Nurse and medical licence photo

Official Size and Board Rules

Photo requirements vary by state and licensing board. Check the instructions for your application before you submit it.

Oregon requires a recent passport-quality photo^[1], and Georgia requires a current color passport photo^[2]. The listed sources do not establish a universal size, so check the instructions from your licensing board.

The supplied sources do not establish a standard photo size for state licensing applications. Check your board’s instructions before printing or uploading a photo.

Head Position and Measurement

The listed sources do not set a head-height measurement for medical or nursing licence photos. Follow your board’s instructions if it asks for a photo.

Keep your shoulders straight and center your head in the frame. Check that your entire head and hair are visible within the crop area.

The supplied sources do not set a head-height measurement or pose rule. Follow your board’s instructions.

Background and Lighting

There is no single national background specification. Check your board’s instructions for its photo requirements.

Use the background and lighting specified by your licensing board, if it provides those instructions.

When taking the picture at home, pick a spot near a window with soft natural light or use two lamps placed evenly to avoid harsh shadows on the wall behind you. Stand about one and a half metres away from the wall to prevent shadows.

Face, Expression, and Glasses

The listed sources do not set expression or pose rules for medical or nursing licence photos. Follow your board’s instructions if it asks for a photo.

The listed sources do not set a universal glasses rule for medical or nursing licence photos. Follow your board’s instructions if it asks for a photo.

The supplied sources do not establish a standard expression or glasses rule. Follow your board’s instructions.

Head Coverings and Special Rules

The listed sources do not establish a universal head-covering rule for medical or nursing licence photos. Follow your board’s instructions if it asks for a photo.

Check your board’s instructions for any rules about head coverings or supporting statements.

The supplied sources do not establish a head-covering rule. Check your board’s instructions.

Taking Your Photo at Home

Stand about one and a half metres away from a plain wall with a solid white or light blue color. Ask a friend or family member to take the picture using a digital camera or a smartphone held at your eye level.

Upload your picture to the tool above to crop it to the right dimensions and check your head height. You can prepare a digital copy or make a printable sheet.

Avoid using digital filters or retouching tools. Licensing boards expect your photo to look like you on a normal day. Check that your eyes are open and looking straight into the lens.

Checking Your Photo and Common Mistakes

Before you submit your application, look closely at your picture to spot common errors. Make sure your background has no patterns or shadows, your lighting is even across your face, and your head is centered properly.

Avoid wearing uniforms or clothing that blends into the background. A simple dark shirt works best to create good contrast against a white or light blue wall.

Printing and Submitting Your Photo

Photo submission methods vary by board. Check the instructions for your application.

If you need a physical print, you can place your cropped photo onto a standard four by six inch sheet using the tool above. Print the sheet at a local photo kiosk as an ordinary print and cut it out with clean edges.

Use matte or glossy photo paper of good quality if you print at home or at a store. Do not use household paper or low-resolution printers, as fuzzy details can lead to delays in processing your medical licence application.