Summary
List your RN license on a resume twice: as "RN" after your name and degree in the header, and as a full entry in a Licensure section. The entry should name the license, the issuing state board, "Multistate (NLC)" if it is a compact license, the status, and the expiration date. Leave the license number off unless asked, since employers verify through Nursys for free. Before you pass the NCLEX, never write "RN"; write "NCLEX-RN scheduled" with a date.
List your RN license on a resume in two places. Put "RN" after your name and degree in the header, then give full details in a "Licensure" or "Licenses & Certifications" section. The full entry names the state board, the license type (single-state or multistate), the status and the expiration date.
That two-part setup matters because nurse recruiters screen for licensure first. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that registered nurses "must have a nursing license issued by the state in which they work." Your resume should answer "licensed where?" at a glance.
This guide covers the nursing-specific details: credential order, compact licenses, license numbers, and how to write a pending license before the NCLEX. For general license rules across professions, see our guide to licenses on a resume.
How do you list an RN license on a resume?
Add "RN" after your name and degree in the header, then create a Licensure section with one line per license. Each line should state "Registered Nurse (RN)," the issuing state board, "Multistate (NLC)" or the state name, "Active," and the expiration date. Put nursing certifications such as BLS or CCRN on separate lines below.
Here is the standard entry. It works for new graduates and experienced nurses alike.
Maria Alvarez, BSN, RN Phoenix, AZ | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]
LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS Registered Nurse (RN), Arizona State Board of Nursing, Multistate (NLC), Active, Expires 08/2027 Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, Expires 05/2026 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association, Expires 05/2026
Keep the license above certifications. The license is the legal requirement, while certifications support it. For more on the certification lines, see our guide to resume certifications.
The table shows which detail belongs where.
| Detail | Header | Licensure section | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "RN" credential | Yes | Yes | After your degree in the header |
| Issuing state board | No | Yes | Name the state that issued it |
| Multistate (NLC) or single-state | No | Yes | Matters for travel and telehealth roles |
| Status and expiration | No | Yes | "Active, Expires 08/2027" |
| License number | No | Only if asked | Employers verify via Nursys |
| Additional state licenses | No | Yes, one line each | For non-compact states |
What order do nursing credentials go after your name?
Follow the ANCC order: highest earned degree, then licensure, then state designations, then national certifications, then awards and honors. For most staff nurses, that reads "Name, BSN, RN" or "Name, BSN, RN, CCRN." List only your highest degree after your name unless a second degree is in a different field.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center publishes the standard sequence. Its guidance on how to display your credentials lists six steps: degree, licensure, state designations, national certifications, awards, and other recognition.
ANCC explains why the degree comes first. It is a "permanent" credential that "cannot be taken away except under extreme circumstances." Licenses follow because they "are required for you to practice."
Jordan Lee, ADN, RN Sam Carter, BSN, RN, CCRN Alex Rivera, MSN, RN, CPN Taylor Brooks, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Use commas, not periods, between credentials. Keep the same line on your LinkedIn profile and cover letter so recruiters see one consistent identity. Our resume header guide shows how the credential line sits with your contact details.
Should you put your RN license number on a resume?
Usually no. Employers verify nursing licenses through Nursys QuickConfirm, a free NCSBN service that shows license status and any discipline. A name and state are enough to look you up. Add the number only when the job posting or application explicitly requests it, and never include your Social Security number.
NCSBN describes Nursys QuickConfirm as a free service that lets employers and recruiters retrieve licensure and discipline records in one place. That makes the number redundant on most resumes.
The number also spreads an identifier to every company you apply to. Online applications for hospital systems often have a dedicated license field. Put it there instead.
There is one exception. Some agency and travel nursing recruiters ask for license numbers up front to speed credentialing. If a posting says so, add the number to the Licensure line.
Write "Registered Nurse (RN)" in full once, then use RN do: Name the issuing state board for every license do: Label a compact license "Multistate (NLC)" do: Show "Active" and the expiration date
Add your license number unless the posting asks dont: Write "RN" after your name before the board issues your license dont: List BLS or ACLS above your nursing license dont: Claim multistate status without checking Nursys first
How do you show a compact multistate RN license on a resume?
Write "Multistate (NLC)" after the issuing state on your license line. A multistate license from your primary state of residence lets you practice in all Nurse Licensure Compact states. List any separate single-state licenses, such as for non-compact states, on their own lines below it.
The Nurse Licensure Compact gives nurses "one multistate license with the ability to practice in all compact states," according to the NLC site. The site says 43 jurisdictions are part of the NLC.
Two rules shape how you list it. First, your multistate license comes from your primary state of residence, based on documents like your driver's license and voter registration, per NCSBN's travel nurse FAQ. Second, nurses who move between compact states must apply for licensure in the new state within 60 days, per the NLC site.
Not every license from a compact state is multistate. NCSBN notes that Nursys QuickConfirm shows whether yours is single-state or multistate. Check before you write "Multistate" on your resume.
Registered Nurse (RN), Texas Board of Nursing, Multistate (NLC), Active, Expires 10/2027 Registered Nurse (RN), California Board of Registered Nursing, Active, Expires 03/2027 Registered Nurse (RN), New York State Education Department, Active, Expires 06/2028
Travel nurses can hold as many non-compact state licenses as needed, per the NCSBN FAQ. List each one, since every extra state widens the assignments you can accept. APRN licenses are a separate case: the Kentucky Board of Nursing notes that APRN licenses are not currently part of a compact.
How do you list a pending RN license before you pass the NCLEX?
List the license as pending with a date, such as "NCLEX-RN scheduled: June 2026" or "Eligible to sit for NCLEX-RN, June 2026." Do not write RN after your name until the board issues your license. If your state grants a graduate nurse work authorization, you may list that title exactly as the board defines it.
Most new graduates clear this step on the first try. First-time, U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN candidates had an 87.1% pass rate in 2025, based on NCSBN data reported through November 1, 2025. Recruiters know this, so a dated "scheduled" line reads as a near-term hire.
Some states let graduates work under a temporary title. North Dakota, for example, allows "G.N." or "Graduate Nurse" under a work authorization that expires 90 days after issue or upon NCLEX results. Rules vary by state, so check your board before using a GN title.
Jordan Lee, BSN Registered Nurse (RN), Arizona State Board of Nursing, NCLEX-RN scheduled 06/2026 Graduate Nurse (GN) Work Authorization, North Dakota Board of Nursing, Valid through 08/2026 Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, Expires 04/2027
New graduates should pair this line with strong clinical rotations. Our new graduate nurse cover letter examples and nurse resume objective guides show how to frame them.
How do you handle an expired or lapsed RN license on a resume?
Leave an expired RN license off unless you are actively renewing or reinstating it. If you are, write "Reinstatement in progress, expected [month year]." Keep the RN credential off your name line until the license is active again, since practicing or presenting as an RN on a lapsed license creates legal risk.
Nurses returning after a break often face this. An inactive RN license on a resume should never look active, so be specific about where you are in the process, such as a completed refresher course or a submitted application.
Check Nursys before every application
Look yourself up on Nursys QuickConfirm before you apply. Confirm the status, expiration date and multistate flag match your resume line exactly. A mismatch is the fastest way to stall credentialing after an offer.
Once your licensure line is accurate, the rest of the resume carries the weight. Build it in the Rezoom AI resume builder, then prepare for the next step with our nurse interview questions guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do you put RN or BSN first after your name?
Put the degree first: "Name, BSN, RN." ANCC lists the highest earned degree before licensure because the degree is permanent.
Should I put my nursing license number on my resume?
No, unless the posting or application asks for it. Employers can verify your license for free through Nursys QuickConfirm using your name and state.
How do I write a compact nursing license on a resume?
Write the issuing state followed by "Multistate (NLC)," for example "Registered Nurse (RN), Texas Board of Nursing, Multistate (NLC), Active." Confirm multistate status on Nursys first.
Can I put RN on my resume before passing the NCLEX?
No. List "NCLEX-RN scheduled" with a date instead. Use a graduate nurse title only if your state board grants one and defines it.
Where do BLS and ACLS go on a nursing resume?
List them in the same section, below your RN license. Include the issuing body, such as the American Heart Association, and the expiration date.
Do I list every state where I hold an RN license?
Yes, if they are active. One line per license shows recruiters every state you can work in, which matters for travel and telehealth roles.
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