§457-7 Registered nurses; qualifications; licenses; fees; title; existing licensed nurses; verification of licenses; eligibility. (a) An applicant for a license to practice nursing as a registered nurse shall submit:
(b) Licenses shall be granted either by:
(c) The applicant applying for a license to practice as a registered nurse by examination shall pay application, examination, and reexamination fees, if applicable, as prescribed by the board. Each applicant who successfully passes the examination shall pay a license fee. The applicant applying for a license to practice as a registered nurse by endorsement shall pay application and license fees.
(d) Any person who holds a license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in this State shall have the right to use the title "Registered Nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N.". No other person shall assume the title "nurse" or in any manner imply that the person is a nurse except as provided in sections 457-8 and 457-8.5 or use the abbreviation "R.N." or any other words, letters, signs, or devices to indicate that the person using the same is a registered nurse.
(e) Any person who requests verification of a registered nurse license to a nursing board of another state shall pay a license verification fee.
(f) Applicants applying for a license to practice as a registered nurse by examination shall submit to the board proof of eligibility. Applicants shall be eligible to apply for a license by examination if they have:
(g) Unless determined to be insufficient or otherwise invalid by the board, all transcripts, diplomas, certificates of graduation, and other credentials submitted by any applicant in compliance with the application procedures for examination and licensure under this section shall be retained by the board for two years and shall suffice as proof of graduation upon subsequent submittals of applications for reexamination within two years by any applicant. [L 1970, c 71, pt of §1; am L 1972, c 43, §1; am L 1974, c 25, §1; am L 1983, c 119, §5; am L 1984, c 7, §§41 to 43; am L 1990, c 105, §2; am L 1992, c 202, §108 and c 234, §2; am L 1995, c 88, §2; am L 1996, c 150, §2; am L 1997, c 39, §2 and c 40, §13; am L 2004, c 88, §2; am L 2008, c 23, §1; am L 2016, c 97, §3; am L 2022, c 203, §2; am L 2024, c 95, §2]