About NCSBN
About NCSBN
Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing to act and counsel together on matters of common interest.
As the collective voice of nursing regulation in the U.S. and its territories, NCSBN's work encompasses:
- Developing the NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, NNAAP and MACE examinations
- Monitoring trends in public policy, nursing practice and education
- Promoting uniformity in relationship to the regulation of nursing practice
- Disseminating data related to the licensure of nurses
- Conducting research on nursing practice issues
- Serving as a forum for information exchange for members
- Providing opportunities for collaboration among its members and other nursing and health care organizations
- Maintaining the Nursys database, which coordinates national publicly available nurse licensure information
Read more about NCSBN programs and services.
Read more about NCSBN’s origins.
NCSBN Membership
NCSBN has 60 member boards. The NCSBN membership comprises boards of nursing in:
- Fifty U.S. states
- District of Columbia
- Four U.S. territories-American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands
- Four states have two boards of nursing, one for registered nurses (RNs) and one for licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs): California, Georgia, Louisiana and West Virginia
- One state, Nebraska, has both the board of nursing and the board for advanced practice nurses (APRNs) represented
- Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Bermuda Nursing Council
- College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Nova Scotia
- College of Nurses of Ontario
- College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia
- College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
- College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
- Nursing Council of New Zealand
- Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses
- Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association
- Singapore Nursing Board
Read more about Member Boards.
