In this guide
What boards of nursing (BONs) and professional nursing associations are, how they differ in purpose, authority, membership and activities, how they work together, and why every nurse and nursing student needs to understand both.
Introduction
Nursing is shaped by two very different kinds of organizations. Boards of nursing are government agencies that regulate nursing to protect the public. Professional nursing associations are voluntary member organizations that advance and advocate for the nursing profession. Students often confuse them, for example by thinking the American Nurses Association issues licenses, or that a board of nursing exists to support nurses’ careers. Knowing the difference helps nurses understand their legal responsibilities, their rights, and where to turn for support.
What is a board of nursing?
A board of nursing is a state (or territorial) government agency created by the state legislature through the Nurse Practice Act, the state law that defines and governs nursing practice (Russell, 2017). Every U.S. state and territory has at least one board of nursing, and some have separate boards for registered nurses and for practical or vocational nurses. Board members are usually appointed by the governor and include nurses and public (consumer) members.
The board’s mission is public protection, not protection of nurses (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN], n.d.). Its main functions are:
- Licensure: issuing and renewing licenses for RNs, LPN/LVNs and, in most states, APRNs; verifying education and passing the NCLEX; and running criminal background checks.
- Regulating scope of practice: interpreting the Nurse Practice Act and writing administrative rules, including delegation, APRN prescriptive authority and continuing education requirements.
- Approving nursing education programs and monitoring NCLEX pass rates.
- Discipline: investigating complaints, and reprimanding, fining, suspending, restricting or revoking licenses for unsafe or unethical practice, impairment, fraud or criminal conduct.
- Alternative-to-discipline programs for nurses with substance use or mental health conditions.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is the nonprofit organization through which boards collaborate. It develops the NCLEX (including the Next Generation NCLEX, launched in 2023), maintains the Nursys licensure database, and administers the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC allows nurses with a multistate license to practice in more than 40 participating jurisdictions.
What is a professional nursing association?
A professional nursing association is a voluntary, nongovernmental membership organization that represents nurses and works to advance the profession, nursing practice and health care. Membership is optional and usually requires annual dues. Types include:
- Broad professional associations: the American Nurses Association (ANA), founded in 1896, and its constituent state nurses associations; the International Council of Nurses (ICN) at the global level.
- Specialty associations: for example, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the Emergency Nurses Association, AORN (perioperative), AWHONN (women’s health and neonatal) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
- Education and leadership organizations: the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National League for Nursing (NLN), the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) and Sigma Theta Tau International (the honor society).
- Student associations: the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA).
Main functions include:
- Setting professional standards: for example, the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA, 2025) and Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA, 2021).
- Advocacy and policy: lobbying legislators on safe staffing, workplace violence, APRN practice authority and health equity.
- Professional development: continuing education, conferences, journals, leadership training and networking.
- Certification and recognition: for example, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an ANA subsidiary, offers specialty certification and Magnet Recognition.
- Member support: scholarships, career resources, and in some cases liability insurance programs.
Note: Some associations also act as collective bargaining units (unions), such as National Nurses United and some state nurses associations. Others, like the ANA, focus on professional advocacy rather than bargaining.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Board of nursing | Professional nursing association |
|---|---|---|
| Type of organization | Government (state) regulatory agency | Private, nonprofit membership organization |
| Created by | State law (Nurse Practice Act) | Nurses themselves (voluntary association) |
| Primary mission | Protect the public | Advance the profession and represent nurses |
| Authority | Legal authority: decisions are enforceable by law | No legal authority over licenses; influence through standards, advocacy and expertise |
| Membership | Not a membership body. All nurses licensed in the state fall under its jurisdiction. | Voluntary membership with dues |
| Funding | Mainly licensure fees, sometimes state funds | Member dues, conferences, publications, grants |
| Leadership | Appointed members (usually by the governor), including public members | Elected by members |
| Key activities | Licensure, scope-of-practice rules, education program approval, discipline | Standards and ethics, advocacy, continuing education, certification, networking |
| Scope | One state or jurisdiction | National, state, specialty or international |
| Consequences for nurses | Can restrict, suspend or revoke a license | Can revoke membership or certification, but not a license |
| Examples | Texas Board of Nursing, Florida Board of Nursing, California Board of Registered Nursing; NCSBN (national umbrella) | ANA, state nurses associations, AACN, AANP, ENA, NLN, NSNA, ICN |
How they work together
Although their roles differ, boards and associations are interdependent:
- Standards inform regulation: boards often refer to professional standards, such as ANA scope and standards and specialty certification requirements, when writing rules or judging whether practice met the standard of care.
- Associations influence the law: associations lobby legislators to change Nurse Practice Acts, for example to grant APRNs full practice authority. The board then implements the new law.
- Shared goals: both aim for safe, competent nursing care. One enforces minimum legal standards, and the other promotes excellence above that minimum.
- Collaboration: they work together on workforce data, education standards, the response to emergencies, and initiatives such as the APRN Consensus Model.
Example scenario
A nurse makes a serious medication error that harms a patient, and a complaint is filed. The board of nursing investigates and may require remediation, place the license on probation or take other disciplinary action to protect the public. The nurse’s professional association cannot change the board’s decision. It may, however, offer the nurse educational resources, information on legal rights, peer support, and advocacy for system-level changes, such as safer staffing or a just culture, that help prevent similar errors.
Why this matters for nurses and students
- Know your state’s Nurse Practice Act and board rules. You are legally accountable for practicing within them.
- Keep your license in good standing: renew on time, complete required continuing education, and report as required.
- Join a professional association, starting with NSNA as a student, to build your network, access resources and have a voice in policy.
- Use both: the board defines what you must do legally, and associations help you reach what you should aspire to professionally.
Conclusion
Boards of nursing and professional nursing associations both shape nursing practice in different ways. Boards are government agencies with legal authority whose mission is to protect the public, through licensure, scope-of-practice regulation and discipline. Professional associations are voluntary organizations that advance the profession through standards, ethics, education, certification and advocacy. Together they ensure that nursing is both safe and continually improving. Every nurse benefits from respecting the board’s legal requirements and taking an active part in professional associations.
References
American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). American Nurses Association.
American Nurses Association. (2025). Code of ethics for nurses. American Nurses Association.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (n.d.). About U.S. nursing regulatory bodies. https://www.ncsbn.org
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (n.d.). Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). https://www.nursecompact.com
Russell, K. A. (2017). Nurse practice acts guide and govern: Update 2017. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(3), 18–25.