§ 6905. Requirements for a license as a registered professional nurse. To qualify for a license as a registered professional nurse, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:

(1) Application: file an application with the department;

(2) Education: have received an education, and a diploma or degree in professional nursing, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations, and in order to continue to maintain registration as a registered professional nurse in New York state, have attained a baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing within ten years of initial licensure in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. The department, in its discretion, may issue a conditional registration to a licensee who fails to complete the baccalaureate degree but who agrees to meet the additional requirement within one year. The fee for such a conditional registration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the triennial registration. The duration of such conditional registration shall be for one year and may be extended, with the payment of a fee, for no more than one additional year, unless the applicant can show good cause for non-compliance acceptable to the department. The department, in its discretion, may issue a temporary educational exemption to a licensee who is unable to complete the baccalaureate degree due to a lack of access to educational programs. Licensees seeking a temporary educational exemption shall provide evidence of applying on at least two occasions to a baccalaureate degree program or programs and subsequently being denied access to such program or programs on at least two occasions due to there being a limited number of seats. Such denials shall also be corroborated by the higher education institution or institutions that the licensee applied to. Temporary educational exemptions issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be for a single two year period. Licensees shall only be eligible for either a conditional registration or a temporary educational exemption. The fee for such a temporary educational exemption shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the triennial registration. Any licensee who is notified of the denial of a registration for failure to complete the additional educational requirements and who practices as a registered professional nurse without such registration may be subject to disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section sixty-five hundred ten of this title;

(3) Experience: meet no requirement as to experience;

(4) Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;

(5) Age: be at least eighteen years of age;

(6) Citizenship: meet no requirement as to United States citizenship;

(7) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the department; and

(8) Fees: pay a fee of one hundred fifteen dollars to the department for admission to a department conducted examination and for an initial license, a fee of forty-five dollars for each reexamination, a fee of seventy dollars for an initial license for persons not requiring admission to a department conducted examination, and a fee of fifty dollars for each triennial registration period.