(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, to qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 8-303 of this subtitle and meets the requirements of this section. (b) An applicant for a license to practice registered nursing shall complete satisfactorily and meet all requirements for a diploma or degree from: (1) An entry-level registered nursing education program approved by the Board; or (2) An entry-level registered nursing education program in any other state or country that the Board finds substantially equivalent to the education program in this State at the time of the applicant's graduation. (c) An applicant for a license to practice licensed practical nursing shall: (1) Meet all requirements for a high school diploma or its equivalent; and (2) Complete satisfactorily and meet all requirements for a diploma from: (i) A licensed practical nursing education program or its equivalent approved by the Board; or (ii) An education program in licensed practical nursing in any other state or country that the Board finds substantially equivalent to the education program in this State at the time of the applicant's graduation. (d) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the applicant shall pass an examination developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and administered at a testing site approved by the National Council. (e) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Board shall require as part of its examination or licensing procedures that an applicant for a license to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing demonstrate a written and oral competency in the English language. (2) Acceptable proof of proficiency in the communication of the English language under this section includes: (i) After at least 3 years of enrollment, graduation from a recognized English-speaking undergraduate school; (ii) Graduation from a recognized English-speaking professional school; (iii) Completion of at least 5 years of practicing nursing in another state or English-speaking territory of the United States; (iv) Passing an English proficiency exam approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; or (v) Holding a valid, unencumbered multistate license under the Nurse Licensure Compact. (3) If any disciplinary charge or action that involves a problem with communicating in the English language is brought against a licensee under this title, the Board shall require the licensee to take and pass a Board approved standardized test of English language competency. (4) The Board may not require that an applicant for a license to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing who is or was previously licensed in any other state to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing to demonstrate competency in the English language as part of its examination or licensing procedures if the other state has an English language competency component as part of its examination or licensing procedures. (5) (i) The Board may issue a temporary license to any applicant for a license to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing who was previously licensed in any other state to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing and who, except for the competency in the English language component, is otherwise qualified for a license. (ii) A temporary license issued under this subsection is valid only until the date when the next test to demonstrate competency in the English language is given. (f) An applicant for a license under this section shall be of good moral character.
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