Alabama Board of Nursing Data Breach Resource Center

The Alabama Board of Nursing experienced a cybersecurity incident affecting its systems. ABN has publicly stated that data was downloaded from its environment and that potentially affected information may include names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver's-license information, professional licensing information, and medical information.

ABN has said it cannot currently determine whether information belonging to every nurse, applicant, licensee, or member of the public was accessed.

Current ABN guidance controls. Please don't invent alternative ways to submit a renewal. ABN has indicated it is not currently accepting paper RN renewal applications, so keep an eye on official restoration and renewal instructions.

• Complete and organize required continuing education
• Keep copies of CE certificates
• Monitor ABN renewal announcements
• Keep screenshots or records of system outages when relevant
• Do not submit duplicate applications unless ABN instructs you to

ABN has created temporary application procedures. If you submitted materials before the outage, follow ABN's instructions carefully and avoid automatically sending a duplicate application.

ABN has continued receiving NCLEX results and has used temporary verification procedures for recently licensed nurses.

ABN has established temporary procedures for some APRN approvals, reinstatements, and new collaborations. Some changes involving existing collaborations may have to wait until normal systems return.

Before submitting anything, verify the current ABN instructions because temporary procedures may change.

Since June 1, 2024, the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board has operated under the temporary oversight of the Board of Nursing. The Legislature terminated the former Alabama Board of Massage Therapy after Sunset Committee review and created the new board under Alabama Act 2024-361 (SB 137), with ABN assuming its powers, duties, records, and systems in the interim.

Because ABN took over the massage board's records and licensing functions, massage therapists, massage therapy establishments, and massage therapy schools may be affected by the same systems disruption and should follow official ABN announcements for licensing and renewal instructions.

• Monitor ABN announcements for massage therapy licensing and renewal procedures
• Do not submit duplicate applications or renewals unless instructed
• Keep copies of applications, renewals, and any correspondence with the board
• Watch for phishing messages claiming to be the massage board or ABN
• Take the same data-protection steps recommended for nurses if you are concerned your information was exposed

Licenses issued by the former board remain valid under the new board. The 2024 law transferred all records and authority without requiring licensees to take any action.

ABN has not said every nurse's information was compromised. These practical steps can still help protect you:

• Watch for phishing emails, texts, or calls claiming to be ABN
• Be suspicious of demands for immediate payment
• Change reused passwords
• Enable multi-factor authentication where available
• Review financial accounts and credit reports
• Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze
• Monitor insurance explanation-of-benefits statements and tax-related accounts if concerned about identity theft

Do not provide sensitive information to someone claiming to be a Board investigator unless you independently verify the communication.

A systemwide outage does not automatically cancel a deadline contained in an individual Notice of Investigation, complaint, subpoena, disciplinary order, consent agreement, probation order, or other Board communication.

If you have an individual Board matter, review the actual document, identify deadlines, document your attempts to comply, and seek clarification where necessary.

BoardWise helps licensed professionals understand licensing-board documents, identify deadlines and next steps, organize supporting information, and prepare responses.

• Alabama Board of Nursing homepage
• ABN legal and monitoring updates
• ABN licensing and application guidance
• ABN APRN guidance
• ABN recently licensed nurses
• FTC identity theft resources
• Credit freeze information (FTC)