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Registered Nurses

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

Many professional nursing associations provide voluntary certification to registered nurses. For example, the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing awards the certified transport registered nurse designation to those who pass an examination and meet other requirements. The American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, provides more than 20 certification credentials.

All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories require a license to practice nursing. To obtain a license, graduates of approved nursing schools must pass a national examination. Nurses may be licensed by more than one state. In some states, continuing education is a condition for license renewal. Different titles require different education and training levels.

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