New York licenses registered nurses through the State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions, with the State Board for Nursing. Everything below comes from NYSED's RN license requirements, its Pathway 1 instructions, its RN FAQ and its BSN in 10 page, checked October 18, 2026. Fees change, so confirm on the linked pages before you pay.
Study aid, not legal advice. Your state board of nursing has the final word on your license, and its rules and fees change. Built by an RN. Headed In LLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), Pearson VUE or any board of nursing; their names appear here only to point you to the real thing. NCLEX and NCLEX-RN are registered trademarks of NCSBN.
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Nursing)
Who can apply: at least 18, of good moral character, a graduate of a nursing program acceptable to NYSED (a NYSED-registered associate, bachelor's, master's or diploma program, a program approved by another state or U.S. territory, or an acceptable program of at least two years abroad). NYSED warns to check that a New York school is on its list of registered, license-qualifying programs before you enroll.
Required coursework: NYSED-approved child abuse reporting and infection control coursework, or an exemption. Graduates of NYSED-registered programs after September 1, 1990 have the child abuse coursework, and those who graduated within the past four years have the infection control coursework; others take approved courses.
Application: Online Form 1, Application for Licensure, with the $143 license and first registration fee by credit card. Testing accommodations are requested from NYSED on its own form before you test.
Background: NYSED's RN requirements list no fingerprinting. You answer moral character questions about convictions, pending charges and past discipline; a yes is decided case by case and does not automatically bar you.
NCLEX-RN: apply to NYSED and pay the fee, then register directly with Pearson VUE. To retake, reregister with Pearson VUE. NYSED's pages do not give a time to the Authorization to Test; check with NYSED.
Before you pass: a limited permit ($35, Form 5, completed with your employer) lets a graduate who has never taken the NCLEX work as a Graduate Nurse under on-unit RN supervision at that facility, for up to a year or until 10 days after a failed result. Graduates of NYSED-registered programs who apply for the license and permit may practice as a GN for 90 days right after graduation.
Registration: the license is good for life, but you practice on a registration that renews every 3 years for $73; the second registration is shortened to line up with your birth month. Infection control coursework repeats every 4 years.
BSN in 10: RNs who do not meet an exemption must earn a bachelor's or higher degree in nursing within 10 years of New York licensure to keep registering. Nurses licensed, or eligible and applied for the NCLEX, on or before June 18, 2020, and students in or applying to an RN program by that date, are exempt. NYSED can grant a temporary educational exemption or conditional registration.
New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, and NCSBN shows no pending compact legislation. Your New York license is single-state, and a multistate license from another state does not let you practice in New York: you need a New York license, by exam or by endorsement.
An associate degree, bachelor's degree, diploma or entry-level master's program approved by a board of nursing, with an NCLEX program code. Your school confirms you graduated.
Apply to the board
The license comes from the state board, not the exam. Apply, pay the board fee and do the background check the board asks for.
Register with Pearson VUE
The NCLEX-RN registration fee is $200 to Pearson VUE ($350 for registrations completed on or after February 1, 2027), non-refundable. Your registration stays open 365 days while the board decides your eligibility.
Get your Authorization to Test and sit the exam
When the board makes you eligible, Pearson emails your Authorization to Test (ATT). Test within its dates: they cannot be extended. The NCLEX-RN runs 85 to 150 questions in up to five hours, and it stops when the computer is 95% sure you are above or below the passing standard.