• RNs in Maryland must complete specific requirements to receive their license.nurse image by astoria from Fotolia.com
  
  Nurses wanting to be Registered Nurses (RNs) in Maryland must complete a series of forms, course work, nursing hours and other requirements before being certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing. Falsification of any portion of the application could result in disciplinary action, so applicants need to have accurate documentation. Maryland RN requirements apply to those licensed in Maryland as well as those transferring their licenses to Maryland from another state.
  
  

Course Completion

• Applicants for a Maryland RN certification must first complete a state-approved RN education program. Course completion includes passing the required exam: State Board Test Pool Exam (completed prior to July 1982) or the National Council Licensure Examination (completed since July 1982). In some states, applicants must complete Continuing Education (CE) courses periodically, but Maryland only requires refresher courses, with no specific CE hours needed.
  
  

Valid License

• The nurse must hold a valid licensure by examination that's in good standing. This means that the nursing license has never been revoked in any state. The applicant must provide verification of her license by the Board of Nursing that licensed her.
  
  

Practice Hours

• Nurses applying to be RNs in Maryland must have completed a minimum of 1,000 nursing practice hours or be a new nursing graduate within the past five years. In lieu of these requirements, nurses may also have satisfactorily completed a refresher course approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing.
  
  

Application Fees

• The Maryland Board of Nursing only accepts checks and money orders for payment of fees related to RN certification including examination, initial certification, endorsement and renewal fees. RNs also pay fees to the Maryland Health Care Commission annually. All fees are non-refundable. The current fee schedule is available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.
  
  

Photo

• A nurse wishing to be an RN in Maryland must provide a 2-inch by 2-inch photo with the application. It should be a full-facial pose only, similar to a passport photo.
  
  

Explanations of Criminal Record or Disciplinary Action

• Any applicant who has a misdemeanor or felony conviction, or who has had any type of disciplinary action taken against their license, needs to provide a full explanation. The Maryland Board of Nursing will review the explanation to determine whether it disqualifies the applicant from securing Maryland RN certification. This also applies when an RN license is up for renewal.
  
  

Oral Competence in English

• The applicant must be proficient in spoken English, having graduated from a recognized school in the United States, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland or the United Kingdom. Graduates from schools in any areas other than those listed will need to provide proof of passing an approved oral English Test.
  
  

Declaration of Residence

• All application packets must include a completed Declaration of Residence form. This form is available from the Maryland Board of Nursing website.