RN/LPN Initial Exam Application – US Educated

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• Effective 10/1/2016 all licenses by exam and endorsement will be for a period of one year, plus the months to the applicant’s birth month. With the first renewal cycle, licenses will be valid for 2 years.
• As of May 17, 2022 – Initial Exam applications that are received will be considered valid for 1 year.
• As of December 13, 2022 – Applicants educated in the United States may take the examination a maximum of five times within three years of graduation.
• A Graduate Nurse Permit (GNP) request must be received from the employer, through the NM Board of Nursing website, within twelve (12) weeks of graduation. See Permit to Practice.

Per Regulation 16.12.2, Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit an Initial Exam Application through the Nurse Portal (https://nmbn.boardsofnursing.org/nmbn) 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.
2. Official Transcripts: Applicant must request official transcripts to be sent to the New Mexico Board of Nursing from their school or Institution. We accept electronic transcripts at bon.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.state.identogo.com. 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

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• Effective 10/1/2016 all 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.
• As of May 17, 2022 – Initial Exam applications that are received will be considered valid for 1 year.
• As of December 13, 2022 – 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.

Per Regulation 16.12.2, 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 bon.licensing@bon.nm.gov

Josef & Silny Associates, Inc. at  www.jsilny.org

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools at www.cgfns.org

Educational Records Evaluation Service Inc at www.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), or 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.state.identogo.com. 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

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• As of May 17, 2022 – Re-Exam applications that are received with an active Initial Exam application will be considered valid.
• As of December 13, 2022 – Applicants educated in the United States may take the examination a maximum of five times within three years of graduation.
• As of December 13, 2022 – 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 New Mexico Board of Nursing (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 who wish to request modifications in the security measures for the NCLEX RN or the NCLEX LPN. This should be done concurrently with the application for licensure 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.

Permit To Practice

Graduate Permit requests are submitted through the NM BON website as Intent to Hire letters at https://nmbon.jotform.com/231786651205962 .

• The prospective employer must submit an Intent to Hire letter, on letterhead, indicating the institution name, Graduate Nurse’s name, name and license number of the nurse who will be responsible for Direct RN Supervision. (Direct Supervision is defined per 16.12.2.10 NMAC.)
• Permits to practice are issued directly to a New Mexico employer.
• You must sign your permit to practice prior to employment as a GN/GPN. Contact your employer for additional information.
• Permits to practice will not be issued for applicants who declare residency in other compact states.
• A permit-to-practice is valid for six (6) months from the date of application or until examination results are issued by the NM Board.
• 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 permit to practice from the receipt of a completed file. (A completed file for a permit includes the exam application to the NM Board of Nursing; Certification of Eligibility of Nursing Program or official transcript; fingerprint cards; forms; fee and letter of intent to hire.)

RN/LPN Endorsement

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• Effective 10/1/2016 all 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.
• As of May 17, 2022, Endorsement Applications that are received will be considered valid for 1 year.

Per Regulation 16.12.2, Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit an RN/LPN ENDORSEMENT 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.
2. Verification of Licensure from state licensed by exam or NURSYS. Applicants that sat for the NCLEX in a state that was unable to issue a license because of no social security number will need to submit two license verifications-one from the state that they passed, the NCLEX and 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.state.identogo.com. 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).

RN/LPN Renewal

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• As of May 17, 2022 – Renewal applications that are received will be considered valid for 1 year.
• The renewal link will activate in your portal 60 days prior to expiration. Renewal reminders are autogenerated by the NM BON 60 days and 30 days prior to expiration. These notifications are sent to the email address on file.
• Continuing Education must be complete and uploaded to CE Broker prior to submitting your renewal application.

Per Regulation 16.12.2, Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit a RENEWAL 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.
2. The NM BON utilizes an auto-renew function for Renewal Applications that will review your submission. If it finds no faults against your license it will auto-renew and adjust your expiration date two years to the new expiration date.

RN/LPN Reinstatement

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• As of May 17, 2022 – Reinstatement applications that are received will be considered valid for 1 year.

Per Regulation 16.12.2, Application steps for licensure by exam are:

1. Submit an RN/LPN Renewal/Reinstatement 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.
2. If your license/certification has expired or lapsed, you will need to submit the Expired/Lapsed Attestation (ELA) within 5 days in addition to your Renewal Application. (See Forms)
3. Continuing Education must be completed before submitting your renewal application. If you fall under the refresher requirement, it will count towards your continuing education.
4. Failure to provide the ELA in the required timeframe and the necessary supporting documentation may result in disciplinary action taken towards your New Mexico license/certification. The ELA shall be uploaded through the Nurse Portal.