NC Nursing License Renewal: 3 Steps
North Carolina is home to nearly 10.7 million residents, all of whom need access to quality healthcare services. That’s where you come in. As an RN or LPN, you have a responsibility to NC folks not only to provide care but also to keep up with requirements in your profession. You must make sure to complete the NC nursing license renewal process so that you’re legally permitted to practice in the Tar Heel State without interruption.
Below, you’ll learn about the three steps of the NC nurse license renewal process. Our straightforward guide will walk you through it.
North Carolina Nursing Facts
Have questions about North Carolina nursing license renewal protocol? Need a North Carolina Board of Nursing application? The below contact information can help you out.
Is North Carolina part of the nursing licensure compact (NLC)?
Yes.
How much do nurses in North Carolina earn?
- The average CNA salary in North Carolina is $35,340 per year.
- The average LPN salary in North Carolina is $57,760 per year.
- The average RN salary in North Carolina is $82,530 per year.
How can I contact the NC Board of Nursing (NCBON)?
North Carolina Board of Nursing Phone Number: 919-782-3211
Website: https://www.ncbon.com/
North Carolina Board of Nursing Address
4516 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
North Carolina Board of Nursing Mailing Address
PO Box 2129
Raleigh, NC 27602-2129
Steps for North Carolina Board of Nursing License Renewal
If you work as an RN or LPN in North Carolina and the state is your primary residence, follow the steps below. Otherwise, you can apply for a North Carolina nursing license by endorsement or by examination.
Step 1: Determine Your Renewal Deadline
An RN and LPN nursing license in North Carolina is valid for two years and expires on the last day of your birth month. You must renew a North Carolina nursing license within 90 days of expiration.
A CNA certification is eligible for renewal every two years starting from the last qualified date reported on your work verification form.
Step 2: Satisfy Continuing Education Requirements
Before you can renew a nursing license in North Carolina, you must fulfill the state’s continuing competence requirements. In addition to 15 contact hours of continued education, one of the following must be completed:
- 640 active practice hours within the past 2 years
- Completion of a nursing project as the principal or co-principal investigator
- Authoring or co-authoring an article, paper, book, or book chapter related to nursing
- Developing and conducting a nursing continuing education presentation or presentations
The following options are also accepted:
- National certification or re-certification by an approved national credentialing body
- 30 contact hours of continued education
- Board-approved refresher course
- Post-licensure, a minimum of 2 semester hours of academic nursing education
For a full list of your options in detail, carefully review the NCBON continuing competence requirements. If you are notified by the board of nursing, you must provide proof that you completed your continuing competence.
Nurse aides in NC have a simpler requirement: They must work at least 8 hours for pay under the supervision of a registered nurse within the past two years.
Having difficulty fulfilling your continuing education? Choose from a variety of courses offered by IntelyEdu, which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Step 3: File Your NC Nursing License Renewal Online
If you’re an RN or LPN who is within 90 days of your renewal period, visit the NCBON Gateway website to get the process started. This is the portal you use to submit and manage all license renewal applications. Log in to the portal and select your license. Under license options, select “Renewal/Reinstatement” and fill out the application. The fee to renew RN and LPN licenses is $100.
Have questions about the status of your NC nursing license? Look up your application and verify your license online.
CNAs have a two-step process to renew their registration:
- Fill out and submit the nurse aide renewal form.
- Ask an RN to fill out and submit your employment verification form.
The Division of Health Service Regulation will approve and update the registry listing within three to five days of receiving your forms.
That’s it! When you’re finished with all the steps, start searching for RN jobs, LPN jobs, and CNA jobs in North Carolina.
Great Areas in North Carolina for Nursing Jobs
Want to narrow your job search? Try focusing on the specific areas that have some of the largest populations in the state, like:
Find Top North Carolina Nursing Jobs
Now that your NC nursing license renewal is good to go, check out the various nursing jobs in North Carolina on IntelyCare right now, and pick the one that fits your needs.