Compact status
Nurse Licensure Compact member
MD · Internationally educated nurses
Maryland RN license requirements
A researched starting point for applying to Maryland Board of Nursing, including education review, English rules, identification requirements, background checks, and the NCLEX sequence.
Credential evaluation
TruMerit/CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report, sent directly to MBON.
English requirement
Board-approved English proof is required. Current materials list TOEFL iBT, IELTS, MET, PTE Academic and OET routes, with exemptions in specified circumstances; use the current international instructions for scores.
SSN requirement
Current instructions say SSN disclosure is mandatory for normal processing, but direct applicants without a valid SSN or ITIN to email MBON for a paper application. Do not assume that route guarantees issuance.
Background check
Maryland Criminal History Record Check with fingerprints is required; out-of-state applicants request a fingerprint card from MBON.
Education review
Program must be substantially equivalent and include correlated theory and clinical practice in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, gerontologic and psychiatric nursing.
Application sequence
How to apply in Maryland
- 1
File the Maryland international examination application first.
- 2
Order the CES Professional Report and English results to MBON.
- 3
Complete the Maryland criminal-history check and primary-residence declaration.
- 4
Wait for MBON approval before registering with Pearson VUE, per the international instructions.
Documents to prepare
- High-school diploma/equivalent
- CES Professional Report
- Academic records and original-license validation sent through CGFNS
- English score
- Primary-state-of-residence declaration
- CHRC
Verify before paying
- • Some older MBON pages conflict with the 2026 international page about online versus paper filing and when to register with Pearson; follow the current international instructions or written Exam Unit direction.
- • Residents of another compact state generally must seek their home-state license; multistate status requires Maryland primary residence.
Apply through the official board
This guide helps you compare requirements; it is not the application. Check the current instructions from Maryland 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.