N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8 § 64.1

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 64.1 - Professional study of nursing

(a) Registered professional nursing. To meet the professional education requirement for licensure, the applicant shall have graduated from:

(1) a program in nursing registered by the department as preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse;

(2) a program in nursing approved by the licensing authority in another state, territory or possession of the United States as preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse unless such program or any part thereof has been determined not to be satisfactory to the department; or

(3) a general nursing course of at least two academic years in a country outside the United States and its territories or possessions that is satisfactory to the department and that the licensing authority or appropriate governmental agency of said country certifies to the department as being preparation for practice as a registered professional nurse. For issuance of a limited permit, an applicant shall obtain a score satisfactory to the department on a proficiency examination selected by the department as evidence of equivalent training, if the applicant's nursing education was obtained in a school of nursing outside the United States and its territories and has not been determined by the department to be equivalent in quality and scope to a program of nursing education registered by the department.

(b) Licensed practical nursing. To meet the education requirements for licensure, the applicant shall have graduated from high school or its equivalent, and shall have:

(1) graduated from a program in nursing registered by the department or approved by the licensing authority in another state, territory, or possession of the United States as preparation for practice as a licensed practical nurse unless such program or any part thereof has been determined not to be satisfactory to the department;

(2) completed preparation in a program determined by the department to be equivalent to the programs described in paragraph (1) of this subdivision;

(3) graduated from a program in practical nursing of at least nine months in a country outside the United States and its territories or possessions, which program is satisfactory to the department and which program the licensing authority of said country certifies to the department as being preparation for practice as a licensed practical nurse; or

(4) graduated from a general nursing course in a country outside the United States and its territories that is satisfactory to the department and that the licensing authority of said country certifies to the department as being preparation for practice as a professional nurse.

(c) Baccalaureate or higher degree requirement for registered professional nurses.

(1) In order to maintain registration as a registered professional nurse in New York State, a registered professional nurse shall attain a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing within ten years after being issued a registered professional nurse license by the department in accordance with this subdivision. A baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing is an academic degree in the principles of nursing practice, nursing science, nursing education, nursing administration or nursing leadership, issued by a college or university that is registered by the department or accredited by an accreditation organization acceptable to the department, which may include, but is not limited to:

(i) a Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) with a major in Nursing;

(ii) a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) Degree;

(iii) a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN BScN);

(iv) a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree;

(v) a Master's Degree in Nursing;

(vi) a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree (DNP);

(vii) a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Nursing; and

(viii) a Doctor of Nursing Science Degree (DNS, DSN, DNSc).

(2) The following registered professional nurses are exempt from the requirement to attain a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing within ten years after being issued a registered professional nurse license by the department as set forth in this subdivision:

(i) any individual who was issued an unrestricted license as a registered professional nurse in New York State, another state or United States Territory on or before December 18, 2017;

(ii) any unlicensed graduate professional nurse who was eligible and applied to take the National Council Licensure Examination in New York State, another state or United States Territory on or before December 18, 2017, provided such unlicensed graduate professional nurse has submitted documentation acceptable to the department demonstrating eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination on or before such date;

(iii) any student who entered a baccalaureate or higher degree program registered by the department preparing registered professional nurses on or before June 18, 2020, provided such student was enrolled in such program on a continuous basis until completion of such program;

(iv) any student who entered a program preparing registered professional nurses registered by the department on or before December 18, 2017, provided such student was enrolled in such program on a continuous basis until completion of such program; and

(v) any student who had an application pending in a program preparing registered professional nurses registered by the department on or before December 18, 2017, provided such student can submit corroborating documentation acceptable to the department, which shall be certified by the higher education institution or institutions at issue, that demonstrates that the student had an application pending with such registered program or programs.

(3)

(i) Conditional registration. The department, in its discretion, may issue a conditional registration to a registered professional nurse who fails to complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing as set forth in this subdivision, but who agrees to meet such requirement within one year. The fee for such a conditional registration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the triennial registration as set forth in section 6905 of the Education Law. The duration of such conditional registration shall be for one year and may be extended, with the payment of a fee as determined by the department, for no more than one additional year. Provided, however, that the duration of such conditional registration may be extended for more than one additional year, with the payment of a fee as determined by the department, where the applicant can show good cause acceptable to the department for the failure to meet the requirements of this subdivision.

(ii) Temporary educational exemption. The department, in its discretion, may issue a temporary educational exemption to a registered professional nurse who is unable to complete the baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing requirement set forth in this subdivision due to a lack of access to educational programs. Registered professional nurses seeking a temporary educational exemption shall provide evidence satisfactory to the department of applying on at least two occasions to a baccalaureate degree program or programs and subsequently being denied access to such program or programs on at least two occasions due to there being a limited number of seats in such program or programs. Temporary educational exemptions issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be for a single two-year period. The fee for a temporary educational exemption shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the triennial registration as set forth in section 6905 of the Education Law.

(iii) Additional provisions regarding conditional registration and temporary educational exemption. A registered professional nurse shall only be eligible for either a conditional registration or a temporary educational exemption as set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph.

(4) Any registered professional nurse who is notified of the denial of a registration for failure to complete the educational requirements set forth in this subdivision and who practices as a registered professional nurse without such registration may be subject to disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section 6510 of the Education law.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 8 § 64.1

Amended New York State Register September 30, 2020/Volume XLII, Issue 39, eff. 9/30/2020

Amended New York State Register August 2, 2023/Volume XLV, Issue 31, eff. 7/17/2023, exp. 9/14/2023 (Emergency)

Amended New York State Register September 27, 2023/Volume XLV, Issue 39, eff. 9/27/2023