Application for Nursing Licensure

Application for Alabama licensure is completed on-line at the Alabama Board of Nursing website (www.abn.state.al.us). Students who desire to be licensed in a state other than Alabama must obtain NCLEX-PN information and application from that state.

Applicants who have an arrest record should be aware that they may not be permitted to sit for the licensing examination. This determination is made AFTER an individual’s application to take the NCLEX-PN for licensure is submitted.

For example, according to the Alabama Board of Nursing Administrative Code 610-X-8-.02, the following may be grounds for denial of an application for initial licensure and/or temporary permit by examination or endorsement:

1. Failure to meet any requirement or standard established by law or by rules and regulations adopted by the Board.
2. Engaging in fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or concealment of a material fact in applying for or securing licensure or taking any examination required for licensure.
3. A course of conduct that would be grounds for discipline under Rule 610-X-8-.03.
4. Having disciplinary action pending or having had a license denied, conditionally issued, fined, reprimanded, censured, restricted, limited, placed on probation, suspended, revoked, voluntarily surrendered, or otherwise encumbered in any state, territory or country.
5. Having been court-martialed or administratively discharged by a branch of the United States Armed Forces for any act or conduct that would constitute grounds for discipline in this state under Rule 610-X-8-.03.
6. Having engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with good moral character.
   1. The decision as to whether the applicant has engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with good moral character is within the discretion of the Board of Nursing.
   2. In determining whether the applicant has engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with good moral character, the Board may consider the applicant’s criminal history, pattern of illegal conduct or disregard for the law, or other evidence bearing on the applicant’s fitness for practice as a licensed nurse.
7. Non-compliance with a monitoring agreement or contract with an alternative to discipline program or order issued in another jurisdiction pertaining to any license, certification, or registration for a health-related profession.
8. Any other reasons authorized by law.

Author: Alabama Board of Nursing
Statutory Authority: Code of Alabama. 1975, §§ 34-21-21, 34-21-25.
History: Filed September 29, 1982. Amended: Filed March 23, 1984; effective April 27, 1984. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 29, 2002; effective March 5, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 21,2010; effective June 25, 2010. Amended: Filed June 24, 2014; effective July 29, 2014.

It is important for students to be aware of the Alabama Board of Nursing regulations on the review of candidates for eligibility for initial and continuing licensure. The following questions are currently asked on the “Application for Licensure by Examination.”

1. Have you ever been arrested for, been charged with, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, entered a plea of nolo contendere or no contest for, received deferred prosecution or adjudication for, had judgment withheld for, received pretrial diversion for, or pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect to any crime other than a minor traffic violation in any state, territory, or country? A crime related to driving while impaired or while under the influence of any substance is not a "minor traffic violation."
2. In the past five years, have you abused alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances or received treatment or been recommended for treatment for dependency to alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances?
3. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol?
4. In the past five years, have you had, or do you now have, a physical or mental health problem that may impair your ability to provide safe nursing care?
5. Has the licensing authority of any state, territory, or country denied, revoked, suspended, reprimanded, fined, accepted your surrender of, restricted, limited, placed on probation, or in any other way disciplined your nursing and/or any other occupational license, registration, certification, or approval?
6. Is the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing, currently investigating you?
7. Is disciplinary action pending against you with the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing?
8. Have you ever been placed on a state and/or federal abuse registry?
9. Has any branch of the armed services ever administratively discharged you with any characterization of service besides "Honorable" and/or court-martialed you?

Application to sit for the licensing examination may be denied on the basis of this review. Although these policies refer specifically to Alabama, other states have similar stipulations regarding licensure.