Licensure, Nursing

Licensure is a legal process that grants permission to practice a profession, such as nursing. Nurses are required to obtain a license from their local government in order to practice in their state. This process ensures that nurses meet specific standards of competency and ethics in order to protect public health and safety. In addition to attaining a license, nurses may also need to be certified in a specialty area in order to practice as a specialist within the field. Licensure provides an assurance that a nurse is qualified to practice and helps to maintain a high standard of care within the nursing profession.