How to Verify a Nursing License

Why nursing license verification matters

Nursing licenses are legal requirements for patient care. An unverified or lapsed license exposes healthcare employers to regulatory action, civil liability, and CMS reimbursement risk. The Joint Commission, CMS Conditions of Participation, and most state healthcare facility regulations require employers to verify nurse licensure before and during employment.

License fraud is more common in nursing than in most professions. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing reports thousands of disciplinary actions annually, including cases where nurses practiced with revoked or suspended licenses. Travel nurse agencies and staffing firms are especially exposed — a nurse placed across multiple facilities under a fraudulent license creates liability that follows the agency.

Beyond initial verification, ongoing monitoring matters. Licenses expire on fixed cycles (typically every 1–2 years), and disciplinary actions can occur at any time during employment.

Nursing license types

Confirm which license type your role requires before searching. The main categories are:

Note on CNAs: Certified Nursing Assistants are registered on state Nurse Aide Registries — not NURSYS. Each state maintains its own registry; search the registry for the state where the CNA intends to work, not where they trained.

Step 1: Search NURSYS

Go to nursys.com and use the Nurse Licensure Quick Confirm tool. Search by the nurse's first name, last name, and state of licensure. No registration or fee is required for individual lookups. NURSYS returns:

• License type (RN, LPN, APRN)
• License status (Active, Inactive, Expired, Encumbered, Revoked, Surrendered)
• Issuing state
• License number
• Expiration date
• Compact status (whether the nurse holds a multistate compact license)
• Any public disciplinary orders on record

NURSYS covers 47 U.S. states. The three non-participating states — California, Connecticut, and Louisiana — must be verified directly with the state board of nursing (links below).

NURSYS data is updated as state boards process actions. For fast-moving situations (recent renewal, recent disciplinary filing), confirm with the state board directly for real-time status.

Understanding nursing license statuses

Encumbered licenses require extra attention. An encumbered nurse can legally practice but under specific conditions — supervision requirements, medication restrictions, or practice setting limitations. Review the full disciplinary order before placing or hiring an encumbered nurse. Travel and staffing agencies should flag encumbered licenses for facility review.

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC): multi-state licenses

The Nurse Licensure Compact allows RNs and LPN/LVNs to hold a single multistate license that is valid in all NLC member states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. As of 2026, 41 states and territories participate in the compact.

A compact license is issued by the nurse's primary state of residence — not by the state where they are working. When verifying a compact license:

• Verify the home-state license status (must be Active and unencumbered)
• Confirm the home state is an NLC member state
• Confirm the state where the nurse will work is also an NLC member state
• Check NURSYS for any discipline in other compact states — discipline in one compact state can affect the license in all states

NURSYS displays compact privilege status. A nurse with a compact license working in a privilege state does not appear as "licensed in" that state — they hold privileges, not a separate license. This is expected and valid, but the home-state license must be Active.

Step 2: State board verification

For real-time status or if NURSYS returns no results, verify directly with the state board of nursing. The three states that do not participate in NURSYS require direct board verification for all checks.

Most state board license lookups are free and publicly accessible. Some boards issue a Verification of Licensure letter for a fee when a formal document is required (e.g., for credentialing, travel nursing placement, or regulatory filings).

APRN verification: an extra step

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses hold an RN license plus a separate APRN authorization. Verifying an NP, CRNA, CNS, or CNM requires confirming both credentials:

1. The underlying RN license (via NURSYS or state board)
2. The APRN authorization or certification (via state board of nursing and, for NPs and CRNAs, the relevant national certifying body)

Verification checklist

Special considerations for staffing and travel nursing agencies

Travel and staffing agencies bear significant verification responsibility because they place nurses across multiple facilities and states. Standard practices include:

• Primary source verification (PSV): Joint Commission-accredited agencies must verify directly with the issuing body — a NURSYS print-out from the nurse themselves does not qualify as PSV
• Multi-state checks: For compact placements, run NURSYS on the home-state license and check for discipline across all compact states
• Re-verification cadence: Verify at hire, at each new facility placement, and on the license renewal date
• OIG exclusion list: Check the HHS Office of Inspector General exclusion database — excluded nurses cannot be employed at Medicare/Medicaid-participating facilities

The OIG exclusion list (oig.hhs.gov/exclusions) is separate from nursing license verification but equally important for healthcare employers receiving federal reimbursement.