The nursing profession in the United States is both deeply local and nationally interconnected. While the science and ethics of nursing are universal, the authority to license and regulate nurses rests with state and territorial governments. This means that every nurse—whether a newly graduated Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a seasoned Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)—must meet the requirements of their State Board of Nursing (BON).
Alongside these regulatory bodies, accreditation agencies ensure that nursing education programs meet rigorous academic and professional standards. Together, these systems form the backbone of nursing quality and public safety in the U.S.
This expanded guide will:
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of State Boards of Nursing.
- Outline the function of accreditation agencies and why they matter.
- Provide a state-by-state directory of all 50 U.S. nursing boards, with official links for further reference.
The Role of State Nursing Boards
Every U.S. state and territory has a Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB)—commonly called a State Board of Nursing—that operates under state law. These boards are not professional associations; their mission is public protection.
Key responsibilities include:
- Licensure and Renewal: Granting initial licenses to nurses who meet educational and examination requirements, and renewing licenses periodically.
- Standards of Practice: Defining the scope of nursing practice and setting minimum competency standards.
- Program Approval: Reviewing and approving nursing education programs within the state to ensure they meet licensure requirements.
- Disciplinary Action: Investigating complaints, holding hearings, and imposing sanctions when nurses violate laws or ethical standards.
- Public Education: Providing resources for patients and employers to verify a nurse’s license and disciplinary history.
Example: If a nurse moves from Texas to New York, they must meet New York’s licensure requirements—even if they have years of experience—unless both states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows multistate practice.
The Role of Accreditation Agencies
While state boards approve programs for licensure eligibility, accreditation agencies evaluate the overall quality of nursing education. Accreditation is voluntary, but it is often essential for:
- Federal Financial Aid: Only students in accredited programs are eligible for certain federal loans and grants.
- Graduate School Admission: Many advanced nursing programs require a degree from an accredited institution.
- Employer Preference: Hospitals and healthcare systems often prefer or require graduates from accredited programs.
Primary national nursing accreditation bodies:
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Accredits all levels of nursing education, from practical nursing to doctoral programs.
- Focuses on curriculum quality, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes.
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Specializes in accrediting baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing.
- Emphasizes continuous improvement and alignment with professional standards.
Other relevant agencies:
- Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) – Accredits nurse anesthesia programs.
- Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) – Accredits nurse-midwifery programs.
State-by-State Directory of Nursing Boards
Below is a comprehensive directory of all 50 U.S. state nursing boards. Each entry includes the official name and website, where you can find licensure applications, program approval lists, and disciplinary records.
Here’s a state‑by‑state directory table of all 50 U.S. state nursing boards, with their official names and primary websites.
| State | Official board name | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Board of Nursing | https://www.abn.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | Alaska Board of Nursing | https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofNursing.aspx (commerce.alaska.gov in Bing) |
| Arizona | Arizona State Board of Nursing | https://www.azbn.gov |
| Arkansas | Arkansas State Board of Nursing | https://www.arsbn.org |
| California | California Board of Registered Nursing | https://www.rn.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Colorado State Board of Nursing | https://dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing | https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing--Investigations/Nursing/Nursing (portal.ct.gov in Bing) |
| Delaware | Delaware Board of Nursing | https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/nursing |
| Florida | Florida Board of Nursing | https://floridasnursing.gov |
| Georgia | Georgia Board of Nursing | https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-board-nursing (sos.ga.gov in Bing) |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Board of Nursing | https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing (cca.hawaii.gov in Bing) |
| Idaho | Idaho Board of Nursing | https://ibn.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR) | https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/nursing.html (idfpr.illinois.gov in Bing) |
| Indiana | Indiana State Board of Nursing | https://www.in.gov/pla/nursing.htm (in.gov in Bing) |
| Iowa | Iowa Board of Nursing | https://nursing.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | Kansas State Board of Nursing | https://ksbn.kansas.gov |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Nursing | https://kbn.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Board of Nursing | https://www.lsbn.state.la.us (lsbn.state.la.us in Bing) |
| Maine | Maine State Board of Nursing | https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing (maine.gov in Bing) |
| Maryland | Maryland Board of Nursing | https://mbon.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing | https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing (mass.gov in Bing) |
| Michigan | Michigan Board of Nursing | https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/nursing (michigan.gov in Bing) |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Board of Nursing | https://mn.gov/boards/nursing |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Board of Nursing | https://www.msbn.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Missouri State Board of Nursing | https://pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp (pr.mo.gov in Bing) |
| Montana | Montana Board of Nursing | https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nursing (boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov in Bing) |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Board of Nursing | https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Licensing.aspx (dhhs.ne.gov in Bing) |
| Nevada | Nevada State Board of Nursing | https://nevadanursingboard.org |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-nursing (oplc.nh.gov in Bing) |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Board of Nursing | https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Board of Nursing | https://nmbon.nm.gov |
| New York | New York State Board of Nursing (NYSED – Nursing) | https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/nursing (op.nysed.gov in Bing) |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Board of Nursing | https://www.ncbon.com |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Board of Nursing | https://www.ndbon.org |
| Ohio | Ohio Board of Nursing | https://nursing.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | https://nursing.ok.gov |
| Oregon | Oregon State Board of Nursing | https://www.oregon.gov/osbn |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing | https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing (dos.pa.gov in Bing) |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education | https://health.ri.gov/nursing |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Board of Nursing | https://llr.sc.gov/nurse |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Board of Nursing | https://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Board of Nursing | https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board.html (tn.gov in Bing) |
| Texas | Texas Board of Nursing | https://www.bon.texas.gov |
| Utah | Utah Board of Nursing | https://dopl.utah.gov/nurse |
| Vermont | Vermont Board of Nursing | https://sos.vermont.gov/nursing |
| Virginia | Virginia Board of Nursing | https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing |
| Washington | Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission | https://nursing.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses | https://wvrnboard.wv.gov |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Board of Nursing | https://dsps.wi.gov/pages/BoardsCouncils/Nursing (dsps.wi.gov in Bing) |
| Wyoming | Wyoming State Board of Nursing | https://wsbn.wyo.gov |