What Can I Do If My LPN License Expires?
As an LPN, you must maintain licensure to continue working in the nursing field. Depending on your state, you may receive a renewal notice in the mail anywhere from one to three months prior to your expiration date. At this point, you can either renew by mail or online. However, what will you do if, for one reason or another, you fail to renew your license in time and your license expires? This is actually a common concern among many licensed practical nurses today.
Checking Your State's Reinstatement Requirements
First of all, if your LPN license has expired, check with your state's Board of Nursing to find out about its reinstatement requirements. Some states offer a grace, post-expiration period, during which you can renew your license without any penalties, but others don’t.
After Grace Period…
If, for any reason, you fail to renew your license even within your state's grace period, you can still renew your LPN status. However, you will need to fulfill certain criteria as set by your state's Board of Nursing. Since this criteria differs from state to state, it is recommended for you to check with your state to learn what you need to do. Some of the most common requirements for renewing an LPN license after a grace period, however, are as follows:
- Completion of a License Renewal Application
- Payment of the Current License Fee and Late Fee
- Completion of Continuing Education Coursework
- Completion of Additional LPN Training (for excessive lapses)
- Completion of the NCLEX-PN (for long-term lapses)
- Submission to a Criminal Background Check
Avoiding Future Lapses in Licensure
The best way to keep your LPN license current and in active standing is to take the proper steps necessary to avoid any lapses. One way you can do this is to ensure that your state's Board of Nursing has your current mailing address. If you move, make sure that you log on to your Board of Nursing website and update your address.
This will ensure that your license renewal notifications will get to you on time! Additionally, if you marry or divorce and your name changes, you will want to update this information as well. Keep in mind that it could take up to four weeks for your Board of Nursing to process any changes you make to your licensing information.
