How to Become a Nurse in Massachusetts

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses (RNs) will continue to be in high demand from 2008-2018. In the state of Massachusetts, licensing for professional nurses is carried out by the Office of Health and Human Services. Obtaining a license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in Massachusetts requires the completion of collegiate courses of study in nursing as well as the successful completion of nation-wide standardized test for nurses.

• 1

  Complete a course of study in a registered nurse program that is approved by the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services' Board of Registration in Nursing. As of October 2010, there are 48 different registered nurse programs approved by the Board of Registration in Nursing; nursing programs exist for associate degrees, undergraduates or graduate students. Courses of study may take as long as five years and require at least 945 hours of study and clinical practice; at least 540 of those hours must be devoted to clinical practice.

• 2

  Conduct yourself professionally in both classes and during clinical hours required for graduation from your nursing program. To obtain licensure as a registered nurse, an applicant is required to show good moral character during their education; failure to act in an honest and professional way can cause your application to be revoked.

• 3

  Submit your application to take your nursing exam to the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services. A student that has just finished a registered nurse course of study should apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also known as NCLEX-RN. You will need to pay a registration fee to the Board of Registration in Nursing for the state of Massachusetts to be able to take the exam.

• 4

  Register to take the NCLEX-RN exam after receiving an authorization to test, or ATT, letter. The ATT letter will include a candidate ID number, your authorization number and an expiration date; on average, the time frame in which you can take the NCLEX-RN exam is about 90 days. Contact Pearson VUE, the test vendor for the NCLEX-RN, at 1-866-496-2539 to schedule your examination.

• 5

  Arrive early to your NCLEX-RN examination. Bring forms of identification; acceptable identification forms include a passport, driver's license or DMV-issued identification card.