# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 27 — Board of Nursing

### Chapter 01 — Examination and Licensure

#### Regulation .10 Licensure by Endorsement.

*COMAR 10.27.01.10*

A. An applicant who holds an active, unencumbered license to practice registered nursing or practical nursing in another state, territory, or country is eligible for licensure without examination if the applicant:

  (1) Complies with all of the requirements under Regulation .04A of this chapter;

  (2) Pays the required fee;

  (3) Meets one of the conditions in §B of this regulation; and

  (4) Presents evidence of 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the last 5 years or successful completion of a Board-approved refresher course or preceptor program.

B. An applicant for licensure as a registered nurse by endorsement shall either:

  (1) Hold a valid, unencumbered multistate license under the Nurse Licensure Compact; or

  (2) Submit the following evidence directly to the Board from the appropriate authority:

    (a) Verification that, at the time that applicant graduated from the nursing education program, the nursing education program was:

      (i) Approved as a registered nursing or licensed practical nursing education program in that state, territory, or country; and

      (ii) Substantially equivalent to the education program approved in this State;

    (b) Verification that the applicant passed one of the following licensure examinations under the laws of another state, territory, or country:

      (i) If completed from 1952 to 1982, the “State Board Test Pool Examination — Registered Nurse or Practical Nurse”;

      (ii) If completed from 1982 to present, the “National Council Licensure Examination — Registered Nurse or Practical Nurse”;

      (iii) If completed before, 1952, the “National League for Nursing State-Constructed Board Examination, Registered Nurse or Practical Nurse”; or

      (iv) If completed before 1982, “Canadian Nurses Association Test Service Examination for Registered Nurses”;

    (c) For applicants whose entry-level registered nursing education program or licensed practical nursing education program was completed in another country, a copy of an evaluation of the applicant's transcript by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools or successor organization; and

    (d) Except as provided in §D(1) of this regulation, proof of written and oral competency in the English language, in accordance with Health Occupations Article, § 8-302(e), Annotated Code of Maryland.

C. An applicant for licensure as a registered nurse by endorsement who cannot provide the evidence required under §B(2) of this regulation may qualify for licensure if the applicant submits evidence, as required by the Board, that the applicant has:

  (1) Completed satisfactorily and met all requirements for an associate or a baccalaureate degree in registered nursing from a college or university that, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, is:

    (a) Accredited by a national or regional nursing accreditation agency that is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; and

    (b) Approved by the board of nursing or other applicable state regulator in the state in which the program is located; and

  (2) Completed a minimum of 1,000 hours of practice in direct patient care.

D. English Language Competency Requirements for Endorsement.

  (1) An applicant is not required to submit proof of English language competency if the applicant demonstrates that the applicant holds or has held a license to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing in another state if that state has an English language competency component for licensure or examination.

  (2) Applicants for registered nurse licensure and licensed practical nurse licensure who take an English proficiency examination approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to demonstrate English language proficiency under Health Occupations Article, § 8-302(e), Annotated Code of Maryland, shall obtain the minimum passing scores for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses set by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

E. Those applicants who cannot present evidence of 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the last 5 years, or successful completion of a Board-approved refresher course or preceptor program, may apply for inactive license.