Compact status
Nurse Licensure Compact member
AZ · Internationally educated nurses
Arizona RN license requirements
A researched starting point for applying to Arizona State Board of Nursing, including education review, English rules, identification requirements, background checks, and the NCLEX sequence.
Credential evaluation
Accepted paths include TruMerit CES Professional Report, VisaScreen verification, or TruMerit Certification; ERES Education Equivalency Report; or Josef Silny nursing basic report. The Board publishes special Canadian and Puerto Rico rules.
English requirement
For exam applicants whose program country’s principal language is not English: TOEFL iBT 84 with speaking 26; IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 each module; PTE Academic 55 overall with at least 50 each section; VisaScreen; or TruMerit Certification. Board-listed exemptions apply.
SSN requirement
An applicant otherwise qualified may receive an Arizona single-state license after completing the Board affidavit if no SSN is available. A valid U.S. SSN is required for a multistate license.
Background check
Fingerprint-based state and federal checks are part of licensure and are expressly required for multistate eligibility.
Education review
The international program must be approved by the authorized accrediting body in its country and verified by an independent review agency. Puerto Rico and Canada have detailed exceptions.
Application sequence
How to apply in Arizona
- 1
Apply in the Arizona Nurse Portal.
- 2
Order an accepted education verification report.
- 3
Complete English proficiency before NCLEX when required.
- 4
Submit fingerprints and required affidavits.
- 5
Register with Pearson VUE and test after eligibility/ATT.
Documents to prepare
- Credential report
- English scores or qualifying certificate
- Fingerprint submission
- SSN affidavit if applicable
- Lawful-presence affidavit/documentation if applicable
- Foreign license verification where applicable
Verify before paying
- • The English exemption list and Puerto Rico cutoff rules are detailed and should be checked against the applicant’s graduation date.
- • An SSN affidavit supports single-state issuance, not multistate eligibility.
Apply through the official board
This guide helps you compare requirements; it is not the application. Check the current instructions from Arizona State Board of Nursing before ordering reports or submitting documents.
Official sources reviewed
Research checked 2026-07-22. Requirements can change.
General educational information only. The state board is the authority on licensure eligibility; immigration authorization is a separate process.