Nursing License Requirements in Kansas
The Kansas Board of Nursing licenses practical nurses and registered nurses. July 1st, 2019 Kansas will join the eNLC. By joining the eNLC registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses will have one multistate license. This allows RNs, LPNs and LVNs the ability to practice in their home state, other eNLC states as well as via telehealth. The state currently has 60,269 RNs and 10, 757 LPNs, according to data from the National Nursing Database. The Board notes that practical nurses have more limited employment options than registered nurses.
Kansas has a statewide articulation plan to make it easier for nurses to further their education and move up to higher levels of competency and licensing.
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The Kansas Board has put together a list of questions for students to ask when they first consider enrolling in nursing programs (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Education/Information-to-Consider-When-Selecting-a-Nursing-Program.pdf). They may consider delivery method, national accreditation, breadth of clinical experiences, and criteria for admission and progression.
NCLEX pass rates are another consideration. In 2011, the Kansas pass rate was 85.88% for ADN (associate) and BSN (bachelor’s) programs. This compares to 87.89% for the nation as a whole. The 2011 Kansas pass rate for practical nursing was 93.98%. This compares to 84.83% for the nation as a whole. The Kansas Board also lists pass rates by individual school (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Education/RN-Passrates.pdf).
There are multiple scholarship opportunities. The Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship provides awards to future LPNs and RNs who are willing to make a one year commitment after program completion (http://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/2238-current-nursingscholarshipinfo.pdf). The Kansas State Board of Nursing also offers a few small scholarships (http://www.ksbn.org/cne/scholarship.pdf) as does the Kansas Nurses Foundation, or KNF (http://ksnurses.com/page/39/?). KNF is a part of the Kansas State Nurses Association, a professional organization (http://www.ksnurses.com/).
In addition to meeting education and examination requirements, candidates must show evidence of character and professional responsibility. The Kansas Board requires applicants to provide details about disciplinary actions taken by any government agency, not just boards of nursing. This includes things like suspended or revoked driver’s licenses.
LPN Requirements in Kansas
LPN Education Requirements
The foundation for a practical nursing license is completion of a board approved nursing program. Practical nursing programs in Kansas include at least 30 credit hours of core nursing coursework, plus seven hours of support coursework (human growth and development and anatomy and physiology).
There are several items to consider prior to selecting an LPN program. The article, LPN programs in Kansas, will help you better understand these factors during your LPN program selection process.
The Application Process
The candidate will later need to make two applications, one to the Kansas Board and one to the company that administers the NCLEX exam (http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/). The application costs $50 (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/license/agency-fees/); the exam costs $200.Once a candidate has been authorized to take the exam, the candidate can schedule it oneself at a computerized testing center.
There are several preliminary steps. The candidate will need to have fingerprints done. The candidate will also need a passport type photo to attach to the application.
Students may get approval to test before their final transcript posts. There is a form that the program director can sign to declare that the candidate has successfully completed all requirements, or is expected to do so shortly.
An applicant can monitor the status of the application. The Board notes that apparent problems may mean that something hasn’t been processed yet. For example, if there is no checkmark by legal approval, it may simply be that the results of the background check haven’t been received. Various issues can result in an application being marked as incomplete – including using correction fluid on paperwork.
Graduates are expected to take the exam, and pass, within two years of graduation. Otherwise a petition to test is required. A candidate who needs to retake must apply for the privilege.
LPNs must apply separately for IV approval. They need to complete a board approved course.
Out of State LPNs (Until eNLC is enacted)
Candidates who are licensed in other states or U.S. territories may be licensed by endorsement. The application fee for LPNs is $50. Nurses will need to provide license verification. Depending on the state of licensure, this process may be carried out online or may require a paper form.
Endorsement candidates may be granted a temporary permit, good for 120 days, while they’re going through the licensing process. Candidates who have had disciplinary action, though, may be denied the privilege of working while their application is under review.
LPNs who hold IV certification in Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, or Colorado may be granted IV authority in Kansas by providing a copy of their current license. Otherwise, a certification of completion is required.
A vocational nurse who got the license in Texas or California during the years when they had a state-specific licensing exam will need to pass the NCLEX-PN.
Foreign applicants must have their credentials evaluated. They must take the TOEFL if English is not their primary language (unless they have already demonstrated proficiency by completing a nursing program taught in the English language). The Kansas Board requires a 20 in speaking, listening, and writing, and a 19 in reading.
RN License Requirements in Kansas
Education Requirements for RNs
RNs need to attend an approved program that has a clinical component. The Board asks that Excelsior graduates contact them.
Read the “RN Programs in Kansas” piece to learn about the many factors to consider when choosing a Registered Nursing program.
The Application Process
License applications can be found on the Board site (http://www.ksbn.org/forms/forms.htm#Licensing).
A candidate will need to have official transcripts sent to the Board before the license can be issued. The background check is also a requirement; processing takes about a month. Candidates should get the correct card from the Kansas Board and include a $50 fee for fingerprint processing. It is possible to have the fingerprinting done at the office of the Board of Nursing. There is a $7.50 charge. Different agencies may charge different amounts for making the prints.
It is necessary to register separately with Pearson, the company that administers the NCLEX. A candidate can download a handbook from the site. This will give important registration information. The examination fee is currently $200 (http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/).
The Kansas Board may authorize a candidate to take the NCLEX-RN before the final transcript posts. There is a form on the Board site that can be used for this purpose.
Out of State RNs (Until eNLC is enacted)
RNs licensed in other U.S. jurisdictions can apply for license by endorsement. The application fee is $75. It will be necessary to provide license verification. Out-of-state nurses with clean legal and disciplinary histories may request a temporary permit so that they can work while going through the licensing process. Employers can verify that the permit has been issued by faxing 785-296-8643.
RNs who were licensed in other states on the basis of distance learning programs that did not include the required clinical component may still be eligible for licensure by endorsement. The condition is that they must have worked at least 1,000 hours as registered nurses.
RNs from other countries must go through the GCFNS to have their qualifications evaluated.
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