Renewing license before expiration date

[heyitsme728]

Okay I sent a money order and renewal form to the board to renew my LVN license but they sent it back to me? I was wondering if they sent it back to me because it's not past the deadline which is around December 2013...Or did they send the form and the money order back to me because I didn't do the finger scan? I thought I got that finger scan when I took the LVN exam? I sent them an email and called the number but it's busy.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Well there should be a note in or on the envelope. Perhaps your state won't let you renew until it's closer to the renewal date? For both of the states I hold a license in, you must renew online. Look into that. I also suggest going to the FAQ section on your license renewal portion of your BON's website, perhaps someone has already asked this. And you want to ALWAYS renew BEFORE the expiration date if you meet all of the requirements. You shouldn't work with an expired license!

[elkpark]

And you want to ALWAYS renew BEFORE the expiration date if you meet all of the requirements. You shouldn't work with an expired license!

Not "shouldn't" -- CAN'T. :) There is no grace period on nursing licenses; the day after the expiration date, one is no longer a licensed nurse and it is illegal to practice as one. Employers are supposed to (although many don't) keep track of their employees' licenses and not allow them to practice without a current, valid license (I've had friends who got sloppy about renewing who got met at the back door of the facility by nursing administration the day after their license expired and informed they could not come to work and were off the schedule until they returned with a valid license. Lots of employers aren't that conscientious, of course).