Students who wish to take the NCLEX-PN® in Alabama must meet the following requirements:
  1. Graduation from an approved practical nursing program in Alabama.
  2. Graduation from an approved practical nursing program located in another jurisdiction or territory that substantially meets the same educational criteria as Alabama programs.
Licensure by equivalency does not meet the requirement. However, you do have the option of completing a Military Bridge Program to become eligible to test as an LPN. Students who complete the Alabama Military Bridge program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN®, if they meet the requirements of Alabama Community College System (ACCS) programs and graduate. The Military Bridge program allows current and former service members to combine their military health care experience with one semester of intensive classroom and clinical experience designed to fill in any theoretical and practical gaps between their technical expertise and nursing practice. However, baselines are determined by your healthcare course experience in your branch of the military. If you are seeking information on schools who offer the military bridge, please contact ACCS. The programs offered build on the prior health care experience of students and consist of two nursing classes, Nur 115 and Nur 120: Health Care Transition, a course specifically designed for individuals with prior health care experience.
The ABN does not recommend colleges or universities to prospective students; ABN approves colleges and universities to offer undergraduate nursing programs in practical and registered nursing programs in Alabama. We encourage students to investigate the credentials of any program of study before investing time and money in pursuit of education. A list of ABN-approved nursing education programs is available here.
The ABN does not recommend colleges or universities for students to attend. We encourage students to investigate the credentials of any program of study before investing time and money in pursuit of education. All applicants for LPN or RN licensure in Alabama must have completed an approved nursing education program which is approved by the ABN or substantially meets the same educational criteria as ABN-approved nursing education programs. A student should review the courses offered by any distant learning educational program to ensure they meet the requirement as specified in Code of Alabama (1975) § 34-21-21, § 34-21-22, § 34-21-5 and ABN Administrative Code sections 610-X-3-.02, 610-X-3-.03, 610-X-3-.04, 610-X-3-.05, 610-X-3-.07.
    • Graduates of nursing programs which do not meet requirements as specified in Code of Alabama (1975) and the ABN Administrative Code may not be eligible for licensure. For more information, see the following Declaratory Rulings:
Click here for additional information regarding education requirements for Out of State Nursing Programs.
CCNE and ACEN offer program search features on their websites: CCNE ACEN
All students/faculty must follow their institution/program grievance processes prior to filing a complaint with the Board. The complaint and form can be found by viewing the Nursing Education Program Complaints section of the ABN website. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) first.