Entry into the
practice of nursing in the United States and its
territories is regulated by the licensing authorities
within each jurisdiction. To ensure public protection,
each jurisdiction requires a candidate for licensure to
pass an examination that measures the competencies
needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly
licensed, entry-level registered nurse. The National
Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) develops two
licensure examinations, the National Council Licensure
Examination for Registered Nurses
and the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical
Nurses that are used by state and territorial boards
of nursing to assist in making licensure decisions.
Once you pass the NCLEX and are
licensed in a state, you may apply to other states
through a process known as endorsement.
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