prompted by a secure transcript service to enter an email address for ND Board of Nursing use transcripts@ndbon.org    
  • You may use the Request for Release of Transcript form if you are requesting a paper copy from the college   

3. Certification by a national nursing certifying body

• Certification must be submitted directly from the certification organization to the ND Board of Nursing.
  • Can be emailed to aprn@ndbon.org

4. Complete the Initial Advanced Practice License with or without Prescriptive Authority

• This is a paper form to complete, print, and mail to the ND Board of Nursing (address is on the form).
• Fee(s) -
  • Advanced Practice initial non-refundable licensure fee - $125
  • Prescriptive Authority initial non-refundable licensure fee - $75
  • Processing fee if you answered "no" to the Criminal History Record Check question - $20
    • If you are also completing an online RN Endorsement application at this same time you will not need to include the $20 because the processing fee is included with the online RN Endorsement Application. 

5.  54-05-03.1-09. Requirements for prescriptive authority. Applicants for prescriptive authority shall:
   1. Be currently licensed or applying for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in North Dakota.
   2. Submit a completed “Initial Advanced Practice License with or without Prescriptive Authority Application” and pay the fee listed on the form.
   3. Submit a completed transcript with degree posted from an accredited graduate-level advanced practice registered nurse program which includes evidence of completion of advanced pharmacotherapy, physical assessment, and pathophysiology. 
   4. Provide evidence of completion of 30 contact hours of education or equivalent in pharmacotherapy related to the applicant’s scope of advanced practice that:
      1. Have been obtained within a three-year period of time immediately prior to the date of application for prescriptive authority; or
      2. May otherwise be approved by the board.
   5. Only certificates which itemize pharmacology CE will be accepted.  UpToDate activity certificates do NOT meet the requirement for pharmacology-specific CE.
       
6. Complete a Criminal History Record Check as outlined on the initial application. 

• Criminal History Record check Instructions      

Temporary Permit

An applicant for advanced licensure who possesses a current registered nurse license, and has submitted a complete application, the required fee, and evidence of meeting all educational requirements, may be issued a ninety-day temporary advanced practice registered nurse permit for practice in an advanced practice registered nurse category if the applicant:

1. Is applying for licensure under section 54-05-03.1-04;
2. Has applied as a first-time candidate to the next national nursing certification examination for the advanced practice registered nurse
   category;
3. Is awaiting certification results based upon initial application;
4. Temporary permit will not include prescriptive authority.

 Temporary permits are only posted online in the "Verify" section of this site.  There are no paper temporary permits issued.

Full Licensure

To receive a full license the following must be received and approved in the Board Office: 

• RN licensure in ND or another compact state
• APRN Application
• Official transcripts
• Evidence of current certification
• Clear or approved criminal history record check

ND Advanced Practice licenses have the same license number and expiration date as your ND RN license.  Make sure you monitor your license expiration date on the "Verify" section of this site.

Keep all demographic (name, address, phone number, email address) changes updated with the Board Office