Skip License Exam For Now, New Jersey Tells Nursing Graduates

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is giving thousands of temporary licenses to new graduates of health care programs to help fight the coronavirus, officials announced.

Recent graduates of nursing, physician assistant, pharmacy and respiratory care therapy programs who have not yet been able to take and pass their licensing exams will be granted temporary emergency licenses, according to state officials.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) started accepting applications for the emergency graduate licensure program on Tuesday.

The DCA has waived application fees for the emergency temporary license. Graduates can apply online on the division’s website.

READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

The emergency license program is open to individuals applying for licensure within six months of graduating from the following programs:

• Accredited registered professional nursing (RN)
• Practical nursing (LPN)
• Physician assistant
• Pharmacy education and training located in New Jersey
• Accredited respiratory care therapy education and training located in any state

According to a statement from the governor’s office:

“Individuals will not be eligible for the emergency graduate licensure program if they have failed the relevant licensing examination and will be dropped from the program if they fail the exam after receiving an emergency graduate license. With the exception of respiratory care therapists, graduates licensed through this program will be eligible to work only under supervision in an acute care facility licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. Respiratory care specialists will also be authorized to work under supervision in field hospitals.”

Officials continued:

“The program will end automatically at the conclusion of the COVID-19 state of emergency and public health emergency. The division may choose to end the program earlier if it determines that it is no longer necessary. In that case, the division would give licensees 90 days to pass their examination and 120 days to obtain standard licenses.”

For more information on the division’s program, click here. Qualified health, mental health, and related professionals interested in volunteering can visit www.covid19.nj.gov/volunteer.

“From the onset of this crisis, our goal has been to eliminate any roadblocks that prevent qualified health care professionals from joining our frontline response efforts,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “Today’s action allows thousands of recent graduates to quickly join teams on the ground currently fighting COVID-19.”

“We cannot afford to have otherwise qualified healthcare professionals sidelined during the COVID-19 crisis waiting for an opportunity to take the exams they need to become licensed,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal agreed. “We need them in the field as soon as possible to assist those who have been working around the clock to stop this pandemic.”

"Recent graduates of nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant and respiratory care therapy programs will be welcome in our hospitals to assist patients and relieve frontline health care workers," Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli stated. “It’s a perfect match.”

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