The National Nursing Database recorded over 162,000 registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in July 2024. The Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) applies the statutes and regulations that govern nursing practice and education in Massachusetts. BORN helps protect the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth by issuing Massachusetts nursing licenses to qualified individuals through initial licensure by exam or reciprocity and licensure renewal.
Massachusetts RN licensure requirements include completing an approved nursing program. BORN approves all prelicensure nursing programs in Massachusetts and provides statistics about these programs. To gain approval, nursing program faculty must:
All initial applications for Massachusetts nursing licenses must be submitted online through Professional Credential Services (PCS) using the PCS portal. PCS processes initial nursing applications for the Massachusetts BORN. Applicants must have a U.S. Social Security number to use its online application portal. Licensed RNs in Massachusetts also renew online but use the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Online Licensing portal.
All applicants of a Massachusetts RN license by endorsement or exam must meet licensure requirements established by BORN. They must:
Before PCS accepts an application for licensure review, it must receive a fully executed application and all required documentation. Required documentation includes a 2” x 2” passport-style color photo with a solid background taken within the last year. Photos of driver’s licenses or ID cards/passports aren't acceptable. Applicants must upload this photo on their PCS account page after completing the online application.
Massachusetts RN license renewal occurs every two years. Each RN’s license expires at 11:59 p.m. on their birthday in every even-numbered year. RNs can renew their licenses up to 90 days before they expire. If they renew online, BORN begins processing their renewal immediately.
As part of the Massachusetts RN license renewal process, licensees must attest, under penalty of perjury, to comply with:
They also must complete 15 hours of continuing education for the current licensure period. Licensees must complete a one-time training and education course covering the diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients with cognitive impairments, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Licensed RNs may also renew by mail by emailing a request for a paper Massachusetts RN license renewal form to [email protected] . Once they complete a paper application, licensees should mail it to:
Mass Department of Public Health Division of Health Professions Licensure Post Office Box 414394 Boston, MA 02241-4394
Applications shouldn’t be sent as certified mail, which won’t be accepted at the Post Office, causing significant delays. For help with the renewal process, licensees may call the Help Desk at (617) 973-0900 or send an email to [email protected] .
Continuing Education Requirements
Continuing education (CE) in nursing is a requirement of license renewal. BORN requires RNs to complete 15 contact hours of CE within each two-year licensure period. RNs licensed for the first time aren’t required to complete CE requirements for their first renewal. Licensed nurses must also complete Domestic and Sexual Violence Training.
All CE programs must be administered by approved CE program providers. Continuing education must cover appropriate subject matter, which includes:
Initial certification of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life support (PALS) may be counted as CE, but not recertification. College courses may be counted if they’re part of a curriculum relevant to nursing or lead to an academic degree in nursing. Refresher programs and educational programs that offer credit recognized by professional healthcare organizations also may satisfy BORN CE requirements. Generally, programs approved by other State BONs or by a professional review process satisfy CE requirements in Massachusetts, but it’s the licensee’s responsibility to know whether a program qualifies.
CE providers should supply participants with an authenticated record of attendance that includes the title of the offering, name of the provider, date of the offering, number of contact hours completed, and confirmation of completion of the offering/program. BORN may request verification of CE compliance at any time. Licensees must maintain evidence of CE completion for four years to cover the two most recent renewal periods. However, they shouldn’t send certificates or other evidence of CE completion unless BORN requests them. If requested, BORN directs licensees where to mail CE evidence.
Fingerprinting Requirements
Massachusetts doesn’t currently perform criminal background checks for nurse licensure, so fingerprints aren’t required. BORN may perform a criminal offender record information check, if an applicant self-identifies criminal history when responding to the mandatory Good Moral Character questions. However, this is a name-based search limited to Massachusetts information only, so fingerprints aren’t required for these checks either.