National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Through collaborative leadership, advance regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing.
- Income
- $144.0 million
- Spending
- $133.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 24 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 177
- Volunteers
- 73
- Highest pay
- $992,453, secretary & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $89.1 million spent. Nurse Competence NCSBN became the first organization to implement computerized adaptive testing (CAT) nationwide licensure examinations (NCLEX) in 1994. Since 1994 more than about 8.6 million candidates for nurse licensure have taken the NCLEX exam via CAT.
- $18.9 million spent. Information NCSBN provides technology and comprehensive data management for use by its members. NCSBN maintains the NURSYS database that coordinates national publicly available nurse licensure information. NURSYS is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and LPN/VNS licensed in participating jurisdictions including all states in the nurse licensure compact. It allows employers to retrieve licensure/discipline documentation from a single location.
- $16.3 million spent. Nurse Regulatory OutcomeU.S. boards of nursing regulate more than 5 million licensed nurses. NCSBN provides an organization through which boards of nursing, act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare. NCSBN provides resources, communication and education for use by its members and external stakeholders. NCSBN expands and enhances evidenced based regulation. The NCSBN Center for Regulatory Excellence grant program provides funding for scientific research projects that advance the science of nursing regulation.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.