License requirements by state
What each board asks for at initial licensure and at renewal, step by step, for RN, APRN and prescribing credentials.
Informational guidance only. Confirm current requirements with the appropriate licensing authority before applying, renewing or practicing. Read the disclaimer
Maryland: APRN, initial licensure
Prepare the state-specific education, certification, application and practice documents below. Separate prescribing approvals appear under Prescriptive Authority and State Rx / CS.
NP application checklist
Maintain Maryland RN licensure or a multistate RN privilege. Document a board-approved graduate NP program at master’s level or higher and current recognized national certification for each specialty. Submit a separate certification application for each specialty and pay the fee. A person never previously certified by any nursing board must identify the designated mentor for the first 18 months.
- Timing
- Before initial state authorization
- Conditions
- Standard NP application. Additional documents apply to international education, reentry, discipline, name changes and other nonstandard routes.
NP practice and prescribing
Maryland’s first-time NP certification framework includes an available mentor for advice, consultation and collaboration. The mentorship condition should not be confused with an ongoing physician prescribing agreement.
- Timing
- During practice
- Conditions
- For applicants never certified as an NP in any state, the mentor is available for 18 months from receipt of the application and may be a Maryland NP or physician with at least three years of clinical experience.
18 Months of mentor availability
For applicants never certified as an NP in any state, an eligible Maryland NP or physician mentor must be available from receipt of the application. This is mentorship, not a requirement to accumulate supervised physician hours.
- Timing
- Before independent practice or prescribing, as specified
- Conditions
- Clinical practice hours are not continuing-education hours. Board approval may be required.
Coverage and conditions
- Use the checklist for the standard NP route. International education, reentry, military pathways, older educational exceptions and disciplinary history can require additional board documents. Submit the board’s current application; this site does not submit it for you.
Maintained by The Multistate NP from board sources and updated on review. Confirm against the board’s current application before you file. National certification and federal DEA requirements are separate.