335.046. License, application for--qualifications for, fee--hearing on denial of license.

License, application for--qualifications for, fee--hearing on denialof license.

335.046. 1. An applicant for a license to practice as a registeredprofessional nurse shall submit to the board a written application on formsfurnished to the applicant. The original application shall contain theapplicant's statements showing the applicant's education and other suchpertinent information as the board may require. The applicant shall be ofgood moral character and have completed at least the high school course ofstudy, or the equivalent thereof as determined by the state board ofeducation, and have successfully completed the basic professionalcurriculum in an accredited or approved school of nursing and earned aprofessional nursing degree or diploma. Each application shall contain astatement that it is made under oath or affirmation and that itsrepresentations are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief ofthe person signing same, subject to the penalties of making a falseaffidavit or declaration. Applicants from non-English-speaking lands shallbe required to submit evidence of proficiency in the English language. Theapplicant must be approved by the board and shall pass an examination asrequired by the board. The board may require by rule as a requirement forlicensure that each applicant shall pass an oral or practical examination.Upon successfully passing the examination, the board may issue to theapplicant a license to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse.The applicant for a license to practice registered professional nursingshall pay a license fee in such amount as set by the board. The fee shallbe uniform for all applicants. Applicants from foreign countries shall belicensed as prescribed by rule.

2. An applicant for license to practice as a licensed practical nurseshall submit to the board a written application on forms furnished to theapplicant. The original application shall contain the applicant'sstatements showing the applicant's education and other such pertinentinformation as the board may require. Such applicant shall be of goodmoral character, and have completed at least two years of high school, orits equivalent as established by the state board of education, and havesuccessfully completed a basic prescribed curriculum in a state-accreditedor approved school of nursing, earned a nursing degree, certificate ordiploma and completed a course approved by the board on the role of thepractical nurse. Each application shall contain a statement that it ismade under oath or affirmation and that its representations are true andcorrect to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing same,subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or declaration.Applicants from non-English-speaking countries shall be required to submitevidence of their proficiency in the English language. The applicant mustbe approved by the board and shall pass an examination as required by theboard. The board may require by rule as a requirement for licensure thateach applicant shall pass an oral or practical examination. Uponsuccessfully passing the examination, the board may issue to the applicanta license to practice as a licensed practical nurse. The applicant for alicense to practice licensed practical nursing shall pay a fee in suchamount as may be set by the board. The fee shall be uniform for allapplicants. Applicants from foreign countries shall be licensed asprescribed by rule.

3. Upon refusal of the board to allow any applicant to sit for eitherthe registered professional nurses' examination or the licensed practicalnurses' examination, as the case may be, the board shall comply with theprovisions of section 621.120, RSMo, and advise the applicant of his or herright to have a hearing before the administrative hearing commission. Theadministrative hearing commission shall hear complaints taken pursuant tosection 621.120, RSMo.

4. The board shall not deny a license because of sex, religion, race,ethnic origin, age or political affiliation.

(L. 1975 S.B. 108 § 8, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 1995 S.B. 452, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343)