N.Y. Education Law § 6905: Requirements for a license as a registered professional nurse

§ 6905. Requirements for a license as a registered professional nurse.

To qualify for a license as a registered professional nurse, an

applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:

(1) Application: file an application with the department;

(2) Education: have received an education, and a diploma or degree in

professional nursing, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations,

and in order to continue to maintain registration as a registered

professional nurse in New York state, have attained a baccalaureate

degree or higher in nursing within ten years of initial licensure in

accordance with the commissioner's regulations. The department, in its

discretion, may issue a conditional registration to a licensee who fails

to complete the baccalaureate degree but who agrees to meet the

additional requirement within one year. The fee for such a conditional

registration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the

triennial registration. The duration of such conditional registration

shall be for one year and may be extended, with the payment of a fee,

for no more than one additional year, unless the applicant can show good

cause for non-compliance acceptable to the department. The department,

in its discretion, may issue a temporary educational exemption to a

licensee who is unable to complete the baccalaureate degree due to a

lack of access to educational programs. Licensees seeking a temporary

educational exemption shall provide evidence of applying on at least two

occasions to a baccalaureate degree program or programs and subsequently

being denied access to such program or programs on at least two

occasions due to there being a limited number of seats. Such denials

shall also be corroborated by the higher education institution or

institutions that the licensee applied to. Temporary educational

exemptions issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be for a single two

year period. Licensees shall only be eligible for either a conditional

registration or a temporary educational exemption. The fee for such a

temporary educational exemption shall be the same as, and in addition

to, the fee for the triennial registration. Any licensee who is notified

of the denial of a registration for failure to complete the additional

educational requirements and who practices as a registered professional

nurse without such registration may be subject to disciplinary

proceedings pursuant to section sixty-five hundred ten of this title;

(3) Experience: meet no requirement as to experience;

(4) Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in

accordance with the commissioner's regulations;

(5) Age: be at least eighteen years of age;

(6) Citizenship: meet no requirement as to United States citizenship;

(7) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the

department; and

(8) Fees: pay a fee of one hundred fifteen dollars to the department

for admission to a department conducted examination and for an initial

license, a fee of forty-five dollars for each reexamination, a fee of

seventy dollars for an initial license for persons not requiring

admission to a department conducted examination, and a fee of fifty

dollars for each triennial registration period.