What Is a USRN? Meaning, Requirements & Steps

USRN is shorthand for a U.S. registered nurse: a nurse who holds a registered nurse license from a U.S. state board of nursing. The license comes from the board, not from the exam alone. To get it, you pass the NCLEX-RN and meet your board's other requirements.

Last checked against BLS and nclex.com on October 29, 2026.

How do you become a USRN?

1. Apply for licensure to the state board of nursing where you want to be licensed. The board sets the rules, and they differ for internationally educated nurses.
2. Register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE and pay the exam fee.
3. Wait for the board to declare you eligible. Pearson then emails your Authorization to Test.
4. Schedule and sit the exam within your ATT dates.
5. Complete whatever else your board requires before it issues the license.

All U.S. boards of nursing use the NCLEX-RN for registered nurse licensure. See the full walkthrough: how to apply for the NCLEX USA exam. Related: NCLEX-RN meaning and RN vs PN and what is an ATT?

Already hold a U.S. license? See NEAC's USRN license endorsement application.

What education do you need to be a USRN?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for registered nurses. Your board decides which education it accepts.

What does a U.S. registered nurse earn?

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025:

• Median annual wage: $97,550 ($46.90 an hour). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $68,940 and the highest 10 percent more than $137,470.
• Median by setting: government $110,780, hospitals $100,220, ambulatory healthcare $91,230, nursing and residential care $84,300.
• National annual mean wage: $101,420. By state it ran from about $77,000 in Alabama and South Dakota to $150,280 in California.

These are U.S. wages for people working in the United States.

Is demand for registered nurses growing?

BLS counted about 3,465,400 registered nurse jobs in 2025 and projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. It expects about 180,800 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field.

Frequently asked questions

What does USRN stand for?

U.S. registered nurse.

Is USRN the same as passing the NCLEX?

No. The NCLEX is the exam. The license is issued by a state board of nursing.

Do I need a bachelor's degree to be a USRN?

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education. Your board sets its own requirement.

How much does a registered nurse earn in the U.S.?

The BLS median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025.

Sources: BLS Registered Nurses, BLS Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, NCSBN: licensure for internationally educated nurses, NCLEX Register.

For further inquiries about the requirements, qualifications, and fees for the NCLEX USA exam application, live chat with our experts on Messenger: https://www.messenger.com/t/neacmedexams.