NCLEX in Tennessee: fingerprints first, with the right OCA code
Tennessee asks you to do things in an unusual order: complete your fingerprint background check as early as six weeks before graduation, then apply through LARS, with Pearson VUE registration in between. Using the wrong OCA code on your background check means the Board never receives your results.
Last checked October 2026. Based on the Tennessee Board of Nursing’s new-graduate exam application instructions and third-party fee summaries. Fee information conflicts between sources, including a reported increase effective April 8, 2026, so confirm the current application fee on the Board’s site.
The path for a new graduate
Complete the fingerprint criminal background check through the Board's vendor, which can be done as early as six weeks before graduation. Enter OCA code 1703 for RN applicants.
The Board's instructions say to register and pay Pearson VUE before you submit your application. Guides suggest doing this about two weeks before graduation.
Apply to the Tennessee Board of Nursing through the LARS portal. Your school must send transcripts to the Board directly after your degree is conferred.
Processing is stated as four to six weeks from a completed application. You do not need to call to check status, because the Board emails if there is a deficiency.
Once the Board verifies your application is complete and you have graduated, Pearson VUE issues your ATT.
Things that cause delays
- The wrong OCA code. RN applicants must use 1703 and LPN applicants 1704, or the Board will not receive the background check.
- Submitting before paying Pearson VUE. The Board’s instructions say not to submit the application until you have registered and paid.
- Transcripts sent by you. They must be issued to the Board directly from the school after the degree is conferred.
Common questions
What does the Board charge?
Sources disagree. One reports no application fee for licensure by examination since 2019, another says $100 or $150. Check the Board’s current fee schedule, since a fee increase was scheduled for April 2026.
Is there a temporary permit?
A guide reports temporary permits are not available to applicants going through licensure by examination, so you cannot practice until your full license is issued.