Skip to Content
 
Logo of ECE with a colorful circular motif with the acronym ECE prominently displayed in blue.

Kentucky Board of Nursing Requirements for International Nurses

Kentucky

Kentucky Board of Nursing 
312 Whittington Pkwy, Suite 300  
Louisville, KY 40222-4925 
Phone: (502) 429-3300 
Fax: (502) 429-3311  

www.kbn.ky.gov 

 

Order a Report

Internationally educated nurses applying to the Kentucky Board of Nursing can order an ECE® Credential Evaluation Assessment (CEA) Report for Initial RN Licensure or Endorsement RN Licensure. Kentucky requirements include secondary school information, foreign nursing license or registration records, and nursing education transcripts. ECE® nursing forms and transcripts must be submitted as instructed. An English Language Proficiency (ELP) Report may be required when instruction, textbooks, and clinical practice were not solely in English. Applicants educated entirely in English may qualify for an exemption. At-home ELP exams are not accepted. Begin the appropriate report order through MyECE®. 

Registered Nurse (RN) Secondary School Foreign License Nursing Education ELP Additional Comments
Initial / Exam Required Required Required Required**
  • ECE Nursing form and transcripts are required.
  • Required if the language of instruction, textbook, and clinical practice was not solely taught in English.
  • ** Any applicant taught in English does not need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report.
  • At-home ELP exams are not accepted.
Endorsement Required Required Required Required**
  • Required if the language of instruction, textbook, and clinical practice was not solely taught in English.
  • ** Any applicant taught in English does not need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report.
  • At-home ELP exams are not accepted.
Open AllClose All
Which ECE® nursing report is required for Kentucky RN licensure?

Choose the Credential Evaluation Assessment (CEA) Report for Initial RN Licensure when applying for a first U.S. RN license before taking the NCLEX-RN® examination. Choose the Endorsement RN Licensure Report when a U.S. RN license is already held and Kentucky licensure is being requested.

What documents are needed for the Kentucky Board of Nursing credential evaluation?

The Kentucky requirements list secondary school information, foreign nursing license or registration records, and nursing education records. ECE® nursing forms and official transcripts must be submitted according to the document instructions in the MyECE® account dashboard.

Does Kentucky require English language proficiency for internationally educated nurses?

An ELP Report may be required when nursing instruction, textbooks, and clinical practice were not solely in English. Applicants whose nursing education was entirely in English may qualify for an exemption. At-home ELP exams are not accepted for this process. 

How is an ECE® report ordered for the Kentucky Board of Nursing?

Order through MyECE®, select Kentucky, and choose either Initial RN Licensure or Endorsement RN Licensure. Follow the checklist and nursing request forms carefully so official education and licensure documents are sent by the proper institutions and authorities.