Nursing Licensure

The Carthage College Nursing Program meets the educational requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. It prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN exam. The National Council of the State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers NCLEX-RN examinations on behalf of its member boards, which consist of the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

About Nursing Licensure

Licensure is the process by which boards of nursing grant permission to an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice. Licensure is needed when the regulated activities are complex and require specialized knowledge, skill, and independent decision-making. The licensure process determines if the applicant has the skills necessary to safely perform a specified scope of practice by predetermining the criteria needed and evaluating licensure applicants to determine if they meet the criteria.

Components of Nursing Licensure

Verification of graduation or eligibility for graduation from an approved pre-licensure RN nursing education program
Verification of successful completion of NCLEX-RN examination
In some states, a criminal background check is required

Applying for Licensure

The Carthage Nursing program guides students to apply to the state of their choice. The central states where students pursue licensure are Wisconsin and Illinois. For other states the Director of Nursing works with the student to authorize education and apply for licensure. Note that 41 jurisdictions are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Residents of these jurisdictions are eligible for a multi-state license.

Please note: BSN students in Alabama, California and Louisiana must complete a microbiology course. Carthage BSN students who wish to have a single license in these states will need to take this in addition to standard coursework.