The Louisiana State Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses. Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact (Compact) state, meaning that nurses licensed by another Compact state do not need to apply for licensure unless they plan to make Iowa their primary state of residency.
Select license type you’re applying for:

Registered Nurse - Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores not required to be resubmitted to CGFNS for CP Verification Letter.
Exam scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES if your program was not taught in *English.
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL Internet Based Test Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
- IELTS: Overall Score Test Score: 6.5; Speaking score: 7.0; Minimum score for each module: 6.0
- TOEIC accepted
Notes
*Applicants are English Exempt if they were educated in Australia, Barbados, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom, United States
CES applicants have the option of having exam results sent directly to the Board of Nursing or having CGFNS provide exam results to the Board of Nursing.
An active license is required from the country or state of recent employment.
Licensed Practical Nurse - Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required
No services required
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Notes
Licensed Practical Nurse - Endorsement
Service(s) Required
No services required