How to Verify a Nurse License (RN, LPN, APRN, NP)

Why Nurse License Verification Matters

Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the United States, with over 4.2 million licensed RNs and 940,000 LPNs. Practicing nursing without a valid state license is a criminal offense. State boards of nursing can suspend or revoke licenses for clinical incompetence, boundary violations, diversion of controlled substances, or failure to meet continuing education requirements — and disciplinary actions are reportable to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and shared across state boards.

For hospitals and health systems, credential verification is mandated by The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation. Employing or credentialing a nurse with a lapsed, suspended, or revoked license creates direct liability and can jeopardize an organization's Medicare and Medicaid participation.

For staffing agencies and telehealth platforms — which often deploy nurses across multiple states — the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) has simplified multi-state verification, but only for nurses whose primary state of residence is a compact state. Understanding how compact licenses work is essential for workforce compliance.

Nursing License Types

Nursys: National License Verification

Nursys (nursys.com) is the official national nurse license verification system maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). It aggregates real-time license data from participating state boards and is the fastest way to verify an RN or LPN license in most states.

Nursys covers 48 states. California and Michigan do not participate — for those states, search the California Board of Registered Nursing (rn.ca.gov) or the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (michigan.gov/lara/bpl) directly.

Individual license lookups are free. Nursys also offers an automated verification service (Nursys e-Notify) that sends alerts when a nurse's license status changes — useful for hospitals and staffing agencies managing large workforces.

State Board of Nursing Portals

Even though Nursys covers most states, the state board portal is authoritative for detailed license history, continuing education compliance, and disciplinary records. The 10 most populous states and their direct verification links:

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows RNs and LPNs who live in a compact state to hold a single multi-state license valid in all other compact states. As of 2025, over 40 states have enacted the NLC, making it the default licensing framework for travel nursing and telehealth.

A nurse licensed under the NLC can practice — in person or remotely — in any compact state without obtaining an additional license, as long as their primary state of residence is also a compact state. A nurse who moves their primary residence to a new compact state must apply for a new home state license.

Nursys displays compact license status alongside the home state license. You can also check NCSBN's interactive compact state map at ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Verification

APRNs — nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) — require verification of both a state APRN license and a national certification credential. The state license alone is not sufficient.

State APRN License

Most states issue a separate APRN license (or endorsement) in addition to the underlying RN license. Search the state board of nursing for both the RN license and the APRN authorization. Some states — including Texas and California — license NPs separately. APRN licenses are not covered by Nursys; search the state board directly.

National Certification Bodies

DEA Registration for Prescribing APRNs

Nurse practitioners and CNMs who prescribe Schedule II–V controlled substances must hold a valid DEA registration in addition to their state prescribing authority. Verify DEA registration through the DEA Diversion Control Division's online lookup (deadiversion.usdoj.gov). Each state where the NP prescribes requires separate prescribing authority — confirm the state-level prescriptive authority endorsement, not just the federal DEA number.

RN Specialty Certifications

Specialty certifications are voluntary credentials beyond the RN license. They demonstrate clinical expertise in a specific area and are often required by employers for senior or specialty roles. Unlike licenses, they do not authorize practice but are significant credentialing markers. Key certifying bodies:

Most certifying bodies offer a public verification tool on their website. ANCC certification can be verified at nursecredentialing.org/certification/verify.

NPI Registry and OIG LEIE

NPI Registry (npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov) — Nurse practitioners, CNMs, CRNAs, and other APRNs who bill Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial insurers must hold a National Provider Identifier. The NPI Registry is public and free. Confirm the NP's NPI, taxonomy code (which should reflect their APRN specialty), and listed state(s) of practice. Discrepancies between the NPI record and the license are a credentialing red flag.

OIG LEIE (oig.hhs.gov/exclusions) — The Office of Inspector General exclusion list bars excluded individuals from participation in federal healthcare programs. Hospitals and any organization receiving Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement must screen all employees and contractors against the LEIE before hire and monthly thereafter. A nurse who is excluded can cause the organization to lose reimbursement for every claim that provider touched.

What to Verify by Employer Type

CNA Verification: State Nurse Aide Registries

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are not licensed through state boards of nursing — they are registered through separate state nurse aide registries, mandated by federal law under OBRA '87. Each state operates its own registry. Nursys does not cover CNAs.

To verify a CNA, search the state nurse aide registry for the state where the aide works. The registry will show certification status (active, expired, revoked), any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, and whether the aide is eligible for employment in a nursing facility.

Nursing facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement are legally required to verify that all CNAs are listed on the state registry before hire. Employing an aide with a substantiated finding of abuse on their registry record is a federal violation.

Red Flags in Nurse Credential Verification

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  License status is "inactive," "lapsed," or "expired"

  The nurse cannot legally practice in that state until the license is renewed. An expired license may indicate lapsed CE requirements or non-payment of renewal fees.

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  License shows "suspended" or "revoked"

  Suspension or revocation is a serious disciplinary action. Check the state board for the underlying disciplinary order before taking any further action.

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  APRN national certification expired

  Most APRN certifications require renewal every 5 years with continuing education. An expired certification may also invalidate the state APRN license in states that require it as a condition of licensure.

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  Compact license does not cover the practice state

  A nurse with a Texas NLC license cannot use it to practice in California. Verify that the specific state where the nurse will work is covered before deploying travel or telehealth nurses.

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  Name on license does not match presented credentials

  Name mismatches can indicate identity fraud or an administrative error. Request legal name documentation and confirm with the state board.

• ⚠
  Hit on OIG LEIE or SAM.gov exclusion list

  Employing an excluded individual in a Medicare/Medicaid-billing role creates federal liability. Do not proceed without legal guidance.

• ⚠
  DEA registration missing for prescribing NP

  An NP who claims prescriptive authority for controlled substances but cannot show a valid DEA registration is not authorized to prescribe Schedule II–V drugs.

• ⚠
  CNA registry shows "substantiated findings"

  A substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on a state nurse aide registry disqualifies the individual from employment in any Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing facility.

Nurse License Verification Checklist