My LPN license is expiring--how do I put it on an inactive status?

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Specializes in Psychiatrics.

Okay heres the situation, and this is probably a dumb question.

I have my RN license and I want to keep my LPN license, but how do I put my LPN liscence on an inactive status?

Do I contact the BON?

If so, can I contact them per e-mail?

I'M LOST!!!

HELP!!

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Specializes in Homecare Peds, ICU, Trauma, CVICU.

I am still an LPN, will be an RN next year, so I'm not exactly sure how this works but here is what I think:

I don't think you can "keep" your LPN license if you now have an RN license.

I don't think you have to do anything. Just don't renew when the time comes and it automatically becomes inactive.

Please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

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Instructions for placing the license in an inactive status are given on the renewal notice by my state. You pay the fee but still have to indicate that you've completed the required CEUs. You can call your Board and see if it differs in your state.

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Specializes in LTC.

I don't think in Iowa you can keep your LPN license once you are a RN. I'm not 100% positive though. Thats what we were told in school.

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Interesting question. I'm in NY, and I too don't believe an LPN license can be kept once an RN license is issued. I know that even if you chose to work in an office that only requires an LPN license, not the RN one, you are still held to the standards and expectations of the RN license. Effectively, it makes the LPN one moot, anyway. So even if you COULD keep it....why?

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
I don't think in Iowa you can keep your LPN license once you are a RN. I'm not 100% positive though. Thats what we were told in school.

Hello, fellow Iowan! When hubby got his RN, he still had his LPN until it expired, so he had two licenses at once for a couple of years. However, he practiced as an RN, of course.

To go on inactive status in my state, you just let your license expire. There is no special procedure. All states, I imagine, are different.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

My state requires you to work under the license that affords the most accountability and responsiblity (RN). So I guess the answer is to contact the Board of Nursing for your state.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

Like some other posters have said, I think the RN license pretty much eclipses your LPN, as you will be held to the RN standard of practice. I have licenses in a few states, and it varies. In one, you still have to pay money to keep it in inactive status. In another one, you just let it expire, but then I doubt they would renew it if you have a current RN license.

My question is WHY would you want to keep both current? Just curious.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I don't think there is any point in trying to keep the LPN license.

I once heard an LPN who was in school to become an RN say "well, if I ever lost my RN license, I'd still have this one" but I believe I heard later that you'd probably lose both anyway.

I think it would be an unnecessary expense. You'd be held to the standards of an RN. Let it go.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Maternal-child, LDRP, NICU.

I just had my LPN license to inactive status. When BON sends you the letter for renewal go to that website in the letter enter your user ID and your password then follow the instructions; on the left side on one of the pages it will say inactive. Hit that status and you don't even have to pay for it. I feel the same way i worked really hard for it and i am kind of scared of letting it go. Just make it inactive and you don't have to pay for it neither.

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Specializes in Psychiatrics.
Interesting question. I'm in NY, and I too don't believe an LPN license can be kept once an RN license is issued. I know that even if you chose to work in an office that only requires an LPN license, not the RN one, you are still held to the standards and expectations of the RN license. Effectively, it makes the LPN one moot, anyway. So even if you COULD keep it....why?

I know that here in Iowa we can keep both, I just don't know the proceedure to do it. I guess my reasoning to why is because I can I have a very hard time letting go of something I took such a hard time and a lot of effort working on.

My state requires you to work under the license that affords the most accountability and responsiblity (RN). So I guess the answer is to contact the Board of Nursing for your state.

I am fully aware that I am going to be held accountable to the repsonsibilities of my highest standards, in my case right now, my RN, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to keep a hold my LPN license.

Like some other posters have said, I think the RN license pretty much eclipses your LPN, as you will be held to the RN standard of practice. I have licenses in a few states, and it varies. In one, you still have to pay money to keep it in inactive status. In another one, you just let it expire, but then I doubt they would renew it if you have a current RN license.

My question is WHY would you want to keep both current? Just curious.

Again, like I said before, Its just hard for me to let go of something that I fought so hard to get to just let it slip away.

Instructions for placing the license in an inactive status are given on the renewal notice by my state. You pay the fee but still have to indicate that you've completed the required CEUs. You can call your Board and see if it differs in your state.

Thank you.

I just had my LPN license to inactive status. When BON sends you the letter for renewal go to that website in the letter enter your user ID and your password then follow the instructions; on the left side on one of the pages it will say inactive. Hit that status and you don't even have to pay for it. I feel the same way i worked really hard for it and i am kind of scared of letting it go. Just make it inactive and you don't have to pay for it neither.

Thank you for seeing it like I see it. Although, I haven't got a letter for renewal yet, I may have to contact the BON to see whatsup.

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I'm in the same boat. LPN finishing up my RN, but to work as an RN with the same facility, I would now have to travel an hour to the new duty station. Keep LPN, keep same job, which I LOVE!!, work in same bldg I've been in for past 61/2 yrs, give up LPN, drive an hour, and only increase pay by $1000 per yr...not even enough to cover gas and tolls!

Any thoughts? Some times I feel like giving up the whole RN path and be happy where I am.....

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