Department of Public Health
Division of Health Professions Licensure
Board of Registration in Nursing

What is the Board of Registration in Nursing?    
The Board of Registration in Nursing is a regulatory agency of state government. Its purpose is to lead in the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Massachusetts through fair and consistent application of the statutes and regulations governing nursing practice and education.
                 
Becoming a Licensed Nurse
In order to become licensed as a nurse in Massachusetts, you need to:
•	Provide proof satisfactory to the Board of compliance with the Good Moral Character requirement as stated in Massachusetts law;
•	Graduate from a Board-approved nursing education program;
•	Pay all required fees; and
•	Pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX®) exam.

Good Moral Character
The purpose of this program is to assist individuals that are considering in a career in nursing with understanding what the Good Moral Character requirement for licensure means.

Trust
•	The citizens of Massachusetts and the United States have a great deal of trust in nurses.
•	In USA Today/Gallup’s poll rating on the honesty and ethical standards of various professions, since 2005, more than 80% of Americans have rated nurses as having "high" or "very high" honesty and ethical standards. (2013).

Integrity
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing has determined that it is in the best interest of the public to ensure the applicant meets the Good Moral Character requirement  prior to initial nursing licensure.

Legal Requirement
Massachusetts General Law chapter 112, sections 74, 74A, and 76 specifies all applicants for initial nursing licensure in Massachusetts must demonstrate compliance with the Good Moral Character requirement.
Application Process
The Board of Registration in Nursing requires all nursing license applicants to answer six (6) questions related to criminal convictions and/or disciplinary actions by a licensure or certification body.

Definition of Criminal Conviction
•	A verdict or finding of guilty.
•	A plea of guilty.
•	A plea of nolo contendere (no contest).
•	Any other plea treated by the court as a guilty plea regardless of the jurisdiction in which the conviction was entered.

Criminal Offender Record Information
The applicant may be required to complete a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form, which is a criminal background check, based on the responses to the six (6) Good Moral Character (GMC) questions on the licensure application. 
www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn  Click on “Licensing”, then “Good Moral Character Licensure”, then “Good Moral Character Information Sheet”

What are the 6 GMC Questions?
1. Has any disciplinary action ever been taken against you by a professional and/or trade licensing/certification board located in the United States or any country/foreign jurisdiction, including removal from a long-term care nurse aide registry program?  

2. Are you the subject of pending disciplinary action by a professional and/or trade licensing/certification board located in the United States or any country/foreign jurisdiction?

3. Have you ever applied for, and been denied, a professional and/or trade license/certification in the United States or any other country/foreign jurisdiction?

4. Have you ever surrendered or resigned a professional and/or trade license/certificate in the United States or any other country/foreign jurisdiction?

5. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the United States or any other country/foreign jurisdiction?

6.  Are you the subject of any pending or open criminal case(s) or investigation(s), (including for any felony or misdemeanor) in a jurisdiction in the United States or any country/foreign jurisdiction?

All Criminal Cases and Disciplinary Actions Must be Closed
•	The applicant provides documentation satisfactory to the Board that:
–	all court-ordered requirements and all criminal matters involving the applicant have been closed for at least one year; and
–	All requirements imposed by a licensure/certification body in connection with the disciplinary action involving the applicant have been met. 

Truthfulness on the Application
•	It is extremely important to answer truthfully to all questions on the application for licensure and the CORI form. 
•	Failure to be truthful will result in exclusion from licensure for five (5) years.

Criminal Convictions
Conviction for certain crimes will result in mandatory permanent exclusion from becoming licensed as a nurse in Massachusetts. In general, conduct underlying any violent crime against any person(s) that exhibits intentional or deliberate disregard of human life is considered grounds for exclusion from licensure. In addition, if you have been convicted of a crime within the last 5 years (excluding those that result in permanent exclusion), you may be subject to mandatory temporary exclusion from licensure.

Nursing Board’s Website
A complete list of specific crimes requiring mandatory permanent exclusion from licensure is available at the Board of Registration website http://www.mass.gov/dpl/consumer/fspagern.htm http://www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn Click on “Licensing”, then “Good Moral Character”

Right to Review
•	If you are denied  license based on the Good Moral Character requirement, you have the right to review your denial.
•	You will be required to provide  documentation which can reasonably substantiate the existence of specific areas of factual dispute relevant to the issue.  

Mission of the Board
This process enables the Board to meet its mission to protect the safety and health of the citizens of Massachusetts. By determining Good Moral Character, the Board is ensuring that all applicants for initial nursing licensure demonstrate the attributes the citizens expect and deserve in licensed nurses.  

Good Moral Character
This process enables the Board to meet its mission to protect the safety and health of the citizens of Massachusetts. By determining Good Moral Character, the Board is ensuring that all applicants for initial nursing licensure demonstrate the attributes the citizens expect and deserve in licensed nurses.  

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2006
Prepared by Margaret Rowe, BSN, RN
Graduate Student, 
Master of Science in Nursing Program, 
Salem State College

2010
Revised by Judith M. Pelletier, MSN, RN
Nursing Education Coordinator 
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

2013
Revised by Heather Cambra, BSN, RN, JD
Complaint Resolution Coordinator 
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing