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The Iowa State Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and practical nurses. Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact (Compact) state, meaning that nurses licensed by another Compact state do not need to apply for licensure unless they plan to make Iowa their primary state of residency.
Select license type you’re applying for:
Registered Nurse
Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required by Iowa for Registered Nurse Initial Licensure
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores not required to be resubmitted to TruMerit for CP Verification Letter.
Exam scores are required to be submitted to TruMerit for CES
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL: Overall Score 81, Reading, Listening, Writing: 57, Speaking Score: 24
- IELTS: Overall Score RN: 6.5, Speaking score: 7.0
- TOEIC: Listening and Reading: 725, Speaking score: 160; Writing score: 150
- MET: Overall score: 55; Speaking score:55
- Cambridge: Overall: 176, Speaking: 185
- PTE: Overall: 55, with no sub-scores lower than 50
- OET: Speaking score: 350; Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300
Notes
Applicants are English Exempt if ALL of the following are met:
The language of instruction in the nursing program is in English and the language of the textbooks in the nursing program are in English
AND
They were educated in Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom
Registered Nurse
Endorsement
Service(s) Required by Iowa for Registered Nurse Endorsement
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores not required to be resubmitted to TruMerit for CP Verification Letter.
Exam scores are required to be submitted to TruMerit for CES
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL: Overall Score 81, Reading, Listening, Writing: 57, Speaking Score: 24
- IELTS: Overall Score RN: 6.5, Speaking score: 7.0
- TOEIC: Listening and Reading: 725, Speaking score: 160; Writing score: 150
- MET: Overall score: 55; Speaking score:55
- Cambridge: Overall: 176, Speaking: 185
- PTE: Overall: 55, with no sub-scores lower than 50
- OET: Speaking score: 350; Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300
Notes
Applicants are English Exempt if ALL of the following are met:
The language of instruction in the nursing program is in English and the language of the textbooks in the nursing program are in English
AND
They were educated in Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom
Licensed Practical Nurse
Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required by Iowa for LPN Initial Licensure
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores are required to be submitted to TruMerit for CES
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL: Overall Score 77; Reading, Listening, Writing: 53; Speaking Score: 24
- IELTS: Overall Score RN: 6.0, Speaking Score: 7.0
- TOEIC: Listening and Reading: 700; Speaking 160; Writing 150
- MET: Overall score: 55; Speaking score:55
- Cambridge: Overall: 169, Speaking: 185
- PTE: Overall: 55, with no sub-scores lower than 50
- OET: Speaking score: 350; Reading, Writing, and Listening: 200
Notes
Applicants are English Exempt if ALL of the following are met:
The language of instruction in the nursing program is in English and the language of the textbooks in the nursing program are in English
AND
They were educated in Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom
Licensed Practical Nurse
Endorsement
Service(s) Required by Iowa for LPN Endorsement
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores are required to be submitted to TruMerit for CES
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL: Overall Score 77; Reading, Listening, Writing: 53; Speaking Score: 24
- IELTS: Overall Score RN: 6.0, Speaking Score: 7.0
- TOEIC: Listening and Reading: 700; Speaking 160; Writing 150
- MET: Overall score: 55; Speaking score:55
- Cambridge: Overall: 169, Speaking: 185
- PTE: Overall: 55, with no sub-scores lower than 50
- OET: Speaking score: 350; Reading, Writing, and Listening: 200
Notes
Applicants are English Exempt if ALL of the following are met:
The language of instruction in the nursing program is in English and the language of the textbooks in the nursing program are in English
AND
They were educated in Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom