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CompactStates

How to look up and verify a nursing license in Tennessee

Verifying a nursing license in Tennessee (TN) takes two trusted sources: Nursys and the state board. Here is how, and what the result tells you.

How do I verify a nursing license in Tennessee?

Look the license up on Nursys QuickConfirm, the national verification system, and confirm details with the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Because Tennessee is a compact state, a Tennessee license can be single-state or multistate — Nursys shows which, and that difference decides whether you can practice in other states.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17

What Nursys shows

Nursys QuickConfirm reports the license type (single-state or multistate), current status, and expiration for participating boards. It is the fastest way to confirm whether a license carries compact privilege.

Checking with the Tennessee Board of Nursing

For anything Nursys does not show — or to confirm official requirements — go to the Tennessee Board of Nursing. The board is the authority on Tennessee licensure; we do not make licensure determinations.

Could a Tennessee license be multistate?

Only if it was issued or upgraded on or after January 19, 2018 — the date the Tennessee Board of Nursing began issuing multistate licenses to Tennessee residents. A license issued before then was single-state when granted, so a nurse holding an older Tennessee license who has never upgraded will still verify as single-state no matter how long they have been licensed here.

Beyond Nursys, Tennessee publishes its own primary-source lookup: Tennessee Department of Health licensure verification. Where the two disagree, the issuing board controls.

What trips people up in Tennessee: Tennessee has designated Nursys a primary-source equivalent, so either is acceptable for license status — but the state system additionally returns disciplinary profile and abuse-registry data that a Nursys lookup does not, which matters if you are credentialing rather than just confirming a license.

RN, LPN/LVN, and APRN

Verification works the same for RN and LPN/VN licenses. APRN authority is separate and verified per state — see APRN and the compact.

What your result means

Nursys and the Tennessee Board of Nursing tell you what a license is. They do not tell you what it lets you do in another state — that is a compact question.

Covered by Nursys for participating boards.

2. What does the verification show?

Pick a result and two jurisdictions to see what it means.

This explains what a verification result means for practicing across state lines. It does not verify a license and does not decide eligibility — the board of nursing does both, and this tool points you at the right one.

What usually comes next

Next-step checklist

  • Look the license up on Nursys QuickConfirm (nursys.com).
  • Note whether it reads single-state or multistate.
  • Confirm anything unclear with the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
  • If it is multistate, use the checker to see where you can practice.

Frequently asked questions

Use Nursys QuickConfirm, which shows license status, type, and expiration for Tennessee, or check directly with the Tennessee Board of Nursing. We do not store or look up individual license records.

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