Nurse Licensure - Educational Requirements - Enforcement
HB0986 strengthens enforcement of Maryland’s nursing education requirements for applicants seeking licensure as registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. The bill requires certain endorsement applicants to provide evidence that their educational credentials meet Maryland’s standards, including, when requested by the Board of Nursing, official transcripts or other adequate proof. It also clarifies that applicants using the Nurse Licensure Compact pathway may still be required to show that their education satisfies Maryland’s requirements.
The bill further expands the State Board of Nursing’s disciplinary authority by expressly allowing the Board to deny, reprimand, place on probation, suspend, or revoke a license if an applicant or licensee fails to complete the educational requirements established under § 8-302. It amends the Nurse Licensure Compact provisions to make clear that the compact does not limit the Board’s authority to investigate an applicant’s qualifications or take disciplinary action, including against interstate licensees, and that Maryland’s other nursing laws control where the compact is silent. The act is set to take effect October 1, 2026.
HB0986 amends the Health Occupations Article, primarily sections governing nursing licensure by endorsement, disciplinary actions, and the Nurse Licensure Compact. It gives the Board of Nursing clearer statutory authority to verify educational credentials and to enforce compliance with Maryland’s nursing education standards, including against compact-based applicants and interstate licensees. The bill would affect applicants for RN and LPN licensure, current licensees subject to discipline, and the Board’s licensing and enforcement procedures.
The available context suggests the bill was generally viewed favorably, as reflected by the House committee report of “Favorable with amendments” and House adoption on second reading. The bill’s purpose is framed as an enforcement measure rather than a major policy shift, indicating support for tighter credential verification and clearer board authority. No vote breakdown or committee testimony is provided, so the record does not show organized opposition in the available materials.
The main point of potential contention is the extent of the Board of Nursing’s authority over applicants licensed in other states through the Nurse Licensure Compact. The bill explicitly preserves the Board’s ability to investigate the sufficiency of nursing education and to deny or revoke licensure for educational deficiencies, which could be viewed as increasing scrutiny on interstate applicants. Another possible issue is the requirement that applicants provide transcripts or other evidence of educational compliance, which may be seen as an added administrative burden, though the bill presents this as a public-protection and standards-enforcement measure.