To verify a nursing license in Michigan, use the free online lookup maintained by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). You can search by name, license number, or both, and the results show the license type, its current status, the expiration date, and any disciplinary history on file.1State of Michigan. Find / Verify a Licensed Professional or Business
Running the Search on LARA’s Portal
The verification tool lives on LARA’s website and is available 24 hours a day at no charge. You don’t need an account. Enter the nurse’s name or license number, choose the profession if prompted, and the system returns the matching record.
The record itself is the point of the search. It identifies the credential type (registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or nurse practitioner), displays the license number, states the current status, gives the expiration date, and notes any disciplinary action the Michigan Board of Nursing has taken. If the status shows anything other than active and unencumbered, treat the record as a starting point for further questions rather than a green light.
What the Status Field Actually Means
An active status with a future expiration date means the nurse is currently authorized to practice in Michigan. An expired status means the license is not currently valid; Michigan allows a 60-day grace period after expiration during which a nurse can still practice while completing renewal, but once that window closes, practicing without reinstatement is prohibited under the Public Health Code.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 333.17211 – Practice of Nursing A suspended or revoked status means the person cannot lawfully practice at all.
Verification Duties for Healthcare Employers
For hiring managers and credentialing offices, running the LARA lookup is the fastest way to confirm a candidate or current employee is legally authorized to practice nursing in Michigan. Facilities that skip the step and employ someone whose license has lapsed or been revoked face their own exposure, including sanctions from LARA and negligent-hiring claims from patients harmed on the job.
Primary Source Verification Under Joint Commission Standards
If your facility is Joint Commission accredited, standard HRM.01.02.01 requires the organization to verify and document that job applicants hold the education and credentials the job description specifies.3The Joint Commission. Primary Source Verification LARA’s portal handles the license piece. Any additional credentials named in the posting, such as a specific degree or certification, need their own separate documentation.
Ongoing Monitoring Through Nursys e-Notify
A one-time check at hire doesn’t stay accurate. Licenses expire, get suspended, or draw discipline throughout the year, and a nurse who was clean on their start date can be in trouble six months later without the employer knowing.
The Nursys e-Notify system addresses this by sending automated notifications whenever a nurse’s license status changes. It pulls data directly from participating boards of nursing and is considered a primary-source-equivalent database. Employers can upload nurse rosters in bulk and receive alerts for expirations, disciplinary actions, and status changes at no cost.4Nursys. Nursys e-Notify To enroll a nurse in the service, you need the license number, license type, state of issuance, the last four digits of the nurse’s Social Security number, and the nurse’s date of birth.
Federal Exclusion Screening
Healthcare employers that bill Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal health programs carry a second verification obligation that runs alongside license lookups. The Office of Inspector General maintains the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) and recommends that healthcare entities routinely screen both new hires and current staff against it.5Office of Inspector General. Exclusions Program
The penalties for missing an excluded individual are substantial. Under 42 U.S.C. ยง 1320a-7a, an employer that bills federal healthcare programs for services provided by an excluded person can face civil monetary penalties of up to $20,000 for each day the prohibited relationship continues, plus repayment of all amounts billed during that period.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 1320a-7a – Civil Monetary Penalties As with license status, a clean check at hire is not enough. Staff can be added to the LEIE at any point, and facilities that don’t rescreen periodically accumulate risk quietly over time.
Out-of-State Licenses Do Not Cover Michigan Practice
If you’re verifying a nurse who holds a license from another state, that license is not enough on its own. The Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses to hold a single multistate license and practice in any member state without obtaining a separate license in each one.7National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Licensure Compacts As of 2026, more than 40 states have enacted the compact. Michigan is not among them.8National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). NLC States Map
The practical effect is that a nurse licensed in a compact state cannot practice in Michigan on that license alone. They need a separate Michigan license issued through LARA, and their name has to appear in the LARA verification portal for you to confirm authorization to practice in this state. Michigan has introduced compact-related legislation in the 2025-2026 session, so this could change, but until it does, only a Michigan-issued license shows up in the state verification tool as evidence of authorization to practice here.
What to Do If the Record Shows a Problem
If the LARA record shows an expired license, first check whether the expiration falls within the past 60 days. Michigan permits practice during that grace period while the nurse completes renewal, but the nurse must actually renew before the window closes. After 60 days, the license lapses fully and the nurse cannot practice until reinstatement.
If the record shows suspension, revocation, or open disciplinary action, the nurse is not authorized to practice, or is practicing under conditions that need scrutiny. Michigan law flatly prohibits practicing nursing without a license or other authorization under the Public Health Code.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 333.17211 – Practice of Nursing That applies to someone who never obtained a license, someone whose license expired without timely renewal, and someone whose license was suspended or revoked. If you’re an employer and the verification comes back with any of those flags, the safest step is to pause the assignment until the nurse can produce current documentation or you can confirm reinstatement directly with LARA.