How the Profession is Organized in Minnesota
Regulation of the Nursing Profession
Nursing in the State of Minnesota is regulated by the Minnesota Board of Nursing (“Board”). The Board manages three types of nursing licenses:- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Nurses (RNs) and Educational Background
In the U.S., the term RN includes professionals with a variety of education levels but with certain skill sets in common. Most people become RNs after participating in one of two types of degree programs:- Associates Degree of Nursing (ADN) – two years of study, typically in a community college
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – a 4-year university degree
The Job Market for Nursing in Minnesota
Nursing is a growing field in the U.S. due to factors including such as the aging U.S. population, nurse attrition (choosing to leave the job), and the increasing complexity of nursing practice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031. Most nurses practice in hospital settings, but also in physicians’ offices, home healthcare, and outpatient care centers. In 2021, the median pay for registered nurses was approximately $77,600 annually.The Job Search
Qualified RNs are in high demand and employers will compete for their skills. Bilingual and bicultural nurses can be even more attractive to employers who serve diverse communities. Because of this demand, even part-time employment can include attractive benefits such as health insurance, childcare, and tuition fees for continued education.Eligibility for Licensing as an RN in Minnesota
Below is an overview of the steps to apply for an RN license in the State of Minnesota.Prepare Your Application
You will submit an application to the Board online through its website or via paper application (downloadable from the Board’s website). Since your Minnesota license will be your first nursing license in the United States, you will need to take and pass the NCLEX examination. After reviewing your application, the Board will approve you to sit for the NCLEX examination.Transcript Verification
As part of your application, you will need to submit your transcripts to the Board. Prior to submission, you will need to have your transcripts evaluated by:- Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) – select the option for the Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report
English Proficiency Exam
Unless you graduated from a nursing education program conducted in English and located in an English-speaking country, you will need to take and pass one of the following exams:- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
- RN Passing Score: 84 with a speaking score of 26
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS, academic version)
- Passing Score: 6.5 with a score of 6.0 in all modules
Background Check
After your application is received by the Board, the Criminal Background Check program office will send you a fingerprint packet by email. Follow the instructions and submit your fingerprints as soon as possible.Take and Pass the NCLEX
After the Board reviews your application and approves you to take the NCLEX, it will email you an approval to register with Pearson VUE, which will administer the exam. Pearson VUE will then email you the “authorization to test” (ATT) and allow you to schedule a date and time to take the exam.Tests
To become an RN in Minnesota, you will need to take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. Additionally, depending on where you completed your nursing training, you may need to complete and pass one of several English proficiency exams. This section will cover the NCLEX-RN test.National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
Test Questions and Scoring
The NCLEX-RN is a five hour computer-based examination. It uses Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), which means that the test adjusts its difficulty level, content, and number of questions based on your answers. Each time you answer an item (question), the computer re-estimates your ability based on your prior answers until it is 95% certain that your abilities are either above or below the passing standard. More information regarding CAT is available on the NCSBN website. The computer will decide whether you have passed the exam using one of three methods: the 95% confidence rule, the maximum-length exam rule, and the run-out-of-time (R.O.O.T.) rule. More information regarding each of those methods is available on the NCSBN website. The exam is mostly comprised of multiple choice questions, but other question types are also included. You are not allowed to skip any questions, and you should avoid making random guesses as this can quickly lower your score. The minimum number of items that will be shown during the exam is 85, while the maximum number of items is 150. Of those questions, 15 questions will be “pretest items,” that are being evaluated and will not contribute to your score. You will not know which of the questions are “pretest items,” so you should do your best to answer each question.Test Content
The content of the NCLEX-RN concentrates on the patient as the focus of care. The 2023 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, which is effective between April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2026, tests the following content areas: Safe and Effective Care Environment Management of Care (15-21%) Safety and Infection Control (10-16%) Health Promotion and Maintenance (6-12%) Psychosocial Integrity (6-12%) Physiological Integrity Basic Care and Comfort (6-12%) Pharmacological Therapies (13-19%) Reduction of Risk Potential (9-15%) Physiological Adaptation (11-17%)Scheduling and Testing Site Procedures
Once you receive your ATT, you should immediately schedule your NCLEX-RN exam with Pearson VUE. The ATT is valid for only 90 days, and test centers may fill up quickly. If you do not take the examination within one year of receipt of your application, your application with the Board will be nullified. If you do not take the examination within 90 days of receipt of your ATT, your registration with Pearson VUE will no longer be valid. If it is your first time taking the exam, you will be offered an appointment within 30 days of your attempt to schedule the exam. Otherwise, you will be offered an appointment within 45 days. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may decline those appointments and schedule for a later date within your ATT period. More information regarding scheduling and testing site procedures are available in the Candidate Bulletin published by NCSBN.Retaking the NCLEX-RN
If you fail the NCLEX-RN exam, you will receive a Candidate Performance Report that shows the areas that need improvement. You may retake the NCLEX-RN after waiting 45 days.Preparing for the NCLEX-RN
There are many different resources that can help you prepare for the content and the CAT technology. Consider investing in test preparation, as it may save you money by not having to pay to retake the test. NCSBN has also published NCLEX-RN practice exams that you may use in your preparation.Time and Costs
Evaluating your foreign degree and achieving licensing as a RN in Minnesota depends on many factors, including:- The completeness of your educational and professional records
- The efficiency of your home country’s system in compiling and transmitting your university records and verification of licensing
- Your fingerprint evaluation and criminal background check
- Your performance on the NCLEX
- Your free time and financial resources
Other Careers and Credentials
Transitional and Lower Level Opportunities
You may want to consider taking a lower-level job in healthcare in the short-term that can help you meet longer-term goals of licensing as a RN. Preparing for the NCLEX can take time. Working in healthcare in a different way and with fewer responsibilities may offer you some advantages, such as:- Employers paying tuition and fees associated with the NCLEX and licensing
- More energy to focus on studying
- A chance to adapt to the U.S. healthcare system and workplace culture in a lower-pressure environment
Certified Nursing Assistant
Certified Nursing Assistants (“CNAs”) are also referred to as nurses’ aides or nursing assistants. CNAs have limited responsibilities and work under nurse supervision. More information on the requirements for becoming a CNA is available on the Department of Health website.Healthcare Interpreter
If you are bilingual and a strong communicator, you may want to research opportunities for work a hospital as an interpreter. Because the role is not specifically regulated in Minnesota, the standards for employment, pay, and benefits may vary differently depending on the employer. You are more likely to have benefits such as tuition reimbursement if you find work as a direct employee of a healthcare facility, instead of working for a company that provides interpretation services to hospitals. You may want to begin your research by directly contacting human resource departments at hospitals.Higher Level Opportunities
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Once you have an RN license in Minnesota or eligibility for RN licensure, you may find that you want to continue your professional development and get licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). The practice of advanced practice registered nursing means the performance of an expanded scope of nursing in at least one of the recognized advanced practice roles and for at least one population focus: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). You will need to meet certain requirements, including completing a graduate level APRN program accredited by a nursing or nursing-related accrediting body that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation as acceptable to the Board or you must demonstrate compliance with the APRN education requirements that were in effect in Minnesota at the time you completed the advanced practice nursing education program. The education must be in one of the four roles and one of the six population foci appropriate to the education.Beyond Licensing
Joining a Professional Association
State and national associations for nurses provide opportunities for professional development and networking. They also help set acceptable working conditions for nurses and give information and opinions on policy in Minnesota and across the U.S. Their websites may offer useful information to nursing candidates about the licensing and examination process, including test preparation. They often also provide continuing education to members as well. There are many other professional associations for nurses that cater to specific disciplines, job types, ethnicity, gender, and religion of registered nurses.License Renewals
Once you have obtained your license, you will need to renew your license every two years to remain in active status. At the time of initial licensure or reregistration, your licensure period is determined by the date of licensure as it relates to the month and year of your birth. The licensure period can vary from 6 to 29 months depending upon your date of birth and the start date of your registration period. After this initial period of licensure, your license will be in effect for two years. You will also need to certify that you have completed your continuing education hours when you renew your license. If you are a LPN, you must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education during a 24 month period of registration. This is a ratio of one contact hour for each two months of registration. If your period of registration is less than or more than 24 months, you apply the same ratio. If you are a RN, you must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education during a 24 month period of registration. This is a ratio of one contact hour for each month of registration. If your period of registration is less than or more than 24 months, the same ratio applies.Licensing Mobility (Reciprocity)
The State of Minnesota is not yet a signatory to the Nurse Licensure Compact. As such, it does not honor nursing licenses granted by other states. Instead, Minnesota grants licensing through examination (discussed above) or by endorsement (where an nurse licensed in another state meets all Minnesota requirements for licensing). If you obtain your Minnesota state nursing license and plan to move to another state, you will need to research the licensing requirements of that other state.Tips
- Provide Complete Documents: Nursing foreign degree evaluation services require that your university and licensing authority send transcripts directly to them. Invest the time and money early to facilitate this process. Providing additional documentation about your program of study, such as syllabi and course descriptions, can make the most of your degree evaluation. Making an effort here can result in significant savings of time and money by minimizing the gaps in comparing your degree to its U.S. equivalent.
- Get Your Questions Answered: Be your own advocate through the licensing process. Seek clarification about questions and concerns directly from official sources. If you feel your degree has been misinterpreted or you do not understand an aspect of the process, organize your questions and contact the Board and/or Pearson VUE (as appropriate) and ask for assistance.
- Invest in Test Preparation: If you can afford it, invest in test preparation. Invest your money wisely now to make your licensing process a success sooner.
- Be Flexible in Your Job Search: Build professional networks! Consider employment in healthcare, such as becoming a CNA, to give you a lower-stress job that allows you to study for licensing and that opens opportunities to meet employers. If you are overqualified for the positions you are applying for, explain how your plans can bring long-term value to the employer.
