Louisiana Licensure & Registration Info

The Louisiana State Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses. Louisiana 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 Louisiana their primary state of residency.

Select license type you’re applying for:

Registered Nurse

Initial Licensure

Service(s) Required by Louisiana for Registered Nurse Initial Licensure

OR

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 if your program was not taught in English.

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:

  • TOEFL Internet Based Test Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
  • IELTS: Overall Score Test Score: 6.5; Speaking score: 7.0; Reading, Listening and Writing score: 6.0
  • TOEIC: Overall Score: 725; Speaking: 140
  • PTE: Overall: 55; Minimum of all other modules: 50
  • MET: Overall Score: 55; Speaking: 55
  • OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300 ; Speaking: 350

Notes

Applicants are English Exempt if they were educated in Australia, Barbados, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom, United States 

CES applicants have the option of having exam results sent directly to the Board of Nursing or having TruMerit provide exam results to the Board of Nursing.

Validation of licensure in CES Report must be dated within 9 months of report’s issuance. License in most recent jurisdiction of employment must be active.

Registered Nurse

Endorsement

Service(s) Required by Louisiana 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 if your program was not taught in English.

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:

  • TOEFL Internet Based Test Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
  • IELTS: Overall Score Test Score: 6.5; Speaking score: 7.0; Reading, Listening and Writing score: 6.0
  • TOEIC: Overall Score: 725; Speaking: 140
  • PTE: Overall: 55; Minimum of all other modules: 50
  • MET: Overall Score: 55; Speaking: 55
  • OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300 ; Speaking: 350

Notes

Validation of licensure in CES Report must be dated within 9 months of report’s issuance. License in most recent jurisdiction of employment must be active.

Licensed Practical Nurse

Initial Licensure

Service(s) Required by Louisiana for LPN Initial Licensure

No Services Required

English Language Proficiency Exam Results

Notes

Licensed Practical Nurse

Endorsement

Service(s) Required by Louisiana for LPN Endorsement

No Services Required

English Language Proficiency Exam Results

Notes