The North Dakota Board of Nursing administers the Nursing Education Scholarship (NES) Program that is established by NDCC 43-12.1-08. (2)(g), regulated under NDAC 54-04.2-01 and supported by nurse licensure renewal fees. The goal of the NES Program is to promote interest in nursing and provide scholarships to North Dakota residents attending an approved prelicensure or accredited graduate nursing program, or nurse refresher course that meets board requirements. The NES Program was created to provide assistance to North Dakota residents, including licensed nurses pursuing further nursing education, and prelicensure nursing students that have already completed part of a nursing program.

• Be a permanent resident of the state of North Dakota.
• If licensed as a nurse, hold an unencumbered North Dakota license to practice nursing.
• The scholarship is awarded on a one-time basis to each student per degree type.
• Be enrolled in an NDBON approved undergraduate nursing program, accredited graduate nursing program, or a nurse refresher course that meets Board requirements.
• Students must graduate after July 1st of the following year to be eligible to apply.
• Pre-nursing students are not eligible to apply.

• Submit an NES application (SFN 11692).
• Submit a Student Status Memorandum form as verification of enrollment completed by your nursing program faculty or representative (SFN 14690).
• Submit the non-refundable $30 application fee.
• Provide proof of North Dakota Residency.
• Submit an unofficial transcript from nursing program enrolled in.
• Submit a 300–350-word essay answering the question: "How will you use your nursing education to serve the citizens of North Dakota?" with application.
• Only complete applications with the required documents will be considered. The NDBON does not accept separate documents after the application has been submitted.
• All scholarship awards are disbursed directly to the educational institution where the student is enrolled. Scholarship funds will be used to offset the cost of tuition, academic fees and books only.

Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for a scholarship, a complete application and required documents must be submitted by email or mail to the NDBON by October 31^st  11:59 pm CST.

1. Application – Nursing Education Scholarship Program form (SFN 11692). Attestation Statement must be marked complete acknowledging intent to work as a nurse in North Dakota following graduation.
2. Students must graduate after July 1^st of the following year to be eligible to apply.
3. Nonrefundable application fee of $30.00.
4. Unofficial transcript reflecting current nursing program enrollment.
5. Student Status Memorandum form (SFN 14690) completed by your nursing program faculty or representative dated after July 1^st verifying your acceptance and current enrollment into a board approved and/or accredited nursing education program.
6. Proof of North Dakota Residency.
7. Essay: In 300-350 words respond to the question "How will you use your nursing education to serve the citizens of North Dakota?" The essay should be typed using APA style, with one-inch margins, double-spaced, easy to read font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana with font size between 10 and 12 points.

• Applications are only accepted between July 1 and October 31 by mail or email.
• All education scholarship applications will be considered annually at the April board meeting.
• An application will be reviewed by the board only if it is received by the deadline and the application is submitted with all required documents.
• All applicants for an education scholarship are considered under blind review. A board member, staff employee or family member of either of the foregoing, who applies for an education scholarship will be excluded from all application processing, review, and board action related to the NES Program.
• A scholarship application may be submitted for each of the different degree levels of nursing education an applicant enrolls in as detailed under disbursements. Only one scholarship per degree level per individual will be awarded.
• A past Nursing Education Loan (NEL) award recipient may not submit a scholarship application for the same degree level they have received a previous award for. They may submit an application for each of the other degree levels of nursing education they enroll in as detailed under disbursements.

The NES Program funds will be disbursed directly to the educational institution or as otherwise approved by the Board. To the extent funds are available, the scholarship may be awarded in the following amounts:

1. Students who are accepted into a nondegree licensed practical nurse program may receive a scholarship of no more than one thousand dollars ($1000).
2. Students in an associate degree licensed practical or registered nurse program may receive a scholarship of no more than two thousand dollars ($2000) for the entire program, including a one plus one program.
3. Students in a baccalaureate registered nurse program may receive a scholarship of no more than three thousand dollars ($3000).
4. Graduate nurse students including students in a post-master's certificate program may receive a scholarship of no more than four thousand dollars ($4000) to complete studies for a master's degree in nursing.
5. Graduate nurse students pursuing a doctorate may receive a scholarship of up to five thousand five hundred dollars ($5,500).

An education scholarship award is transferable from one board-approved nursing education program to another upon receipt of proof of enrollment in the nursing program.

Request for variance from these guidelines must be submitted to the board for consideration.