New Jersey – NJ Board of Nursing: A Guide to Licenses & Renewals

At its heart, the Board’s tasks are broad and important:

• Overseeing nursing practice.
• Accrediting educational programs.
• Licensing and certification.
• Maintaining state legislation.

The New Jersey Board of Nursing is made up of 12 members nominated by the governor: 6 registered professional nurses, 2 licensed practical nurses, 2 nurse educators, 1 advanced practice nurse, and 1 public member.

NJ Board of Nursing Contacts

NJ State Board of Nursing Workforce Overview 

New Jersey is home to a dynamic population of over 200,000 nurses, both active and inactive. Registered nurses (RNs) make up the majority of this category, whereas nurse midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are conspicuously underrepresented. This distribution aligns with trends seen throughout the state. Interestingly, 390 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), 3,665 RNs, and 207 Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are licensed to practice across multiple states.

According to the NJCCN’s New Jersey Nursing Data & Analysis, the nursing workforce in New Jersey is predominantly female, with average ages for RNs and APNs at 49 and 48, respectively. Looking ahead, 4% of LPNs, 6% of RNs, and 3% of APNs are considering retirement before the next renewal period. Notably, about a quarter of nurse practitioners are also licensed in other states, pointing to a fluid workforce.

Turnover rates in New Jersey are also telling, with LPNs experiencing a 46% turnover, RNs at 26%, and Nurse Practitioners at 24%. These figures are slightly above the national RN turnover rate of 22.5%, which carries a median of 21.7% in hospital settings. Interestingly, a mere one percent shift in RN turnover can lead to a financial impact of $380,600 annually for an average hospital—highlighting the significant cost implications of nurse staffing fluctuations.

Furthermore, the median yearly salaries for LPNs, RNs, and NPs have all increased significantly. With New Jersey placing sixth in the United States for RN job listings, the need for qualified nurses remains high.

This research emphasizes an important point: New Jersey must proactively manage its nurses in order to reconcile the continuous increasing need with the accessible supply of competent professionals.

NJ BoN – Practice Laws, Rules & Regulations

The New Jersey Board of Nursing highlights the necessity of learning state-specific legislation and regulations governing nursing activities. It is critical for nurses to discern between conduct that comes under the Board’s authority and those that are better addressed through workplace regulations or labor legislation.

Nurses are privy to a wealth of tools meant to assist them in providing exceptional care. These include organizational processes, guidelines for clinical practice, and more, which many people use every day, including but not limited to:

• Nursing Practice Statutes
• Delegation Regulations
• Standards of Nursing Practice
• NJ BON Policy Statements
• Decision-Making Model Algorithms

A key resource is the Nurse Practice Act (NPA). Following the NPA not only guides nurses in their practice but also shields them from potential legal issues. 

To assist nurses in determining the appropriateness of a specific clinical action, the Board offers a comprehensive Scope of Practice Determination Model. This model guides nurses through a series of checks to ensure any act performed is within their legal scope of practice and meets professional standards:

1. Confirm if the act is within your scope as defined by the New Jersey Board of Nursing Practice Act.
2. Ensure the act aligns with specific guidelines set by the Board.
3. Verify if the act is supported by practice standards from professional organizations and relevant research.
4. Check if the act meets the care standards that a reasonable, prudent nurse would provide in similar circumstances.
5. Assess whether you possess the necessary knowledge and demonstrated competency to perform the act safely.
6. Ensure the act is authorized per a valid order and aligns with established protocols, policies, and procedures of your institution.
7. Finally, confirm you are ready to take responsibility for the act and the outcomes of care provided.

NJ State Board of Nursing – Licensure Eligibility

Section 45:11-37 of New Jersey’s Nurse Practice Act requires all nursing practitioners to have a current and valid license or certificate to practice. Violation of this rule results in a $200 charges, which rises to $500 for additional violations following a prior conviction.

To be eligible for an initial license, nurses must have:

• Graduated from an accredited nursing education program.
• Successfully completed the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exams.
• Undergone a criminal background check

Registered nurses or licensed practical nurses from other states of the United States, including the District of Columbia, may apply for a license by endorsement.

Cost:

The New Jersey Board of Nursing levies the following fees:

1. Application: $75.00
2. Initial License: $120.00
3. Endorsement: $75.00, plus the initial license fee
4. Verification for Endorsement: $30.00

Examination Requirements

To be eligible for licensing, all candidates must pass the relevant National Council licensing Examination, whether for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

According to New Jersey regulations, if an applicant fails their licensure exam after 3 attempts, they must take a 30-hour remedial course before attempting it again. This course must be conducted by a certified instructor, and proof of accomplishment must be provided to the Board.

Application

New Jersey utilizes a single application for both, Examination and Endorsement  licenses. Depending on qualifications, applicants might be issued a multi-state Compact license or a single-state New Jersey license.

This application is valid for a year. After this time it will be dismissed, and you will have to start over, including paying the fees. 

Application Process

1. Submit your application online
   • Both RNs and LPNs use the same online application process, which includes a checklist of required items and instructions available here.
2. Attachments to include:
   • A recent photo.
   • Birth Certificate or Passport.
   • Proof of legal name change, if applicable.
3. Licensure Verification
4. Background Check

Temporary Courtesy License

If you’re a nurse licensed in good standing in another state, you might qualify for a temporary courtesy license in New Jersey. To apply:

• Complete the application form.
• Pay the non-refundable license fee.
• Provide verification of licensure from all states where you’ve been licensed.
• Show proof of nursing practice for at least two of the last five years.
• Submit a Criminal History Certification of Authorization form.

The license is valid for one year and can be extended for another year upon reapplication.

Check that all relevant documentation is delivered directly to the Board from official sources, including transcripts, testing results, and out-of-state license verifications. If you have a criminal background, please provide extensive explanations and formal proof for evaluation.

NJ Board of Nursing License Renewal

Nursing licenses in New Jersey expire every two years on May 31, with odd and even years alternating depending on when they were initially issued. The fees for renewing the licenses of nurses are as follows:

• Registered Nurse (RN): $120
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): $125
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN): $160

Each licensee is notified at their registered location at least 60 days preceding their license expiration date. Licensees must renew their licenses and pay the necessary payments before the expiration date. If you miss the due date, you can renew your license up to 30 days after it expires by submitting the renewal fee, a late fee, and an extra premium. Failure to renew within these 30 days results in an administrative suspension without a hearing.

During the renewal procedure, nurses can choose whether they want to maintain their licenses active or inactive. Those who select inactive status may not practice. Yet they continue to get all Board communications. To reinstate a license, an official request to the Board is required.

Active status necessitates fulfillment of all required continuing education hours. If you choose inactive status, these criteria will be disregarded until you elect to reinstate your license. The Board performs random audits to guarantee compliance with continuing education standards.

Nursing Board NJ – Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements

Nurses have to take at least 30 hours of continuing nursing education each two-year period. One of the requisite 30 hours must be spent on prescription opioids. This session should include alternatives to opioids for pain management and treatment, as well as information on the hazards and warning indications of opioid misuse, addiction, and diversion.

Nurses who surpass the minimum necessary continuing education hours in one biennial period may carry forward up to 15 of these extra hours to the following cycle, providing flexibility and acknowledgment for their commitment to continual learning.

Nurses can obtain their CE credits through various educational activities, including:

1. Attending approved nursing-related courses or programs (one hour per 60 minutes of attendance).
2. Completing courses related to nursing offered by entities like the American Nurse Credentialing Center.
3. Participating in continuing medical education recognized by major medical associations.
4. Engaging in accredited educational activities, such as those offered by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education.
5. Earning credits for higher degree courses related to nursing or for teaching new courses in the field.
6. Developing a new curriculum or presenting new seminars and lectures.
7. Publishing scholarly articles or textbooks on nursing topics.
8. Contributing to research approved by an institutional review board.
9. Creating instructional materials like CDs or videos.
10. Acting as a preceptor in an organized program.

NJ Nursing Board – Nurse Licensure Compact

New Jersey is an active participant in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses holding active, unencumbered licenses from other Compact states to practice in New Jersey without additional licenses. Conversely, New Jersey licensed nurses looking to practice in other Compact states can apply for a multistate license through a License by Upgrade process. 

New candidates for RN or LPN roles should initially apply as such, and if they meet all requirements, a multistate Compact license will be issued. However, if they don’t meet the Compact license requirements, they will receive a single state New Jersey license.

Eligibility Criteria for a New Jersey-Issued Multistate License

• Residency in New Jersey.
• Graduation from an approved nursing program.
• NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® Examination.
• Active, unencumbered nursing license.
• State and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
• No felony convictions under state or federal law related to nursing practice.
• No misdemeanor convictions related to nursing, assessed individually.
• Not currently enrolled in an alternative program.
• Valid U.S. Social Security number.

Complaints & Disciplinary Actions

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General plays a crucial role in upholding nursing standards through its Professional Boards Prosecution section. This body is responsible for presenting discipline charges before the New Jersey Board of Nursing. Under N.J.S.A. §45:1-18, the Attorney General has broad authority to investigate violations, requiring nurses to provide detailed accounts under oath and permitting the seizure of documents and other items as evidence. In some situations, nurses may be required to complete a skills exam to certify their competency.

Nurses in New Jersey are also legally compelled to cooperate in disciplinary proceedings. According to New Jersey Administrative Code Section 13:45 C-1.2, failing to comply may be deemed professional misconduct and result in disciplinary action. Furthermore, nurses must report any colleague whose conduct poses an imminent danger to patient safety or public health as per N.J.S.A. §45.1-37. Not reporting such misconduct is itself considered a breach of professional ethics.

Patient, family member, employer, or coworker complaints might all result in disciplinary action. Nurses also have to self-report if they are physically or legally impaired in a way that might jeopardize their professional obligations, or if they are participating in legal procedures relating to their practice. This involves getting indicted, engaging in malpractice lawsuit, or facing disciplinary action from any regulatory agency.

According to N.J.S.A. §45:1-21, the New Jersey Board of Nursing can impose disciplinary sanctions for fraud, professional misconduct, gross negligence, and criminal behavior, among other grounds. The Board has the jurisdiction to revoke or suspend licenses, as well as to apply a variety of disciplinary penalties. Warnings, civil fines, or orders to stop wrongdoing, restore impacted parties, seek professional treatment, or participate in additional education and monitoring to guarantee safe practice may be among them.

NJ Nursing Board Lookup & Verification

Anyone in New Jersey who needs to check the qualifications of a nursing practitioner can use a real-time licensing information system. You may instantly verify the license status by choosing your profession and licensing type. To do a search, use a combination of your first and last names, license number, and city.

Nursys makes it simple to seek verification, whether you’re applying for a license in a new state or just want to validate your credentials. Simply specify your license type (RN or LPN/VN) and the state you’re applying to, and Nursys will submit all necessary verifications to the appropriate state board of nursing. This guarantees that all of your license information is current and available to future employers or regulatory authorities, facilitating career transfers and ensuring compliance with nursing standards.

Board of Nursing New Jersey Useful Online Resources

• NJ BON Statutes and Regulations 
• Tips for License Applicants 
• American Nurses Association
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
• Department of Health
• National Council of State Board of Nursing, Inc.
• National League for Nursing
• ​New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing
• ​New Jersey Drug Control Unit
• New Jersey Hospital Association
• New Jersey State Nurses Association