Tennessee Licensure & Registration Info

The Tennessee State Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and practical nurses. Tennessee 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 Tennessee their primary state of residency.

Select license type you’re applying for:

Registered Nurse - Initial Licensure

Service(s) Required

English Language Proficiency Exam Results

Exams scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:

  • TOEFL Internet Based Test: Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
  • IELTS Academic: Overall Score: 6.5; Speaking Score: 7.0
  • MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
  • OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300; Speaking: 350

Notes

Applicants educated in the following English exempt countries Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom, United States (expect Puerto Rico)

Registered Nurse - Endorsement

Service(s) Required

English Language Proficiency Exam Results

Exams scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:

  • TOEFL Internet Based Test: Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
  • IELTS Academic Overall Score: 6.5; Speaking Score: 7.0
  • MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
  • OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 300; Speaking: 350

Notes

Applicants educated in the following English exempt countries Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom, United States (expect Puerto Rico)

Licensed Practical Nurse - Initial Licensure

Service(s) Required

English Language Proficiency Exam Results

Exam scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:

  • TOEFL Internet Based Test: Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
  • IELTS Academic: Overall Score: 6.0; Speaking Score: 7.0
  • MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
  • OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 200; Speaking: 350

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 (except Puerto Rico)

Licensed Practical Nurse - Endorsement

Service(s) Required

English Language Proficiency Exam Results

Exam scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:

  • TOEFL Internet Based Test: Passing Score: 83; Speaking score: 26
  • IELTS Academic: Overall Score: 6.0; Speaking Score: 7.0
  • MET: Overall: 55; Speaking: 55
  • OET: Reading, Writing, and Listening: 200; Speaking: 350

Notes

Applicants educated in the following English exempt countries Australia, Barbados, Canada (expect Quebec), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom, United States (expect Puerto Rico)