Compact status
Not a Nurse Licensure Compact member
MA · Internationally educated nurses
Massachusetts RN license requirements
A researched starting point for applying to Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, including education review, English rules, identification requirements, background checks, and the NCLEX sequence.
Credential evaluation
Foreign nursing education requires the credentials evaluation specified by the Board’s current exam application; verify the currently accepted vendor/report before ordering.
English requirement
English proficiency applies unless the applicant meets the Board’s education-based exemption; accepted tests and scores are controlled by the current application instructions.
SSN requirement
Massachusetts applications request an SSN; the reviewed material did not establish the precise issuance result for an applicant without one. Ask the Board before paying.
Background check
Applicants answer criminal-history questions and undergo the checks required by the Board; a blanket fingerprint step was not confirmed from the reviewed page.
Education review
The Board reviews foreign education for comparability to Massachusetts RN education; any missing clinical/content requirements are determined during review.
Application sequence
How to apply in Massachusetts
- 1
Use the Board’s license-by-exam page and selected online application.
- 2
Send the specified credential evaluation and English evidence directly.
- 3
Register with Pearson VUE.
- 4
Wait for Board eligibility and Pearson ATT before scheduling.
Documents to prepare
- Credential evaluation
- English evidence or exemption support
- License verification if previously licensed
- Legal-name/identity records
Verify before paying
- • Vendor, report-name, score, and SSN details are not safely summarized from the landing page and must be checked in the live application.
- • Massachusetts is not an NLC member as of the research date.
Apply through the official board
This guide helps you compare requirements; it is not the application. Check the current instructions from Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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.