How to get a licensed practical nurse license in Hawaii

(a) An applicant for a license to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse shall submit: (1) An application on a form prescribed by the board; (2) Beginning with the July 1, 2017, licensing biennium, a full set of electronic fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining federal and state criminal history record checks in accordance with section 846-2.7 directly to the Hawaii criminal justice data center for processing with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The applicant shall bear the cost of the fingerprint processing and the application shall not be considered complete until the results of the criminal history record check have been received by the board; and (3) Written evidence that the applicant has completed a licensed practical nurse program, or its equivalent, approved by the board, and holds a diploma or certificate therefrom. (b) Licenses shall be granted either by: (1) Examination: The applicant shall be required to pass a written examination in nursing subjects as determined by the board. Upon the applicant's passage of the examination and compliance with the applicable requirements of this chapter and the rules of the board, the board shall issue to the applicant a license to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse; or (2) Endorsement: The board may issue a license to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse by endorsement to any applicant who has been licensed as a licensed practical nurse, or a person entitled to perform similar services under a different title, under the laws of another state, territory, or foreign country if the applicant has an unencumbered license and, in the opinion of the board, the applicant meets the requirements for licensed practical nurses in this State at the time of graduation. (c) The applicant applying for a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse by examination shall pay application, examination, and reexamination fees, if applicable, as prescribed by the board. Each applicant who successfully passes the examination shall pay a license fee. The applicant applying for a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse by endorsement shall pay application and license fees. (d) Applicants who have graduated from a practical nursing program at an educational institution in a foreign jurisdiction and are applying for a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse by examination shall submit to the board proof of eligibility. Applicants shall be eligible to apply for a license by examination if they have met the educational requirements prescribed in the rules of the board and have had their transcripts evaluated by professional evaluators designated by the board and are considered qualified as determined by the board through rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91. (e) Any person who holds a license to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse in this State shall have the right to use the title "Licensed Practical Nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N.". No other person shall assume the title "nurse" or in any manner imply that the person is a nurse except as provided in sections 457-7 and 457-8.5 or use the abbreviation "L.P.N." or any other words, letters, signs, or devices to indicate that the person using the same is a licensed practical nurse. (f) Any person who requests verification of a practical nurse license to a nursing board of another state shall pay a license verification fee. (g) Unless determined to be insufficient or otherwise invalid by the board, all transcripts, diplomas, certificates of graduation, and other credentials submitted by any applicant in compliance with the application procedures for examination and licensure under this section shall be retained by the board for two years and shall suffice as proof of graduation upon subsequent submittals of applications for reexamination within two years by any applicant.