Registered Nurses (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
TB Screening Guide
Content last reviewed 2026-09-12 · Educational information — not medical advice
Who this covers
registered nurses, LPNs, charge nurses, travel nurses
Why this requirement exists
Nurses top every TB-risk list because bedside care means close, repeated contact with undiagnosed respiratory illness. Hospitals typically bundle TB clearance into pre-employment health clearance alongside titers and respirator fit-testing; travel-nurse agencies demand current documentation before placement.
Worth knowing
Travel nurses: carry digital copies of your last two TB results — different facilities alternate between accepting documented history and requiring fresh baselines, and missing paperwork delays start dates more than any clinical step.
Order the required tests
Direct-access laboratory testing — no doctor visit needed. Results arrive as forwardable PDFs that satisfy most compliance offices.
We may earn a commission when you order through partner links. This guide is educational and never replaces advice from your program office, employer, or healthcare provider.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do nursing licenses require TB tests?
State licensing boards generally don't mandate TB testing themselves — EMPLOYERS do, under infection-control policies and sometimes state hospital regulations. New grads should expect it at every hospital onboarding.
I had a positive PPD years ago — now what?
A documented positive converts you to 'previously infected' status: future screening shifts to a chest X-ray baseline plus symptom attestation rather than repeat skin tests. IGRAs clarify ambiguous histories because BCG doesn't interfere.
How long are TB results valid?
Most employers accept 12 months; some high-risk units want 90 days. Ask before testing — timing mistakes cost money.