RN/LPN Reinstatement

How to submit...

1. Access the Nurse Portal to complete the Reinstatement application
2. Select your license
   1. Your license includes your license type (RN Permanent License or LPN Permanent License), license number, expiration date, and license status.
3. Select 'Renewal/Reinstatement' under license options
4. Complete application
5. A background check will be required, follow the instructions on the confirmation page for processing.

Fee Information: $100.00 (Inactive Status); $180.00 (Expired Status)

FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

Valid Forms of Payment

• Credit or Debit Card; MasterCard or Visa only

Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse

• You previously held an active license in North Carolina
• You held an active nursing license within the last five (5) years OR have completed an RN or LPN Refresher Course (respectively) within the last year, which has been approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. 
  • If your North Carolina nursing license has lapsed for five (5) years or longer, you will be required to take a Board-Approved Refresher Course or provide evidence of active licensure in another state or jurisdiction within the past five years
• You must not declare another Compact State as a primary residence
  • Determine your eligibility to seek licensure in North Carolina
• You must have met the Continuing Competence requirements: Continuing Competence - 21 NCAC 36.0232

If you are requesting reinstatement following disciplinary action by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, please reach out to renewal@ncbon.com.

In accordance with the Nursing Practice Act, all candidates applying for Reinstatement of a North Carolina nursing license are required to undergo a fingerprint-based State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history check.

The Board of Nursing may deny an applicant on the basis of a conviction of a crime only if the board finds that the applicant's criminal conviction history is directly related to the duties and responsibilities for the licensed occupation, or the conviction is for a crime that is violent or sexual in nature. The Board of Nursing must specifically consider the following factors by law when denying an applicant for licensure due to a criminal conviction:

1. The level and seriousness of the crime.
2. The date of the crime.
3. The age of the person at the time of the crime.
4. The circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime, if known.
5. The nexus between the criminal conduct and the prospective duties of the applicant as a licensee.
6. The prison, jail, probation, parole, rehabilitation, and employment records of the applicant since the date the crime was committed.
   1. The completion of, or active participation in, rehabilitative drug or alcohol treatment.
   2. A Certificate of Relief granted pursuant to G.S. 15A-173.2.
7. The subsequent commission of a crime by the applicant.
8. Any affidavits or other written documents, including character references.

Applicant’s denied licensure in whole or in part because of a criminal conviction have the right to appeal the decision of the Board within 30 days after receipt of the Board’s decision to the superior court located in the county where the applicant resides or where the Board is located pursuant to NC. Gen. Stat §90-171.37B(a) and §150B-43 et al.

In order to complete the criminal history check, please follow these instructions:

• A Criminal Background Check is required for all reinstatement applications. If your North Carolina nursing license has lapsed less than 30 days and you wish to retain your multi-state status, a Criminal Background Check is required within 30 days. If your Criminal Background Check is not completed within 30 days, your North Carolina multi-state license will convert to a single state license. Licenses expired greater than 30 days, but less than 6 months, will be reinstated as a single state license and the licensee will be required to complete Criminal Background Check process in order to re-obtain multi-state privileges.
• Live Scan is only available to applicants living in North Carolina.  If you reside in another state or country, a fingerprint card must be mailed in. Please check your confirmation page for current instructions for this process.
• If you have been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or have any charges pending (which have NOT been previously reported to the NC Board of Nursing through an application process); or if you have any charges or actions against any professional license (which have NOT been previously reported to the NC Board of Nursing through an application process), submission of additional documents will be required before your license reinstatement can be processed.

If a Criminal Background Check or additional documents are required, your online reinstatement application will be processed once all documents are received and reviewed.