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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:
- Cambridge: Overall Score: 169; Speaking score: 194
- TOEFL: Overall Score 81, Reading, Listening, Writing: 57, Speaking Score: 24
- TOEFL iBT 2026 (1-6 Scale): Overall Score: 4.5; Speaking score: 4.5; 3.5 Reading, Listening, & Writing
- IELTS: Overall Score: 6.5; Speaking Score: 7
- PTE: Overall Score: 55; 76 Speaking; 62 Reading, Writing & Listening
- OET: 360 Speaking; 340 Reading; 350 Writing; 320 Listening
- MET: Overall score: 58; Speaking score:59
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:
- Cambridge: Overall Score: 169; Speaking score: 194
- TOEFL: Overall Score 81, Reading, Listening, Writing: 57, Speaking Score: 24
- TOEFL iBT 2026 (1-6 Scale): Overall Score: 4.5; Speaking score: 4.5; 3.5 Reading, Listening, & Writing
- IELTS: Overall Score: 6.5; Speaking Score: 7
- PTE: Overall Score: 55; 76 Speaking; 62 Reading, Writing & Listening
- OET: 360 Speaking; 340 Reading; 350 Writing; 320 Listening
- MET: Overall score: 58; Speaking score:59
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 iBT: Overall Score 77; Reading, Listening, Writing: 53; Speaking Score: 24
- TOEFL iBT 2026 (1-6 Scale): Overall Score: 4; Speaking score: 4.5; 3 Reading, Listening, & Writing
- IELTS: Overall Score RN: 6, Speaking Score: 7
- MET: Overall score: 53; Speaking score:59
- Cambridge: Overall: 161, Speaking: 194
- PTE: Overall: 47; Reading, Listening, Writing: 52; Speaking Score: 76
- OET: Speaking score: 360; Writing, and Listening: 290; Reading: 310
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 iBT: Overall Score 77; Reading, Listening, Writing: 53; Speaking Score: 24
- TOEFL iBT 2026 (1-6 Scale): Overall Score: 4; Speaking score: 4.5; 3 Reading, Listening, & Writing
- IELTS: Overall Score RN: 6, Speaking Score: 7
- MET: Overall score: 53; Speaking score:59
- Cambridge: Overall: 161, Speaking: 194
- PTE: Overall: 47; Reading, Listening, Writing: 52; Speaking Score: 76
- OET: Speaking score: 360; Writing, and Listening: 290; Reading: 310
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