do you need to take NCLEX again if you don't work for 2 years

Juwon · Mar 21, 2011

No you dont need to take the nclex over again, if your license is inactive, u will have to activate your license and possibly have to take a refresher course.

jitterbugg · Mar 21, 2011

good question beba/rn! I'm in the same boat. If we kept up CEU's would we still need to take a refresher course?

tyvin, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2011

It depends upon which state you live in; some are more strict then others. Where I am if you let your license laps for 2 years then the BON determines what courses you take to be able to get your license back; longer then that it's up to the board if you have to take the boards again. I believe it all depends on experience, record etc.. Look on your BON web page and they will tell you what you need to do. Like the Nurse Practice Act, each state is different.

In my state there are no renewal requirements to renew your license every 2 years.

Chin up · Mar 21, 2011

In MA, as long as you pay the 120 dollars every two years and complete your 15 HR CEU requirement, you can be out of work as long as you want.

That fee does go up periodically.

CCL RN, RN · Mar 21, 2011

You never have to take the NCLEX again!

BreeLPN2RN · Mar 21, 2011

I didn't work in nursing for 9 years. I called the TN BON and all I had to do was 45 hours CEU's. I did it all online and mailed copies to the BON. Got reinstated in one week. I guess different states may have different requirements.

GM2RN · Mar 21, 2011

As long as you keep your license active by doing your CEUs and renewing it, you never have to take the NCLEX again.

If you don't keep your license active, whether or not you need to retake the NCLEX depends on the state and how long it's been inactive.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2011

I didn't work in nursing for 9 years. I called the TN BON and all I had to do was 45 hours CEU's. I did it all online and mailed copies to the BON. Got reinstated in one week. I guess different states may have different requirements.

In my state, if you have not worked in 4 years or longer, you must take a board approved nurse refresher course, and must work 80 hours in clinical (without pay) under the supervision of a current RN. If you have let your license go delinquent during that period (you didn't pay to keep inactive status and didn't do your CE's), you must also take an additional 20 hours of CE's apart from the nurse refresher course and clinicals.

j621d · Mar 21, 2011

To get the definitive answer, go to your state Board of Nursing. That should give you the answer.

beba/rn · Mar 21, 2011

Thank you everyone for responding.God bless