A Guide to Nursing Licenses and Renewals in Nebraska

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Nebraska

Nebraska is a great place to live and work. The cost of housing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare are all lower than the national average. Add to that a high life expectancy and good overall health and it’s no wonder so many nurses are exploring licensure.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Nebraska nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Nebraska nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Nebraska Board of Nursing

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How to get your Nebraska nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

Nebraska’s Board of Nursing has high standards for pre-licensure nursing programs within the state. They do not approve on-line or post-licensure programs.

Whether you have earned your nursing degree from an in-state program or chose an out-of-state nursing education program approved or accredited by other state boards of nursing, any of the following degrees will prepare you for a career as a registered nurse:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

Nebraska allows licensure candidates to submit the application for licensure by examination up to ninety days prior to their expected graduation date. Applicants should also register to take the NCLEX exam at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/.

The application requires that you pay the application fee of $123 and provide evidence of citizenship or lawful presence in the United States and a photograph of yourself.  

The application and all supporting documents should be sent to:

DHHS Licensure Unit
Nursing Section
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

Step 3: Submit Transcripts

The state requires an official transcript from your nursing program reflecting your degree and your graduation date. These materials should be sent directly to the DHHS Licensure Unit by the nursing program unless it is submitted by the candidate, in which case it must be submitted with the application in a sealed school envelope.

Students who graduated from nursing programs outside of Nebraska are required to include information about all nursing prerequisites fulfilled at other institutions if their nursing program’s final transcripts do not include this information. 

Step 4: Criminal Background Check (CBC)

Applicants for a registered nurse license must submit to a new criminal background check. The processing fee is $45.25 to be paid to the Nebraska State Patrol. Fingerprints can be submitted either electronically via LiveScan or by mail. LiveScan is only available if the fingerprinting is performed in Nebraska. It can be performed at all Nebraska State Patrol offices listed here.

Applicants who need to submit fingerprints by mail can use two standard blue and white fingerprint cards (Form #FD-258). If the law enforcement agency or private company that you use for this service does not have this card, call the Licensure Unit at 402-471-4376 and the cards will be mailed to you. The box asking for “reason fingerprinted’ should be filled in with “Nursing 38-131”. Do not write in the field labeled ORI and do not sign the card until an officer has verified your signature.  Completed cards should be mailed to:

Nebraska State Patrol
Criminal Identification Division
4600 Innovation Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521

The background check will not be processed until the license application has been received by the Licensure Unit. 

When getting fingerprinted, you must bring a valid photo ID such as an unexpired driver’s license, a passport, a permanent resident card, or an Employment Authorization Card.

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

Upon acceptance of all your application materials, Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services will notify Pearson VUE that you have fulfilled all requirements and Pearson will send you authorization to test for the NCLEX-RN exam. The exam is meant to gauge your retention and understanding of the material covered during your nurse education, and will test you on the following topics:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

If you pass the NCLEX, a paper license will be issued. If you do not pass, you will need to retake the exam. This requires reapplying for the license and re-registering for the exam with Pearson VUE, along with the appropriate fees. There is no need to resubmit transcripts or other supporting documents, but a new set of fingerprints will be needed with each application, and the processing fee of $45.25 must be paid to the Nebraska state patrol with each application.

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Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

If you’re a registered nurse licensed in another state and seeking a Nebraska license, use this form to apply for licensure by endorsement. To apply you will need:

• Evidence of citizenship
• $123 application fee
• Documentation of fee waiver eligibility, conviction records, and discipline records if any of these are applicable

You will also need to request that the following items be sent to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services office:

• Criminal background check: Applicants for licensure by endorsement must submit to a new criminal background check. The processing fee is $45.25, paid to the Nebraska State Patrol. Fingerprints can be submitted electronically via LiveScan or by mail. LiveScan is only available if the fingerprinting is performed in Nebraska. It can be performed at all Nebraska State Patrol offices listed here.
  • Applicants who need to submit fingerprints by mail can use two standard blue and white fingerprint cards (Form #FD-258). If the law enforcement agency or private company that you use for this service does not have this card, call the Licensure Unit at 402-471-4376 and cards will be mailed to you. The box asking for “reason fingerprinted’ should be filled in with “Nursing 38-131”. Do not write in the field labeled ORI and do not sign the card until an officer has verified your signature.  Completed cards should be mailed to:

Nebraska State Patrol
Criminal Identification Division
4600 Innovation Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521

• License verification:Nurses can purchase verification of their license through the NURSYS system if they are from a participating state. Nurses from states that do not participate with the NURSYS system should contact the Board of Nursing of the issuing state and request that verification be sent to:

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Licensure Unit
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

Candidates for licensure by endorsement in Nebraska are eligible for a temporary license while they are waiting for their permanent license. The temporary license is valid for 60 days or until the expiration of the license from the other state expires, whichever comes first. 

How to renew your Nebraska nursing license

Step 1: When to submit your renewal application

Nebraska’s registered nursing licenses expire on October 31 of each year ending in an even number. Renewal requires completing the online renewal process or submitting the paper renewal application, attesting to having met the requirements of continued competency, and paying the renewal fee of $123.00. 

It can take up to a week to process renewal applications, whether they are submitted online or by mail. Being postmarked by the October 31 date does not prevent your license from expiring, but it will be renewed when it is processed. If your renewal is postmarked after October 31 your license will need to be reinstated and you will be required to pay the appropriate fees.

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

Nebraska’s Board of Nursing offers the following options for fulfilling continuing competency requirements:

• Have practiced nursing for at least 500 hours during the past five years AND have completed at least 20 contact hours of continuing education from an approved provider within the past two years. Contact hours may be completed via home study or internet courses.
• Have graduated from a nursing program in more than two, but less than five years AND have completed at least 20 contact hours of nursing continuing education within the past two years. Contact hours may be completed via home study or internet courses; OR
• Have graduated from a nursing program within the last two years.
• Have completed an approved refresher course within the last five years.
• Have obtained/maintained current certification in a nursing specialty granted by a nationally recognized certifying organization; OR
• Have developed and maintained a portfolio that includes the licensee’s current continuing competency goals and evidence/verification of professional activities to meet those goals.

Incredible Health offers free Nebraska CEU courses to help you fulfill your state requirements. These are easy to access and include certification of completion.

You do not need to send in proof of practice hours or of your continuing education completion, but you should keep these records for two years in case you are part of a random audit.

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

To renew, visit www.nebraska.mylicense.com/ and pay the $123 fee online via credit card, or download a paper renewal application form  and pay by check. Paper forms can be sent to:

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Licensure Unit
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986 

Nebraska nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Nebraska whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Nebraska from another state. For more information visit the Nebraska licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX fee: $200
• Application fee: $123
• Criminal background check fee: $45.25

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fees: $123 (RN/LPN); $68 (APRN)
• Criminal background check fee: $45.25

License renewal fee:

• Application fee: $123 (RN/LPN); $68 (APRN)

Nebraska is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.

*Fees are subject to change.

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Continuing education requirements

RN/LPN: Must meet one of the following requirements:

• Have practiced nursing for at least 500 hours during the past five years AND have completed at least 20 contact hours of continuing education from an approved provider within the past two years. All of the required contact hours may be completed via home study or internet courses.
• Have graduated from a nursing program in more than two, but less than five years AND have completed at least 20 contact hours of nursing continuing education within the past two years. All of the required contact hours may be completed via home study or internet courses; OR
• Have graduated from a nursing program within the last two years.
• Have completed an approved refresher course within the last five years.
• Have obtained/maintained current certification in a nursing specialty granted by a nationally recognized certifying organization; OR
• Have developed and maintained a portfolio that includes the licensee’s current continuing competency goals and evidence/verification of professional activities to meet those goals.

APRN: 40 contact hours every 2 years in a given specialty (refer to Nebraska Board of Nursing CE page for specific requirements for each specialty); if a prescriber, an additional 10 hours in pharmacology are required.

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Nebraska Board of Nursing accepts courses from any provider who is ANCC accredited.

How to contact the Nebraska Board of Nursing

Nebraska Board of Nursing
Phone: (402) 471-3121 or (402) 471-4376

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Licensing.aspx

Nebraska State Office Building
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509

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