Compact status
Nurse Licensure Compact member
NC · Internationally educated nurses
North Carolina RN license requirements
A researched starting point for applying to North Carolina Board of Nursing, including education review, English rules, identification requirements, background checks, and the NCLEX sequence.
Credential evaluation
TruMerit CES Professional Report, TruMerit Certificate, or VisaScreen is accepted for education documentation.
English requirement
TOEFL on the Board’s current scale (overall 4.5) or IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each module; TruMerit Certificate or VisaScreen also accepted. Exempt education: U.S., Canada except Quebec, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.
SSN requirement
A valid SSN/card is required before license issuance, but the applicant may take NCLEX while applying for an SSN.
Background check
Satisfactory criminal background check required before license issuance, but not before taking NCLEX.
Education review
International education documentation and English requirements must be accepted before examination eligibility.
Application sequence
How to apply in North Carolina
- 1
Apply through Nurse Gateway using Exam Application.
- 2
Submit CES Professional Report/TruMerit Certificate/VisaScreen and English evidence if required.
- 3
Register with Pearson VUE after requirements/payment; Board declares eligibility and ATT is valid 180 days.
- 4
Complete SSN proof and criminal background check before license issuance.
Documents to prepare
- Education evaluation/certificate/VisaScreen
- English result if required
- Valid SSN card before issuance
- Criminal background check
- Identity/name documents
Verify before paying
- • The Board currently displays TOEFL results on a revised scale; use the live page.
- • A multistate license requires North Carolina primary residence; applicants declaring another state receive no North Carolina multistate license.
Apply through the official board
This guide helps you compare requirements; it is not the application. Check the current instructions from North Carolina 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.