We will be providing information via various methods of communications including the website, social media and push notification emails form the KSBN KANNalert System.

• KSBN Website: https://ksbn.kansas.gov
• Social Media
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kansas-State-Board-of-Nursing-309697416292/?ref=nf
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/ksnursingboard

Read the Executive Order

Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order No. 20-26 on April 22, 2020.  It is to provide temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements governing the provision of medical services.  The entire Executive Order is available on our website, however here is an overview of the temporary changes for nurses:

1. Any and all provisions in Kansas Statutes related to supervision, delegation, and related issues by and to healthcare providers that are licensed, registered or certified and ancillary workers, are temporarily suspended, in whole or part, to the extent necessary to allow licensed, registered, or certified health care professionals to provide, within a designated health care facility at which the professional is employed or contracted to work, medical services that are necessary to support the facility’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are appropriate to the professional’s education, training, and experiences, as determined by the facility in consultation with the facility’s medical leadership.
2. Medical services may be provided under this section without supervision from a licensed physician or nurse, without criminal, civil, or administrative penalty related to a lack of supervision or to a lack of a supervision agreement;
3. The suspensions under this section include, but are not limited to the following:
   1. S.A. 65-1130, 65-1158, and K.A.R. 60-11-101, 60-11-104a, 60-11-104, 60-11-105, and 60-11-107 and related provisions of Kansas Law, as they relate to supervision, delegation, and related issues to the extent necessary to permit advanced practice registered nurses to provide care without a written collaborative agreement and protocols and including nurse anesthetists, to provide medical services appropriate to the professional’s education, training, and experience, without physician supervision or direction and without criminal, civil, or administrative penalty related to a lack of such supervision;
   2. S.A. 65-1113 and related provisions of Kansas law, as they relate to supervision, delegation, and related issues to the extent necessary to permit registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to order the collection of throat or nasopharyngeal swab specimens from individuals suspected of being infected by COVID-19, for purposes of testing:

• S.A. 65-1113 and related provisions of Kansas law, as they relate to supervision, delegation, and related issues to the extent necessary to permit licensed practical nurses to provide medical services appropriate to the professional’s education, training, and experience, without registered nurse supervision and without criminal, civil, or administrative penalty related to a lack of supervision;

1. S.A. 65-1115, 65-1116, 65-1117, and K.A.R. 60-3-112, 60-3-15, and 60-3-111 and related provisions of Kansas law, as they relate to supervision, delegation, and related issues to the extent necessary to permit registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, who hold a license that is exempt, inactive, or has lapsed within the past five (5) years, to provide medical services appropriate to their education, training, and experience and without criminal, civil, and administrative penalty related to only having an exempt, inactive, or has lapsed license. Nurses who hold a license that is exempt, inactive, or has lapsed within the past five (5) years must apply for a Temporary Emergency COVID-19 license that will expire when this Executive Order expires.  If the nurse wants to reinstate their license after the Temporary Emergency COVID-19 license expires they will need to reinstate the license the normal way with the requirements of continuing education and a fee.

1. Nothing in this section diminishes the ability of unlicensed health care professionals to practice in Kansas, which statutes provide certain exceptions to licensure and which statutes remain in full force and effect.

2. Notwithstanding any law, regulation, or executive order to the contrary, and without the need for a clinical affiliation agreement, a designated health care facility is temporarily authorized:
   1. To allow students who are enrolled in programs to become licensed, registered or certified health care professionals to volunteer or work within the facility in whatever roles that are necessary to support the facility’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are appropriate to the students’ education, training, and experience;
   2. To allow licensed, registered, or certified health care professionals and emergency medical personnel who are serving in the military in any duty status, to volunteer or work within the facility in whatever roles that are necessary to support the facility’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are appropriate to the service member’s education, training, and experience; and
   3. To allow medical students, physical therapists, and emergency medical personnel to volunteer or work within the facility as “respiratory therapist extenders; under the supervision of physician, respiratory therapists, or advanced practice registered nurses. Such extenders may assist respiratory therapists and other health care professionals in the operation of ventilators or related devices.  Nothing in this section to be taken to preclude such extenders from providing any other services that are necessary to support the facility’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are appropriate to their education, training, and experiences, as determined by the facility in consultation with the facility’s medical leadership.

3. Any and all provisions in Kansas law are temporarily suspended, in whole or part, to the extent necessary to allow health care professionals licensed and in good standing in any state or territory in the United States to practice in Kansas without criminal, civil, or administrative penalty related to lack of licensure. A license that has been suspended or revoked is not considered a license in good standing, and a licensee with pending disciplinary action is not considered to have a license in good standing.  Any license that is subject to a limitation in another state is subject to the same limitation in this state.  Nurses licensed in other states coming into Kansas to help with the COVID-19 pandemic do not need to do anything with the Kansas State Board of Nursing.  It is the responsibility of the employer to verify their license is in good standing.

4. Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, a designated health care facility is temporarily authorized to use qualified volunteers or qualified personnel affiliated with other designated health care facilities, as if the volunteers or personnel were affiliated with the facility. This section is subject to any terms and conditions that may be established by the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all health care providers, including but not limited to “health care provider: as defined in K.S.A. 40-3401, and also including registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, unlicensed volunteers, military personnel, or students and other support personnel and all entities or individuals referenced in K.S.A. 48-915, making clinical and triage decisions and rendering assistance, testing, care or advice in the care of patients reasonable suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, rendered in response to any Kansas Department of Emergency Management mission related to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the proclamation issued declaring a state of disaster emergency pursuant to K.S.A. 48-924, shall be deemed immune from suit pursuant to K.S.A. 48-915, unless it is established that any adverse event or injury was caused by the willful misconduct, gross negligence, recklessness, or bad faith of such facility or health care provider. Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to modify, impair or supersede State law governing legal standards, procedures, or judicial interpretation used in any civil action against an entity or individual where this Order is deemed not to cover such an entity or individual because of an allegation of willful misconduct for any other reason.
   1. Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to limit or change the protections from liability provided under K.S.A. 48-915, K.S.A. 65-2891, K.S.A. 75-6106, et seq., or any other state or federal statute.
   2. The liability protections addressed in #5 are not intended to extend to medical treatment or procedures performed in the ordinary or customary course of practice.

6. Any and all provisions in Kansas law or regulations are temporarily suspended to the extent that they require for any health care professions as a condition of reinstatement within five (5) years of a lapsed license:
   1. An exam, to the extent that the exam’s administration has been canceled while the emergency declaration is in effect (this is not required by KSBN for reinstatement)
   2. Fingerprints, as locations to have fingerprints taken are substantially unavailable on account of closure arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (this is not required by KSBN for reinstatement);
   3. Continuing education while the emergency declaration is in effect; and
   4. Payment of a fee

Nurses who hold a license that is exempt, inactive, or has lapsed within the past five (5) years must apply for a Temporary Emergency COVID-19 license that will expire when this Executive Order expires.  If the nurse wants to reinstate their license after the Temporary Emergency COVID-19 license expires they will need to reinstate the license the normal way with the normal requirements of continuing education and a fee.

7. Any law or regulation is temporarily suspended to the extent that it requires fingerprinting of any individual as a condition of licensure and certification for hospitals, nursing homes, county medical care facilities, or psychiatric hospitals. If a nurse wants to get the Temporary Emergency COVID-19 license, fingerprints are not required.  If the nurse wants to apply for a nursing license that is not temporary or a multi-state license, fingerprints are required for licensure.  The Temporary Emergency COVID-19 license expires when the Executive Order expires.

This executive order is effective immediately and remains in force until rescinded, until May 31, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency proclaimed on March 12, 2020, relating to COVID-19 expires, whichever is earlier.

Download this document

Notice Regarding Extension of Licenses Pursuant to Executive Order 20-19

The Governor has issued an Executive Order requiring all State licensing authorities to extend the renewal deadline for licenses that expire during the State of Emergency Disaster Declaration, if the licenses were in good standing on March 12, 2020. The extension lasts until 90 days after the State of Disaster Emergency ends. Licenses that were current and valid on March 12, 2020 will remain valid until the extension expires. The Executive Order also requires licensing authorities to extend the deadlines for continuing education requirements until 90 days after the end of the State of Disaster Emergency.

Also, per the Governor’s Executive Order, the Board of Nursing will not apply any late, delinquent, penalty, or expiration fees to renewals that meet the requirements above. Fees and penalties will be applied for licenses covered by the Order that are not renewed within the extension period, for licenses that expire after the State of Emergency Disaster ends and are not renewed within the standard deadlines, and for licenses that expired before March 12, 2020 and were not renewed within the standard deadlines.

If you are an applicant or endorsement and need your fingerprints, you are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement office to see if they continue to perform these services before visiting.

A nurse with an active multi-state license can practice in Kansas.  Executive Order No. 20-29 states nurses that are licensed in another state and do not have a multi-state license can come into Kansas to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.  These nurses do not need to do anything with the Kansas State Board of Nursing.  It is the responsibility of the employer to verify their license is in good standing.  This is effective while Executive Order No. 20-29 is effective.

Monday, May 4th, 2020

On May 1st, Pearson VUE began opening their entire Pearson Professional Center (PPC) network across the U.S. and Canada.  These test centers will be open for business on a daily basis with Pearson VUE employed staffing.  All PPCs will be social distancing compliant and will remain open unless government mandated to shut down.  The opening of all PPCs will be completed by May 4. 

Yes, we continue to process license renewals.  KSBN online renewals remains available 24X7.  Please log into your KSBN Licensing Portal to renew your license. Please note that if you have an active multistate license in a different state and reside in that state, you can continue to work in Kansas on that license.

Executive Order No. 20-26 states a nurse with an exempt, inactive or expired license within the last five years may be granted a temporary emergency COVID-19 license to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This temporary license expires when this Executive Order expires.  There are no continuing education requirements or payment of a fee for this temporary license.  If the nursing wasn’t to reinstate their license after this temporary license expires, the nurse will need to reinstate the license the normal way with the requirements of continuing education and a fee. 

In the Memorandum from Governor Kelly on March 13, 2020 KSBN was directed to cancel all state-sponsored meetings or events of 30 or more people.  We could work on alternatives to conducting meetings, such as teleconference.  Since our Committee meetings and Board meetings are under KOMA, we did not have a back-up location that met the guidelines a participant could attend if needed.  A meeting space would need to allow at least six feet of distance between individuals attending in person.  All non-essential travel within the state is cancelled. Due to all these reasons the March Committee and Board meetings have been cancelled.  The next KSBN Committee and Board meetings are scheduled for June 15, 16, and 17, 2020.  All business on the March agendas will be moved to the June agendas.

Executive Order No. 20-19 extended renewal deadlines for any license that was in good standing as of March 12, 2020, and that has expired or will expire during the State of Disaster Emergency.  Such licenses shall remain valid until 90 days following the termination of the State of Disaster emergency.  “In good standing” shall include a license that is subject to probation, or non-disciplinary conditions, limitations, or restrictions, but shall not include a license that is revoked, cancelled, surrendered, or suspended.

Executive Order No. 20-26 temporarily suspended the need for advanced practice registered nurses to have a written collaborative agreement and protocols to provide care.  This also includes nurse anesthetists to provide medical services appropriate to the professional’s education, training, and experience, without physician supervision of direction.  This Executive Order remains in force until rescinded, until May 31, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster emergency proclaimed on March 12, 2020 expires, which is earlier.

Executive Order No. 20-19 states all agencies shall extend the deadlines for any continuing education requirements mandated until 90 days following the termination of the State of Disaster Emergency.

We encourage employers and anyone from the general public to use the following methods to verify licensure.

Public License Verifications

• Individual Lookup
  • National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) – Nursys Quick Confirm
    • Confirms licenses held in Kansas and in other states.
  • KSBN License Verification Database
    • Confirms licenses held in Kansas

• Individual Lookup for Employers
  • NCSBN eNotify – Primary source equivalent
    • The Nursys licensure and disciplinary database is the repository of the data provided directly from State Boards of Nursing.This confirms licenses held in Kansas and in other states.
  • KSBN KANNCheck Push Systems 
    • Text and email notifications
  • Kansas Nursing Alexa Voice License Search 
    • Search the license database with Alexa

No, the Kansas State Board of Nursing is part of the Nurse License Compact.  The NLC increases access to care while maintaining public protection at the state level. Under the NLC, nurses can practice in other NLC states, without having to obtain additional licenses. For information on the NLC please visit the one of the website links below.

• NCSBN
• NLC
• NLC Map
• NLC Participating States

Yes, please visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) COVID-19 website for up-to-date information about the state’s response to the COVID-19 emergency.

The Kansas State Board of Nursing does NOT require nurses to carry their license with them at all times. We have moved our operations in the same direction as the rest of the country to allow for multiple methods for real-time license verifications by employers and/or the general public.  If the nurse wishes to have a copy of their card, they may log into their license portal and print one free of charge.  Read more about license printing.