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The Kentucky State Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and practical nurses. Kentucky 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 Kentucky their primary state of residency.
Select license type you’re applying for:
Registered Nurse
Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required by Kentucky for Registered Nurse Initial Licensure
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- Cambridge Assessment English: Overall Score: 160; Reading, Writing, Listening and Writing; 122
- TOEFL Internet Based Test: Overall score: 84; Speaking score: 26
- IELTS Academic: Overall Test Passing Score: 6.5; Speaking: 6.0; Reading, Listening, Writing: 6.5
- OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300; Speaking: 350
- MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
- PTE: Overall: 55; Reading, Listening, and Writing: 50; Speaking: 50
Notes
Any applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLELY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.
Registered Nurse
Endorsement
Service(s) Required by Kentucky for Registered Nurse Endorsement
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- Cambridge Assessment English: Overall Score: 160; Reading, Writing, Listening and Writing; 122
- TOEFL Internet Based Test: Overall score: 84; Speaking score: 26
- IELTS Academic: Overall Test Passing Score: 6.5; Speaking: 6.0; Reading, Listening, Writing: 6.5
- OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300; Speaking: 350
- MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
- PTE: Overall: 55; Reading, Listening, and Writing: 50; Speaking: 50
Notes
Any applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLELY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required by Kentucky for LPN Initial Licensure
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- Cambridge Assessment English: Overall Score: 160; Reading, Writing, Listening and Writing; 122
- TOEFL Internet Based Test: Overall score: 84; Speaking score: 26
- IELTS Academic: Overall Test Passing Score: 6.5; Speaking: 6.0; Reading, Listening, Writing: 6.5
- OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300; Speaking: 350
- MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
- PTE: Overall: 55; Reading, Listening, and Writing: 50; Speaking: 50
Notes
Any applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLELY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Endorsement
Service(s) Required by Kentucky for LPN Endorsement
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- Cambridge Assessment English: Overall Score: 160; Reading, Writing, Listening and Writing; 122
- TOEFL Internet Based Test: Overall score: 84; Speaking score: 26
- IELTS Academic: Overall Test Passing Score: 6.5; Speaking: 6.0; Reading, Listening, Writing: 6.5
- OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300; Speaking: 350
- MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
- PTE: Overall: 55; Reading, Listening, and Writing: 50; Speaking: 50
Notes
Any applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLELY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.