RN/LPN Initial Exam Application – US Educated

• Follow the steps below. Read carefully to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are non-refundable.
• Licenses by exam and endorsement will be for one year, plus the months to the applicant’s birth month. With the first renewal cycle, licenses will be valid for 2 years.
• Initial Exam applications are valid for 1 year.
• Applicants educated in the United States may take the examination a maximum of five times within three years of graduation.
• Graduate Nurse Permit (GNP) requests must be received from the employer, through the NM Board of Nursing (NM BON) website, within twelve (12) weeks of graduation. See Permit to Practice.

Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit an Initial Exam Application (https://nmbn.boardsofnursing.org/nmbn) and fee through the Nurse Portal.The (NMBON) only accepts on-line applications. Applications submitted in error OR not approved for eligibility are non-refundable.
2. Official Transcripts: Applicant must request official transcripts to be sent to the NM BON from their school or Institution. We accept electronic transcripts at licensing@bon.nm.gov or applicants educated in New Mexico may have their education verified through the Affidavit of Graduation Portal (AOG).
3. Register and complete criminal background check through Idemia/IdentoGo at https://nm.ue.state.identogo.com/ue. Initial fingerprints are retrievable for 30 days so please print after submission of your application. Accepted fingerprints are good for the duration of your active initial application (1 year).
4. Register for Pearson VUE.You may register by telephone (1-866-496-2539) or online at http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex  .

RN/LPN Initial Exam Application – International

• Follow the steps below. Read carefully to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are non-refundable.
• Licenses by exam and endorsement will be for a period of one year, plus the months to the applicant’s birth month and thereafter will go back to the full 2 years.
• Initial Exam applications are valid for 1 year.
• Applicants educated outside of the United States may take the examination a maximum of five times within three years of their initial New Mexico application.

Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Education Evaluation: A course by course evaluation of the applicant’s education is to be completed by one of the evaluation companies below and sent directly to the board at licensing@bon.nm.gov.
   • Josef & Silny Associates, Inc. at  jsilny.org
   • Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools at cgfns.org
   • Educational Records Evaluation Service Inc at eres.com

English proficiency (if applicable):

Internationally educated nurses must demonstrate English Competency by one of the following:

• Successful completion of a nursing program that includes instruction and textbooks that are in English; or
• Successfully pass an English Proficiency Exam meeting the minimum scores of
  • TOEFL (minimum score of 540)
  • TOEFL IBT (minimum score of 84 overall, with a minimum speaking score of a 26)
  • TOEIC (minimum score of 725)
    • IELTS (minimum score of 6.5 overall, with 7.0 in the spoken portion met minimum score of 59).

2. Submit an Initial Exam Application and fee through the Nurse Portal.The New Mexico Board of Nursing (BON) only accepts on-line applications. Applications submitted in error OR not approved for eligibility are non-refundable.
3. Register and complete criminal background check through Idemia/IdentoGo at https://nm.ue.state.identogo.com/ue. Initial fingerprints are retrievable for 30 days so please print after submission of your application. Accepted fingerprints are good for the duration of your active initial application (1 year).
4. Register for Pearson VUE.You may register by telephone (1-866-496-2539) or online at http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex  .

RN/LPN Domestic and International Re-Examination 

• Follow the steps below. Read carefully to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are non-refundable.
• Re-Exam applications are received with an active Initial Exam application will be considered for one year.
• Applicants educated outside of the United States may take the examination a maximum of five times within three years of their initial New Mexico application.

1. Submit a Re-Exam Application and fee through the Nurse Portal.The NM BON) only accepts on-line applications. Applications submitted in error OR not approved for eligibility are non-refundable.
2. Register for Pearson VUE.You may register by telephone (1-866-496-2539) or online at http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex  Submit Re-Examination Application

Special Accommodations 

License examination candidates with a disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act may  request modifications in the security measures for the NCLEX RN or the NCLEX LPN. Do this at the same time you submit your application to ensure that accommodations are received without delay. The following documentation will be needed.

• Letter from the applicantspecifying the reason and the accommodation needed.
• Letter from specialistspecifying the diagnosis and type of accommodation needed.
• Letter from the schoolstating the reason and type of accommodation they provided.

Graduate Permits

A Graduate Permit ( sometime referred to as a permit to practice) request is submitted through the NM BON website as an Intent to Hire letter at https://nmbon.jotform.com/231786651205962 .

• The prospective employer must submit an Intent to Hire letter, on letterhead with the graduates name, and the name & license number of the nurse who will be responsible for Direct RN Supervision. (Direct Supervision is defined per 16.12.2.10 NMAC.)
• Graduate Permits/Permits to Practice are issued directly to a New Mexico employer.
• You must sign your Graduate Permit/Permit to Practice prior to employment as a GN/GPN. Contact your employer for additional information.
• Graduate Permits/Permits to practice will not be issued for applicants who declare residency in another state.
• A graduate permit/ permit-to-practice is valid for six (6) months from the date of application or until examination results are issued by the NM BON.
• A permit is VOID if applicant fails the examination or fails to take the examination within 6 months after graduation.
• Allow at least three (3) weeks for processing a graduate permit/permit to practice from the receipt of a completed file. (A completed file for a permit includes the exam application to the NM BON ; official transcripts; fingerprint cards; forms; fee and letter of intent to hire.)

RN/LPN Endorsement 

• Do not use this application to register for the NCLEX.
• Endorsement means you are moving your license from one state to another.
• Follow the steps below. Read carefully to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are non-refundable.
• All licenses by exam and endorsement will be active for one year, plus the months to the applicant’s birth month and thereafter will be for the full 2 years.
• Endorsement Applications will be valid for 1 year.

Application steps for licensure are:

1. Submit an RN/LPN ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION and fee through the Nurse Portal.NM BON only accepts on-line applications. Applications submitted in error OR not approved for eligibility are non-refundable.
2. Verification of Licensure from state where applicant was licensed by exam or NURSYS. Applicants with no social security number , who took the NCLEX will need to submit two license verifications 1) one from the state where they passed the NCLEX and 2) one from the state that accepted their NCLEX score for initial licensure.
3. Register and complete criminal background check through Idemia/IdentoGo at https://nm.ue.state.identogo.com/ue. Initial fingerprints are retrievable for 30 days so print a receipt after submission of your application. Accepted fingerprints are good for the duration of your active initial application (1 year).

RN/LPN Renewal

• Follow the steps below. Read carefully to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are non-refundable.
• Renewal applications valid for 1 year.
• The renewal link will be activated in your NM BON portal 60 days prior to expiration. Renewal reminders are sent to the email we have on file 60 days and 30 days prior to your license expiration.
• Continuing Education must be complete and uploaded to CE Broker prior to submitting your renewal application.

Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit a RENEWAL APPLICATION and fee through the Nurse Portal.The NM BON only accepts on-line applications. Applications submitted in error OR not approved for eligibility are non-refundable.
2. The NM BON utilizes an auto-renew function for Renewal Applications that will review your submission. If there are no findings against your license it will auto-renew and adjust to the 2 year expiration date.

RN/LPN Reinstatement 

• Follow the steps below. Read carefully to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• Reinstatement applications are valid for 1 year.

Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit an RN/LPN Renewal/Reinstatement application and fee through the NM BON Portal.The New Mexico Board of Nursing (BON) only accepts on-line applications. Applications submitted in error OR not approved for eligibility are non-refundable.
2. If your license/certification has expired or lapsed, submit the Expired/Lapsed Attestation (ELA) in addition to your Renewal Application. (See Forms) If you worked on an expired license please have your supervisor sign the ELA.
3. Continuing Education must be completed and uploaded into CE Broker within your renewal period. If you fall under the refresher requirement, it will count towards your continuing education.
4. Upload the ELA through the Nurse Portal.