Please select the appropriate button below to go the portal login based on your service need.
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
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