How to get a nursing license: NCLEX, NLC compact, and state boards

A nursing license is the legal authorization to practice nursing in the United States, issued by your state’s board of nursing. Before you can care for a single patient, you must graduate from an accredited program and pass the NCLEX exam – the national licensure examination administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Every RN and LPN/LVN in the US holds a state-issued license tied to their primary state of residence.

Quick answers:

• The NCLEX-RN costs $200 (Pearson VUE registration fee), rising to $350 for exams registered from February 1, 2027; state application fees are separate
• The 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for US-educated candidates was 86.7% (NCSBN)
• 40 states are currently NLC compact members – a compact license lets you practice across all of them without additional applications
• Your state board sends official NCLEX results within six weeks of the exam (NCSBN), and some boards are faster: the California BRN lists 2–3 weeks for NCLEX-RN results

What are the requirements to work as a nurse?

The NCSBN sets the framework, but your state board of nursing enforces it. To become licensed, you need:

1. Graduation from a board-approved nursing program (LPN, ADN, BSN, or higher)
2. NCLEX exam – NCLEX-RN for RNs, NCLEX-PN for LPNs/LVNs
3. State application – submitted to your state board with required documentation
4. Background check – criminal history review required in all states
5. Disclosure – any criminal convictions, substance use disorders, or functional deficits must be reported

Your state board handles licensing, renewal, and discipline. The NCSBN provides the exam and national standards; your board is the licensing authority.

The NCLEX exam

What is the NCLEX?

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the standardized test all nursing graduates must pass to become licensed in the US. There are two versions:

• NCLEX-RN – for registered nurse candidates; 85–150 items in a five-hour session, computer adaptive testing (CAT)
• NCLEX-PN – for practical/vocational nurse candidates; 85–150 items in a five-hour session, CAT

The exam uses computer adaptive testing, which means the difficulty of each question adjusts based on your previous answers. The exam ends when the computer can determine with 95% confidence whether you’re above or below the passing standard – which is why some candidates finish at the 85-item minimum and others use the full 150. Both exams have used the 85–150 range since the Next Generation NCLEX launched in April 2023; the older 75–145 range for the RN exam no longer applies.

What is the Next Generation NCLEX?

The Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) launched on April 1, 2023 – the most significant change to the exam in decades. If you’re testing now, you’re taking the NGN.

The NGN was redesigned to measure clinical judgment rather than memorized facts. NCSBN developed the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM), a six-step framework:

1. Recognize cues
2. Analyze cues
3. Prioritize hypotheses
4. Generate solutions
5. Take actions
6. Evaluate outcomes

Each NGN case study presents a realistic patient scenario followed by six questions, one per CJMM step. The exam now includes innovative item types beyond traditional multiple choice:

• Extended drag and drop
• Matrix multiple choice / multiple response
• Cloze (drop-down) – fill in the blank from a dropdown list
• Highlight – identify relevant data in a clinical note
• Bow-tie items – condition, actions, and parameters linked in one question
• Trend items – assess how a patient’s status is changing over time

A major scoring change: traditional NCLEX items were dichotomous (all correct or all incorrect). NGN items use partial credit scoring, which better reflects clinical reasoning in complex, multi-part questions.

How much does the NCLEX cost?

The Pearson VUE registration fee is $200 for both NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. NCSBN has announced that the US fee rises to $350 effective February 1, 2027, so budget for the higher figure if you will register after that date. Changing your nursing regulatory body or exam type after registering costs $50 each, and fees are not refunded for any reason. The exam fee is separate from your state board application fee, which varies by state (see the state boards section below). Board exam-application fees published on board fee pages checked October 27, 2026 include $75 in Texas (jurisprudence exam included) and Ohio, $110 in Florida, $143 in New York, $212.90 in Michigan, and $300 in California for a California graduate. With the current $200 Pearson VUE fee, that puts the two fees together at $275 in Texas and $500 for a California graduate, before fingerprinting.

What is the NCLEX pass rate?

According to NCSBN’s 2025 annual statistics (published June 2026):

• First-time US-educated NCLEX-RN candidates: 86.7% (167,272 of 192,916)
• Baccalaureate graduates: 87.6%; associate degree graduates: 86.1%
• Repeat US-educated NCLEX-RN candidates: 52.7%
• First-time internationally educated NCLEX-RN candidates: 47.3%

The 2025 first-time rate was down from 91.2% in 2024. Rates also move within the year: in 2025 the first-time US-educated rate ran 88.4% in January–March and 89.1% in April–June, then fell to 84.0% in July–September and 81.2% in October–December, when far fewer candidates test. If you’re a first-time test-taker with a solid study plan, the odds are in your favor.

How to schedule the NCLEX

1. Apply for licensure through your state board of nursing (see the state boards section)
2. Register with Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com/nclex and pay the $200 fee
3. Your state board approves your eligibility and notifies Pearson VUE
4. Pearson VUE sends your Authorization to Test (ATT) by email once your board makes you eligible – how long that takes depends on the board (the California BRN, for example, lists 10–12 weeks to process an exam application)
5. Schedule your exam through the Pearson VUE candidate portal; the ATT’s validity period is set by your board (commonly 90 days) and cannot be extended
6. Take the exam at a Pearson VUE test center

You cannot schedule your exam until you have your ATT. Don’t delay submitting your state board application – the ATT clock starts there, not at Pearson VUE registration.

From graduation to first paycheck: the full timeline

How long it takes to go from graduation to working depends mostly on your state board’s processing speed and how quickly you move through each step. There is no national figure, so use your own board’s published times where it has them.

Key point on quick results: Pearson VUE’s Quick Results service ($7.95) gives you an unofficial pass/fail result in as few as two business days after your exam, in jurisdictions that participate. It’s reliable, but it is not a license authorization – you cannot legally practice nursing until your state board issues your license number.

What to do while waiting for your ATT: Many hospitals will hire you as a graduate nurse (GN) with a conditional offer pending licensure. Ask HR whether they can give you a start date contingent on licensure – most will. You can also work as a patient care technician, CNA, or in a non-clinical role while waiting.

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

What is the NLC?

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between states to recognize each other’s nursing licenses. If you live in a compact state and hold a license there, that license is automatically a multistate license – you can practice in any of the other compact member states without applying for an additional license. Guam and the US Virgin Islands have enacted the compact but have not implemented it, so neither is covered by a multistate license yet.

The compact was first launched in 2000. In 2018, it was updated to the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which added uniform eligibility requirements including a federal background check. All current NLC members operate under the eNLC framework.

Current NLC member states (40 states as of 2026)

Pennsylvania joined the NLC in July 2025. Connecticut joined in October 2025, bringing the total to 40 implemented states. Guam and the US Virgin Islands have also enacted the compact, but both list an implementation date of “to be determined” and neither issues multistate licenses yet.

Massachusetts has enacted NLC legislation but is not yet operational. Its implementation date is listed as to be determined, so Massachusetts nurses cannot obtain a multistate license yet. Michigan, Minnesota, and New York are sometimes described as enacted states, but each has only seen NLC bills introduced – none has enacted the compact. Check nursecompact.com for current status.

States still outside the NLC: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, and Oregon, plus Washington DC, do not participate. Nurses practicing in these states must hold a separate state license.

How to tell if you qualify for a multistate license

To hold a multistate license, you must:

1. Live in a compact state – your primary state of residence (where you vote, pay taxes, and hold your driver’s license) must be an NLC member
2. Hold a license in good standing – no current discipline, restrictions, or encumbrances
3. Pass a federal background check – required under the eNLC
4. Graduate from an approved program – a nursing program approved by a state board of nursing (NCSBN does not accredit programs)

There is no separate “compact license” application. When you meet the requirements and receive your license in a compact state, it is automatically a multistate license. The license is tied to your home state – if you move to another compact state, you should apply for licensure by endorsement in your new home state promptly (the NLC’s guidance is within 60 days of the move). You can keep practicing on your former home state’s multistate license until the new one is issued; at that point the former license is deactivated. If you move to a non-compact state instead, your former multistate license converts to a single-state license and you apply by endorsement in the new state.

If your state is not in the NLC

If you live in a non-compact state (California, Illinois, Alaska, or states with pending implementation), you hold a single-state license. To practice in another state, you must apply for licensure by endorsement in that state (see section below).

License by endorsement: moving to a new state

Licensure by endorsement is the process of obtaining a nursing license in a new state using your existing license – without retaking the NCLEX. It applies in two situations:

1. You’re moving from a non-compact state to any state (compact or not)
2. You’re moving from one compact state to another and want to establish your new home state license

Step-by-step endorsement process

Step 1: Verify your current license through Nursys Most state boards require verification of your existing license through Nursys.com, the national nurse license verification system. Confirm your license is active and in good standing before applying.

Step 2: Apply to the new state board Each state has its own application portal. Select “Registered Nurse by Endorsement” (or LPN equivalent). You’ll complete a form, upload documents, and pay the application fee. Each board sets its own. On board fee pages checked October 27, 2026, the RN endorsement fee was $50 in Illinois, $75 in Ohio, $110 in Florida, $143 in New York, $150 in Texas (jurisprudence exam included), $275 in Massachusetts, $295 plus a $9 surcharge in Oregon, and $350 in California. Fingerprinting and Nursys verification ($30 per license) are usually charged on top.

Step 3: Submit required documents Most states require: official transcripts from your nursing program, Nursys verification of your current and original licenses, fingerprints for a state and federal background check, and proof of any required continuing education.

Step 4: Background check processing Fingerprint-based background checks add time to the process. Most states use either IdentoGO or a similar vendor. Submit fingerprints promptly once you receive instructions.

Step 5: Wait for approval Processing times vary considerably, and most boards publish no standard figure. Three that do:

• Texas BON: 15 working days from receipt of all required documents, temporarily extended to 20 business days, with criminal history issues lengthening it substantially
• Florida BON: the application process “may take between two to six months”, with a deficiency letter within about 30 days if anything is missing
• California BRN: 10–12 weeks for US endorsement applications (updated October 22, 2026)

Temporary permits: Some states issue a temporary practice permit while your endorsement application is pending. This lets you start working before the full license arrives. Ask your target state board whether they offer this – not all do.

Planning the timeline: Check your target board’s own processing-times page, and start the endorsement process 2–3 months before your planned move date, or earlier for Florida or California.

License renewal

Renewal cycle

Most states require license renewal every two years, though a handful use different schedules:

• Annual: Connecticut, Kentucky (November 1–October 31 licensure year), Louisiana, Washington
• Every two years: Most states (the standard), including Maryland and West Virginia (West Virginia moved from annual to two-year renewal in 2022)
• Every three years: Iowa, New York
• Every four years: Arizona

Your state board will send a renewal reminder before your expiration date. Renew online through your state board’s portal – the process takes 15–30 minutes and requires payment of the renewal fee.

Continuing education requirements

CE requirements vary significantly. Some states require zero hours; others require 30+ per renewal period. A few states mandate specific topics such as medication errors, domestic violence, or infection control regardless of specialty.

General ranges:

• No CE hours required: Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi (unless out of practice for more than five years), Missouri, and others. Some no-CE states, such as Arizona and South Dakota, require a minimum number of practice hours instead
• Choice of competency options (CE is one route): Georgia (30 CE hours or one of four alternatives such as certification or 500 practice hours), Hawaii (one learning activity such as 30 CE hours or national certification), Idaho (100 practice hours or 15 CE hours), Maryland (30 CE hours, 1,000 practice hours in five years, or a recent nursing degree), Oklahoma (24 CE hours, 520 work hours, or certification), Vermont (400 practice hours in two years or 960 in five, 20 CE hours, national certification, or a nursing program completed within five years), Virginia (30 CE hours, or 15 CE hours plus 640 practice hours)
• Fewer than 24 hours per cycle: Arkansas (15), Massachusetts (15), Rhode Island (10), North Dakota (12), West Virginia (12), Texas (20), and Kentucky (14 every year)
• 24–30 CE hours: Most CE states fall in this range, including Minnesota (24 RN / 12 LPN), Michigan (25), and California (30)
• Specialty requirements: Florida’s 24 hours must include prevention of medical errors (2), Florida laws and rules (2), and human trafficking (2), plus recognizing impairment in the workplace (2) every other renewal, domestic violence (2) every third renewal, and a one-time HIV/AIDS hour before the first renewal

Always verify current requirements with your state board – CE requirements change, and the figures above may not reflect recent updates.

What happens if your license lapses

A lapsed license is not a suspended license, but practicing with an expired license is illegal and can result in discipline. Most state boards have a reinstatement or reactivation process:

• Lapsed under 1 year: Typically requires back renewal fee, late penalty, and any outstanding CE
• Lapsed 1–5 years: May require additional CE hours, competency verification, or a refresher course
• Lapsed 5+ years: Many states require a nursing refresher program (typically 80–120 hours didactic + clinical hours)

If your license has lapsed and you’re returning to practice, contact your state board directly before doing anything else.

Nursing boards by state

The information below was compiled from each state board. Fees and CE requirements change periodically. The fee lines for California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington were taken from each board’s own fee page on October 27, 2026, those for Georgia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and New Jersey on October 28, 2026, and those for Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming on October 29, 2026; each names its source; Arizona’s entry gives the statutory maximums, Missouri’s gives no first-time examination fee because none is published, and the entries for Colorado and the District of Columbia list no figure because we could not confirm one from an official source; where a board’s page did not give a renewal fee, the entry says “check the board”. Fee figures for the other states have not been rechecked recently, so verify them directly with your state board before applying or renewing. The renewal-cycle and CE entries for Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia were re-verified against board sources in October 2026.

Alabama State Board of Nursing

Address: 770 Washington Avenue RSA Plaza, Suite 250 Montgomery, AL 36130-3900 Phone: (334) 293-5200

Fees (Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-4-.14, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $125 single-state, $225 multistate License renewal (every two years), RN: $100 single-state, $200 multistate Reinstatement of a lapsed license, RN: $250 single-state, $350 multistate

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 24 contact hours for every renewal period

Alaska State Board of Nursing

Address: Dept. of Comm. & Econ. Development Div. of Occupational Licensing 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 269-8161

Fees (12 AAC 02.280, checked October 29, 2026): RN application: $200 (not refundable), plus a $100 license fee for the initial two-year license period; fingerprint processing is charged separately License renewal (every two years), RN: $200 ($100 late renewal penalty)

Continuing Education Requirements: Two of the following: 30 contact hours 30 hours of professional nursing activities 320 hours of nursing employment

Arizona State Board of Nursing

Address: 4747 N. 7th St. Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85014 Phone: (602) 771-7800

Fees (A.R.S. § 32-1643, checked October 29, 2026): Arizona law caps the RN initial application fee at $150, a first NCLEX sitting at $150, and on-time renewal (every four years) at $160, with a $50-per-month late fee up to $200 after expiration. The board sets the actual amounts each year within those limits, and we could not confirm them from the board’s fee page, so check azbn.gov before you pay.

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Arkansas State Board of Nursing

Address: University Tower Building 1123 S. University, Suite 800 Little Rock, AR 72204-1619 Phone: (501) 686-2700

Fees (ASBN fee page, checked October 29, 2026): RN license by examination: $100 RN license by endorsement: $125 (temporary permit $30) License renewal (every two years, by birth date), RN: $100, plus a $100 late renewal penalty

Continuing Education Requirements: 15 practice-focused continuing education contact hours, or a current nationally recognized certification, or a minimum of one college credit course in nursing with a grade of C or better during the licensure period.

California State Board of Registered Nursing

Address: 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 150 PO Box 944210 Sacramento, CA 95834 Phone: (916) 322-3350

Fees (BRN fee schedule, checked October 27, 2026): RN examination application, California graduate: $300 RN endorsement application, from another US state: $350 License renewal (every two years), RN: $190

Continuing Education Requirements: 30 contact hours per renewal period

Colorado State Board of Nursing

Address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, Colorado 80202 Phone: (303) 894-2430

Fees: We could not confirm Colorado’s current RN application and renewal fees from an official Division of Professions and Occupations source in October 2026, so no figure is listed here. Check the fee shown in the DPO online licensing portal before you apply or renew.

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing

Address: Dept. of Public Health 410 Capitol Avenue PO Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134 Phone: (860) 509-8000

Fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-93, 20-94 and 19a-88; DPH fee list, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $180 License renewal (annual, during your birth month), RN: $110 Reinstatement of a lapsed license, RN: $180

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Delaware State Board of Nursing

Address: Cannon Building 861 Silver Lake Blvd. Cannon Building, Suite 203 Dover, DE 19904 Phone: (302) 744-4500

Fees (Delaware Division of Professional Regulation fee page, checked October 29, 2026): RN application: $181 (not refundable); temporary permit $40; reinstatement $272 License renewal, RN: the Division does not publish the amount and shows it when you renew; a late renewal costs 50% more than the renewal fee

Continuing Education Requirements: 30 contact hours every renewal period

District of Columbia State Board of Nursing

Address: Department of Health 899 N. Capitol Street, N.E., 1st Floor Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 442-5955

Fees: We could not confirm the District’s current RN application and renewal fees from a DC Health or DC Municipal Regulations source in October 2026, so no figure is listed here. Check the fee shown when you apply or renew through the DC Board of Nursing online portal.

Continuing Education Requirements: 24 contact hours for RNs and 18 contact hours for LPNs every renewal period

Florida State Board of Nursing

Address: 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C01 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3251 Phone: (850) 488-0595

Fees (FL BON RN/LPN page, checked October 27, 2026): RN examination or MOBILE endorsement application and licensing fee: $110 License renewal: check the board

Continuing Education Requirements: 24 contact hours every renewal period, including 2 hours on prevention of medical errors, 2 hours on Florida laws and rules, and 2 hours on human trafficking 2 hours on recognizing impairment in the workplace every other renewal 2 hours of domestic violence education every third renewal (in addition to the 24 hours) 1 hour of HIV/AIDS education, one time, before the first renewal

Georgia State Board of Nursing

Address: 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217-3858 Phone: (478) 207-2440

Fees (Georgia Board of Nursing fee schedule, checked October 28, 2026): RN examination application: $40 RN endorsement application: $75 License renewal, RN: $65 ($75 late renewal); RN licenses expire January 31 (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 410-5-.01)

Continuing Education Requirements: One of five continuing competency options each renewal period: 30 contact hours of CE, current national certification, completion of an accredited academic nursing program, verification of at least 500 hours of licensed practice, or a Board-approved reentry program

Hawaii State Board of Nursing

Address: King Kalakaua Building 335 Merchant Street, Room 301 Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 586-3000

Fees (Hawaii Board of Nursing RN application form dated July 2026 and board renewal page, checked October 28, 2026): RN application by examination: $40 (not refundable); license fees, including the $60 Hawaii State Center for Nursing fee, are due after you pass the NCLEX License renewal (every two years, by June 30 of odd-numbered years), RN: $196 for active status in the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027 period

Continuing Education Requirements: One approved learning activity each two-year period (required since July 1, 2017), such as 30 contact hours of CE, national certification, a refresher course, or 120 hours as a preceptor

Idaho State Board of Nursing

Address: Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses 11341 W. Chinden Blvd., Building 4 Boise, ID 83714 Phone: (208) 334-3233

Fees (Idaho DOPL Board of Nursing fee table and IDAPA 24.34.01.400, checked October 29, 2026): RN license by examination or endorsement: $102, including the $32 fingerprint processing fee; temporary license $25 License renewal (every two years, expires August 31 of odd-numbered years), RN: $70

Continuing Education Requirements: At least 100 hours of practice or 15 contact hours of CE within the two-year renewal period (first renewal after licensure by examination is exempt)

Illinois Department of Professional Regulation

Address: James R. Thompson Center 100 West Randolph, 9th Floor Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: (312) 814-4500

Fees (IDFPR RN user guide, checked October 27, 2026): RN examination application: $98 RN endorsement application: $50 (temporary permit $25 extra) License renewal: check the board

Continuing Education Requirements: LPN: 20 hours of approved continuing education RN: 20 hours of approved continuing education APN: 50 hours of approved continuing education

Indiana State Board of Nursing

Address: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency 402 W. Washington Street, Room W072 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: (317) 232-2960

Fees (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency nursing fee schedule, checked October 29, 2026): RN application (examination or endorsement): $50 (not refundable); multistate (NLC) license $25 extra; temporary permit $10 License renewal (every two years, expires October 31 of odd-numbered years), RN: $50, or $100 if the license has expired

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Iowa Board of Nursing

Address: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100 Des Moines, IA 50321 Phone: (515) 380-7308

Fees (Iowa Board of Nursing “Fees and Fee Waivers” page, checked October 29, 2026): RN license by examination: $143 ($93 application plus $50 criminal background check) RN license by endorsement: $169 ($119 application plus $50 criminal background check) License renewal (every three years, by the 15th of your birth month), RN: $99; late renewal $149

Continuing Education Requirements: For renewal of a three-year license: 36 contact hours. For renewal of a license issued for less than three years: 24 contact hours.

Kansas State Board of Nursing

Address: Landon State Office Bldg. 900 SW Jackson, Suite 1051 Topeka, KS 66612-1230 Phone: (785) 296-4929

Fees (Kansas State Board of Nursing “Agency Fees” page, K.A.R. 60-4-101, checked October 29, 2026): RN license application: $100 single-state, $125 multistate (not refundable), plus a $57 KBI background check License renewal (every two years), RN: $85

Continuing Education Requirements: 30 contact hours each renewal period for nurses at all levels of practice.

Kentucky Board of Nursing

Address: 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40222 Phone: (502) 429-3300

Fees (201 KAR 20:240 and Kentucky Board of Nursing fee list, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $125 RN licensure by endorsement: $165 License renewal (annual, November 1–October 31 licensure period), RN: $65, which is the $55 renewal fee plus $10 in statutory fees for the Nursing Incentive Scholarship Fund and the KARE program Reinstatement, RN: $135

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 14 contact hours each annual licensure period (or an approved alternative such as 7 contact hours plus a satisfactory employment evaluation, or national certification). One-time mandatory topics include domestic violence (3 hours, within 3 years of licensure), pediatric abusive head trauma (1.5 hours), suicide prevention, and implicit bias.

Louisiana State Board of Nursing

Address: 17373 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, LA 70810 Phone: (225) 755-7500

Fees: Initial licensing fee, RN: $100 examination or endorsement application, plus a $10 fingerprint fee (LAC 46:XLVII.3341) License renewal (annual, renewal season October 1–December 31), RN: $100, plus a $50 late fee after December 31; unrenewed licenses expire January 31 (LSBN)

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: 5, 10, or 15 contact hours every year, based on employment status

Maine State Board of Nursing

Address: 161 Capitol Street 158 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0158 Phone: (207) 287-1133

Fees (Maine State Board of Nursing “Fees & Fines” page, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $75 License renewal (every two years, on or before your birthday), RN: $75

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Maryland State Board of Nursing

Address: 4140 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215-2254 Phone: (410) 585-1900

Fees (Maryland Board of Nursing fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $187 RN licensure by endorsement: $230 License renewal (every two years), active RN: $191, which includes a $26 Maryland Health Care Commission fee

Continuing Education Requirements: One of: 30 contact hours of CE in the two years before renewal, 1,000 hours of active practice in the five years before renewal, or completion of a Board-approved nursing degree program in the past five years

Massachusetts State Board of Nursing

Address: Board of Registration in Nursing 239 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02114 Phone: (617) 973-0900

Fees (Mass.gov reciprocity page, checked October 27, 2026): RN license by reciprocity (endorsement): $275, plus $30 license verification per license License renewal: check the board

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 15 contact hours every renewal period

Michigan Board of Nursing

Address: Ottawa Towers North 611 W. Ottawa, 4th Floor Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 373-9280

Fees (LARA nursing licensing guide, checked October 27, 2026): RN by examination or endorsement (application plus 2-year license): $212.90 License renewal, RN: $131

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 25 contact hours every renewal period

Minnesota State Board of Nursing

Address: 2829 University Avenue SE Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (612) 617-2270

Fees (MN Board of Nursing fee page, fees effective January 1, 2019, checked October 27, 2026): RN application for licensure by examination or endorsement: $105 Registration renewal, RN: $85

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: 24 contact hours every renewal period LPNs: 12 contact hours every renewal period

Mississippi Board of Nursing

Address: 713 Pear Orchard Road, Plaza II, Suite 300 Ridgeland, MS 39157 Phone: (601) 957-6300

Fees (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 2880, Rule 1.1, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $100, plus $75 for fingerprinting and a criminal background check (not refundable) License renewal (every two years; RN licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years), active RN: $100

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Missouri State Board of Nursing

Address: 3605 Missouri Boulevard (express mail, Jefferson City, MO 65109) P.O. Box 656 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0656 Phone: (573) 751-0681

Fees (20 CSR 2200-4.010, as amended effective May 30, 2024, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by endorsement: $105 RN licensure by examination: the fee rule lists a $40 reexamination fee but no first-time examination application fee, and the board does not publish one online, so check the amount when you apply License renewal (every two years; RN licenses expire April 30 of odd-numbered years), RN: $85

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Montana Board of Nursing

Address: 301 South Park Avenue, 4th Floor PO Box 200513 Helena, MT 59620-0513 Phone: (406) 444-6880

Fees (Montana Board of Nursing RN license page and RN application checklists, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $100 RN licensure by endorsement: $200 License renewal (every two years, by December 31 of odd or even years depending on your license), RN: $100

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: 24 contact hours every renewal period

Nebraska Health and Human Services System

Address: DHHS Licensure Unit, Nursing Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South, 3rd Floor PO Box 94986 Lincoln, NE 68509-5026 Phone: (402) 471-4376

Fees (172 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 2, § 002, checked October 29, 2026): Initial RN license (by examination or endorsement): $123 License renewal (every two years, by October 31 of even-numbered years), RN: $123

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: 20 contact hours every renewal period

Nevada State Board of Nursing

Address: License Certification and Education 4220 S. Maryland Parkway Suite B300 Las Vegas, NV 89119

Fees (NSBN fee schedule dated 1/2023, checked October 27, 2026): RN by examination or endorsement: $100 License renewal, RN: $100

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 30 contact hours every renewal period

New Hampshire State Board of Nursing

Address: Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 7 Eagle Square Concord, NH 03301 Phone: (603) 271-2152 (OPLC customer support)

Fees (NH OPLC Board of Nursing license fees page, checked October 28, 2026): RN application: $116, including the mandatory $28 Professional Health Program fee License renewal, RN: $116, including the $28 Professional Health Program fee

Continuing Education Requirements: All nurses: 30 contact hours every renewal period

New Jersey State Board of Nursing

Address: P.O. Box 45010 Newark, NJ 07101 Phone: (973) 504-6430

Fees (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.5, checked October 28, 2026): RN application: $75, plus a $120 initial license fee (by endorsement: the same two fees plus $30 for endorsement verification) License renewal (every two years), RN: $120 for an active license

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 30 contact hours every renewal period

New Mexico State Board of Nursing

Address: 6301 Indian School Road NE Suite 710 Albuquerque, NM 87110 Phone: (505) 841-8340

Fees (16.12.2.8 NMAC and board fees page, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $150 (not refundable) License renewal (every two years, by the end of your renewal month), RN: $110 Late renewal, lapsed or inactive license (includes the renewal fee), RN: $200

Continuing Education Requirements: All nurses: 30 contact hours every renewal period

New York State Board of Nursing

Address: State Education Building 89 Washington Avenue 2nd Floor West Wing Albany, NY 12234 Phone: (518) 474-3817 Ext. 120

Fees (NYSED license requirements page, checked October 27, 2026): Licensure and first registration, RN: $143 (limited permit $35) Registration renewal: check the board

Continuing Education Requirements: 2-hour course on child abuse (one-time requirement for registration) 4-hour course on infection control every four years

North Carolina State Board of Nursing

Address: 4516 Lake Boone Trail Raleigh, NC 27607 Mailing: PO Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602 Phone: (919) 782-3211

Fees (North Carolina Board of Nursing fee schedule, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $75 RN licensure by endorsement: $150 License renewal (every two years, by the last day of your birth month), RN: $100

Continuing Education Requirements: All nurses: 30 contact hours every renewal period

North Dakota Board of Nursing

Address: 919 South 7th Street, Suite 504 Bismarck, ND 58504 Phone: (701) 751-3000

Fees (N.D. Admin. Code ch. 54-02-01, 54-02-05 and 54-02-06, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $125 RN licensure by endorsement: $150 License renewal (every two years, by December 31), RN: $140

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 12 contact hours every renewal period

Ohio State Board of Nursing

Address: 17 South High Street, Suite 400 Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-6940

Fees (Ohio Revised Code 4723.08, effective December 29, 2023, checked October 27, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $75 License renewal: check the board

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: 24 contact hours per renewal period

Oklahoma State Board of Nursing

Address: 2501 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 207 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Mail: P.O. Box 52926, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 Phone: (405) 962-1800

Fees (OAC 485:10-1-3, rules effective July 11, 2026, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure examination fee: $85 (cost of the national exam charged separately) RN endorsement fee: $85 License renewal (every two years), RN: $75 Reinstatement of a lapsed license: renewal fee plus $40

Continuing Education Requirements: One continuing qualifications option per two-year period: 24 contact hours of CE, at least 520 hours of nursing employment, current specialty certification, a Board-approved refresher course, or 6 semester credit hours of nursing coursework

Oregon State Board of Nursing

Address: 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road Portland, OR 97224-7012 Phone: (971) 673-0685

Fees (OAR 851-002-0010, effective August 22, 2026, checked October 27, 2026): RN license by endorsement: $295, plus $9 Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund surcharge License renewal, RN: $245, plus $8 and $9 surcharges

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs: Complete the one-time Pain Management continuing education requirement

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Address: PO Box 2649 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 Phone: (717) 783-7142

Fees (PA Department of State RN licensure snapshot, checked October 27, 2026): RN single-state license, Pennsylvania graduate: $95 ($115 for an out-of-state graduate) RN licensure by endorsement: $120 License renewal (every two years), RN: $122

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: 30 contact hours every renewal period; LPNs: None

Rhode Island State Board of Nursing

Department of Health Three Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 Phone: (401) 222-5960

Fees (216-RICR-10-05-2.9, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination or endorsement: $135; LPN: $45 License renewal (every two years, by March 1), RN: $135; LPN: $45

Continuing Education Requirements: All nurses: 10 contact hours every renewal period

South Carolina State Board of Nursing

Address: Synergy Business Park Kingstree Building 110 Centerview Drive Columbia, SC 29210 Phone: (803) 896-4550

Fees (South Carolina Board of Nursing fee page, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination (without temporary license): $90 RN licensure by endorsement (without temporary license): $100 License renewal (every two years, by April 30 of even-numbered years), RN: $75

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: 30 contact hours every renewal period

South Dakota Board of Nursing

Address: 4305 South Louise Ave., Suite 201 Sioux Falls, SD 57106-3115 Phone: (605) 362-2760

Fees (S.D. Admin. R. 20:48:06:01, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $100, plus the NCLEX fee paid to the testing service RN licensure by endorsement: $100 License renewal (every two years, on your birth date), RN: $115 ($95 plus $10 for the nursing scholarship program and $10 for the nursing workforce center)

Continuing education requirements: None

Tennessee Board of Nursing

Address: 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: (615) 532-5166 or 1-800-778-4123

Fees (Tennessee Board of Nursing fee table for applications on or after April 8, 2026, checked October 29, 2026; includes the state regulatory fee): RN licensure by examination: $150 RN licensure by endorsement: $150 License renewal (every two years, by the last day of your birth month), RN: $140

Continuing Education Requirements: No CE hours required; license renewal requires proof of continued competence.

Texas Board of Nurse Examiners

Address: 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460 Austin, TX 78701 Phone: (512) 305-7400

Fees (Texas BON schedule of fees, checked October 27, 2026): RN examination application: $75 (jurisprudence exam included) RN endorsement application: $150 (jurisprudence exam included); FBI/DPS background check fee charged separately License renewal (every two years), RN: $68

Continuing Education Requirements: 20 contact hours per renewal period

Utah State Board of Nursing

Address: Heber M. Wells Building 160 East 300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone: (801) 530-6628 (Division of Professional Licensing)

Fees (DOPL fee schedule for the current fiscal year, checked October 29, 2026): RN application: $60; fingerprints are required License renewal (every two years; RN licenses expire January 31 of odd-numbered years), RN: $68

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs: Have practiced at least 400 hours during the two years preceding renewal, or completed 30 contact hours, or practiced at least 200 hours and completed 15 contact hours during the two years preceding renewal.

Vermont State Board of Nursing

Address: Office of Professional Regulation 89 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05602 Phone: (802) 828-1505

Fees (26 V.S.A. § 1577 and the Office of Professional Regulation fee chart, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $75 RN licensure by endorsement: $175 under the statute ($150 on OPR’s fee chart, updated July 1, 2025); a multistate license adds $100 License renewal (every two years), RN: $220

Continuing Education Requirements: No set CE hours; at renewal, meet one option: 400 practice hours in the last two years (or 960 in the last five), 20 contact hours of CE in the last two years, a recognized nursing certification, or a nursing program completed in the last five years

Virginia Board of Nursing

Address: Department of Health Professions, Perimeter Center 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300 Henrico, VA 23233-1463 Phone: (804) 367-4515 (Nursing Call Center)

Fees (18VAC90-19-30, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $190 RN licensure by endorsement: $190 License renewal (every two years, by the last day of your birth month), RN: $140

Continuing Education Requirements: Every two years, either 30 contact hours of CE or 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of active practice, or another approved option under 18VAC90-19-160

Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

Address: Department of Health PO Box 47890 Olympia, WA 98504-7864 Phone: (360) 236-4030

Fees (Washington State Board of Nursing fee page, checked October 27, 2026): RN initial application: $138 single-state, $203 multistate (includes $16 HEAL-WA and $8 WCN surcharges) License renewal (annual), RN: $138 single-state, $158 multistate

Continuing Education Requirements: RNs and LPNs renewing an active license: 96 hours of practice and 8 contact hours of CE in the year before renewal, including at least 2 hours on health equity. (The former 7-hour HIV/AIDS training requirement was repealed in February 2021.)

West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses

Address: 5001 MacCorkle Ave SW South Charleston, WV 25309 Phone: (304) 744-0900

Fees (West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses fee schedule, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $70 RN licensure by endorsement: $125 (includes a temporary permit) License renewal (every two years, May 1 to June 30 of even-numbered years), RN: $90

Continuing Education Requirements: 12 contact hours per two-year renewal period; newly licensed RNs complete 3 hours on safe prescribing and drug diversion within their first year

Wisconsin Board of Nursing

Address: Department of Safety and Professional Services 4822 Madison Yards Way Madison, WI 53705 Phone: (608) 266-2112

Fees (DSPS credential fees and renewal dates table, checked October 29, 2026): RN initial license (examination or endorsement): $73 License renewal (every two years, by the end of February in even-numbered years), RN: $73

Continuing Education Requirements: None

Wyoming State Board of Nursing

Address: 130 Hobbs Avenue, Suite B Cheyenne, WY 82002 Phone: (307) 777-7601

Fees (Wyoming State Board of Nursing rules, Chapter 5, effective May 26, 2026, checked October 29, 2026): RN licensure by examination: $130 RN licensure by endorsement: $135 DCI background check: $60 License renewal (every two years; licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years), RN: $110, waived for renewals from October 1 through December 31, 2026

Continuing Education Requirements: 20 contact hours, or 500 practice hours every two years, or 1,600 practice hours every five years, or completion of a refresher program.

References

1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “2024 NCLEX Examination Statistics,” NCSBN Research Brief Volume 94, July 2025.
2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Next Generation NCLEX (NGN),” NCSBN, 2023 (launched April 1, 2023).
3. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM),” NCSBN, 2023.
4. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC),” Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators / nursecompact.com, 2026.
5. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) Implementation,” NCSBN, effective January 19, 2018.
6. Pearson VUE, “NCLEX Candidate Bulletin and Examination Registration,” NCSBN / Pearson VUE, 2025.
7. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Nursys License Verification and QuickConfirm,” Nursys.com, 2026.
8. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Contact a U.S. Member” (board of nursing contacts and websites) and “Nurse Licensure Guidance” (state-specific licensure requirements tool), NCSBN, accessed October 2026. https://www.ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page; https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/licensure/nurse-licensure-guidance.page
9. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “The 2011 Uniform Licensure Requirements,” NCSBN, 2011, Section C (Endorsement Requirements: verification of education, NCLEX passage and all nursing licenses). https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/12_ULR_table_adopted.pdf
10. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics,” NCSBN Research Brief Volume 96, June 2026, Table 1 (candidates by type, by quarter) and Table 8 (first-time US-educated candidates by degree type).
11. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “NCLEX-RN Test Plan” and “NCLEX-PN Test Plan,” effective April 2026 (85–150 items, five-hour limit, 95% confidence interval rule).
12. NCLEX, “Fees & Payment,” nclex.com, accessed October 2026 ($200 registration fee; $350 effective February 1, 2027).
13. Nurse Licensure Compact, “Moving Scenarios: Relocating to Another State,” nursecompact.com fact sheet (former home state multistate license deactivated when the new home state license is issued).
14. Florida Board of Nursing, “Registered Nurse Renewal” requirements, floridasnursing.gov, accessed October 2026.
15. Kentucky Board of Nursing, “Nursing Continuing Education” brochure (201 KAR 20:215; annual November 1–October 31 licensure period), kbn.ky.gov.
16. Washington State Board of Nursing, “Continuing Competency” and “AIDS Training Rules Repeal” (effective February 22, 2021), nursing.wa.gov.
17. Idaho Board of Nursing, IDAPA 24.34.01, Section 16, “Continued Competence Requirements,” dopl.idaho.gov; Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC90-19-160; Oklahoma Board of Nursing, “Continuing Qualifications for Practice” (license renewal), oklahoma.gov/nursing; Georgia Board of Nursing continuing competency rule; Hawaii Board of Nursing continuing competency requirement (effective July 1, 2017); Maryland COMAR 10.27.01.13.
18. NCLEX (NCSBN), “Exam Results,” nclex.com/results.page, accessed October 27, 2026 (official results are only available through the nursing regulatory body and are sent within six weeks after the exam; unofficial Quick Results two business days after the exam in participating jurisdictions).
19. California Board of Registered Nursing, “Processing Times” (updated 10/22/2026: examination applications 10–12 weeks; licensure by endorsement, US, 10–12 weeks; NCLEX-RN results 2–3 weeks), rn.ca.gov/times.shtml, accessed October 27, 2026.
20. Texas Board of Nursing, “Licensure” (processing time for licensing services is 15 working days from receipt of all required documents; past criminal behavior may lengthen it substantially) and “Temporary Update to Licensure Processing Timeframes” (temporarily extended to 20 business days), bon.texas.gov, accessed October 27, 2026.
21. Florida Board of Nursing, “Licensing: Processing Times” (application process may take between two to six months; deficiency letter within approximately 30 days), floridasnursing.gov/licensing/, accessed October 27, 2026.
22. State board fee pages, all accessed October 27, 2026: California BRN, “Fee Schedule,” rn.ca.gov/consumers/fees.shtml; Texas BON, “Initial Licensure and Recognition Forms – Schedule of Fees” (22 TAC Chapter 223), bon.texas.gov/forms_fees.asp.html; Florida BON, “Licensed Practical Nurse & Registered Nurse” (MOBILE endorsement $110), floridasnursing.gov/nurse-rn-lpn/; NYSED Office of the Professions, “Registered Professional Nursing: License Requirements,” op.nysed.gov; IDFPR, “(041) Registered Nurse User Guide,” idfpr.illinois.gov; Ohio Revised Code 4723.08 (effective December 29, 2023), codes.ohio.gov; Mass.gov, “Apply for a nursing license by reciprocity”; LARA, “Nursing Licensing Guide and FAQs,” michigan.gov/lara; Minnesota Board of Nursing, “Fees” (effective January 1, 2019), mn.gov/boards/nursing; Nevada State Board of Nursing, “Fee Schedule” (1/2023), nevadanursingboard.org; Oregon Administrative Rule 851-002-0010 (effective August 22, 2026), secure.sos.state.or.us; Pennsylvania Department of State, “Registered Nurse Licensure Requirements Snapshot,” pa.gov; Washington State Board of Nursing, “Nurse License Fees,” nursing.wa.gov.
23. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 46, Part XLVII, §3341 “Fees for Registration and Licensure” (RN examination application $100, endorsement application $100, renewal application $100, late fee $50 plus renewal, fingerprint imprint $10; last amended LR 45:910, 7/1/2019), law.cornell.edu/regulations/louisiana/La-Admin-Code-tit-46-SS-XLVII-3341; Louisiana State Board of Nursing, “Renewal FAQs” (renewal season October 1 through December 31; $50.00 late fee after December 31; licenses expire January 31 if not renewed), lsbn.state.la.us/renewal-faqs/, both accessed October 27, 2026.
24. Georgia Board of Nursing, “Georgia Board of Nursing Fee Schedule” (exam application $40, endorsement $75, reinstatement $90, license renewal $65, late renewal $75), sos.ga.gov (file dated August 2019, retrieved via the Internet Archive capture of September 7, 2025); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 410-5-.01, “Licensure Renewal (RN)” (licenses expire January 31; late renewal through the last day of February), rules.sos.ga.gov; New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, “Board of Nursing License Fees” (RN application, renewal and reinstatement $116 each, including the mandatory $28 Professional Health Program fee), oplc.nh.gov/board-nursing-license-fees; all accessed October 28, 2026.
25. Hawaii Board of Nursing (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing), “Board of Nursing” renewal information (renew by June 30 every odd-numbered year; on-time cost to renew an active RN license $196 for July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027) and RN/LPN license-by-exam application form (PVL_Form_Nursing_RN_LPN_By_Exam_License_Application_2026-07.pdf, July 2026; RN application fee $40, license fees due after passing the exam; Center for Nursing fee $60 under Act 66, SLH 2022, effective July 1, 2022), cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing/; New Jersey Administrative Code § 13:37-5.5, “Fee schedule” (application $75, initial license $120, endorsement verification $30, biennial active renewal $120), law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-13-37-5-5; all accessed October 28, 2026.
26. New Mexico Administrative Code 16.12.2.8, “Fees” (RN licensure by examination, expedited or endorsement $150; RN license renewal $110; inactive license renewal including late renewal, lapsed status and reactivation $200; fees not refundable; 16.12.2.8 NMAC, Rp 12/13/2022) and 16.12.2.9 (licenses renewed by the end of the renewal month every two years), srca.nm.gov/parts/title16/16.012.0002.html; New Mexico Board of Nursing, “Fees,” bon.nm.gov/fees/; Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-1643, “Fees; penalties” (maximum fees the board may set: initial RN application $150, first NCLEX sitting $150, renewal before expiration $160, renewal after expiration $160 plus $50 per month lapsed up to $200), azleg.gov/ars/32/01643.htm; all accessed October 29, 2026.
27. Oklahoma Administrative Code 485:10-1-3, “Fees” (RN/LPN licensure examination fee $85 plus cost of national examination; endorsement fee $85; biennial RN/LPN license renewal $75; reinstatement of lapsed license renewal fee plus $40), in Oklahoma Board of Nursing, “Title 485 Rules” (unofficial agency copy of rules effective July 11, 2026), oklahoma.gov/nursing/title-485-rules.html; Utah Division of Professional Licensing, “Division of Professional Licensing Fee Schedule” (interactive schedule for the current fiscal year: Registered Nurse application $60.00, renewal $68.00), commerce.utah.gov/dopl/dopl-fee-schedule/, and “Renew a License: Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse” (RN licenses expire January 31 of odd years), commerce.utah.gov/dopl/nursing/; all accessed October 29, 2026.
28. Alabama Administrative Code r. 610-X-4-.14, “Fees” (single-state RN licensure by examination or endorsement $125, multistate $225; biennial renewal $100 single-state, $200 multistate; reinstatement of a lapsed license $250 single-state, $350 multistate; fees not refundable; last amended effective September 14, 2024), admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/rule/610-X-4-.14; Alaska Administrative Code 12 AAC 02.280, “Board of Nursing: fees for nurses and advanced practice registered nurses” (nonrefundable RN application fee $200; initial biennial license fee $100; biennial renewal $200; late renewal penalty $100), akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp; Arkansas State Board of Nursing, “ASBN – Fees” (RN license by examination $100, by endorsement $125, renewal $100, late renewal penalty $100, temporary permit $30) and “ASBN – Renewal of Arkansas License” (staggered biennial birth-date renewal), healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/nursing-arkansas-state-board/; all accessed October 29, 2026.
29. Connecticut General Statutes § 20-93 (RN licensure by examination, fee $180) and § 20-94 (licensure without examination for an RN licensed in another state, fee $180), cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_378.htm, and § 19a-88(c)(1) (RNs register annually during their birth month on payment of $110), cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_368a.htm; Connecticut Department of Public Health, “Registered Nurse Licensure” (initial application $180, renewal $110, reinstatement $180), portal.ct.gov/dph; Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Nursing, “Fees for License Applications” (registered nurse application $181, reinstatement $272, temporary permit $40; renewal amount notified at renewal; late fee 50% of the renewal fee), dpr.delaware.gov/boards/nursing/fees/; all accessed October 29, 2026.
30. Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, “Board of Nursing” (Board of Nursing license fees: RN license by exam, endorsement or reinstatement application $102 including the $32 fingerprint processing fee; RN license renewal $70; temporary license $25; RN licenses expire August 31 of odd years), dopl.idaho.gov/bon/, and IDAPA 24.34.01.400, “Initial License, Renewal and Reinstatement Fees” (maximum fees: RN license by exam not more than $90, by endorsement not more than $110, renewal not more than $90; effective July 1, 2026), adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/24/243401.pdf; Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, “Nursing Licensing Information” (fee schedule: application fee for LPN or RN licensure $50; NLC compact application $25; temporary permit $10; renewal $50, or $100 for an expired license; RN licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years), in.gov/pla/professions/nursing-home/nursing-licensing-information/; Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Board of Nursing, “Fees and Fee Waivers” (examination $143 including the $93 application fee and $50 criminal history background check; endorsement $169 including the $119 application fee and $50 background check; renewal $99 every three years; late renewal $149; reactivation $225), dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwifery/nursing-licensure/fees-and-fee-waivers; all accessed October 29, 2026.
31. Kansas State Board of Nursing, “Agency Fees” (Professional Nurses (RNs), K.A.R. 60-4-101: application for multi-state license $125, single-state license $100, biennial renewal $85, reinstatement $150; KBI background check $57 under K.S.A. 74-1112; applications not refundable under K.S.A. 74-1108), ksbn.kansas.gov/fees/; 201 KAR 20:240, “Fees for applications and services” (RN licensure by endorsement $165, by examination $125, renewal $55, reinstatement $135, plus the renewal fees set by KRS 314.027(2) and 314.171(4); effective July 30, 2025), apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/201/020/240/; Kentucky Board of Nursing, “Fees for Licensure Applications and Services” (RN renewal $65, including $5 each to the Nursing Incentive Scholarship Fund and the Kentucky Alternative Recovery Effort; revised 12/25), kbn.ky.gov; all accessed October 29, 2026.
32. Maine State Board of Nursing, “Fees & Fines” (RN exam $75, RN endorsement $75, RN renewal $75, RN reactivation $75, RN reinstatement $85) and “License FAQs” (after the first renewal, licenses renew every two years on or before the licensee’s birthday), maine.gov/boardofnursing/licensure/; Maryland Board of Nursing, “2025 Nurse Fee Schedule Update” (effective July 1, 2025: RN or LPN examination and re-examination $187, endorsement $230, temporary license $70, biennial active RN renewal $191 including the $26 Maryland Health Care Commission fee), health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/2025-nurse-fee-schedule-update.aspx; Mississippi Board of Nursing, Mississippi Administrative Code Title 30, Part 2880, Rule 1.1, “Fees Established” (RN examination $100, RN endorsement $100, active renewal $100, fingerprinting and criminal background checks $75; fees nonrefundable; source Miss. Code Ann. § 73-15-17), msbn.ms.gov/laws-rules/administrative-code, and “Frequently Asked Questions” (RN licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years); all accessed October 29, 2026.
33. Missouri Code of State Regulations, 20 CSR 2200-4.010, “Fees” (reexamination RN $40; application for license by endorsement RN $105; biennial RN renewal $85 effective July 1, 2021; RN licenses expire April 30 of each odd-numbered year; fees include a $5 per year educational surcharge for professional nurses; all fees nonrefundable; last amended effective May 30, 2024), text via law.cornell.edu/regulations/missouri/20-CSR-2200-4-010 (the Secretary of State copy at sos.mo.gov was not retrievable); Missouri State Board of Nursing contact details, pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp; Montana Board of Nursing, “Registered Nurse (RN)” license information (renewal every other year by December 31; renewal fee $100), boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nursing/license-information/rn, and “RN by Examination” and “RN by Endorsement” application checklists ($100 and $200 application fees), boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/nur/rn-exam-app-checklist.pdf and rn-license-app-checklist.pdf; all accessed October 29, 2026.
34. 172 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 2, § 002, “Credentialing Fees” (credentials renewed biennially; Registered Nurse initial $123, renewal $123; amended effective 9/15/2020), law.cornell.edu/regulations/nebraska/172-Neb-Admin-Code-ch-2-SS-002, and Nebraska DHHS, “Nurse Licensing” and “Nurse Licensing Renewal and Continuing Education” (RN licenses expire October 31 of each even-numbered year; Licensure Unit phone (402) 471-4376, PO Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-5026), dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Licensing.aspx; North Carolina Board of Nursing, “Fee Schedule” (examination, initial, RN and LPN $75; endorsement into state, RN and LPN $150; renewal of license, RN and LPN, 2 years $100; last changed September 29, 2026), ncbon.com/fee-schedule, and “RN/LPN Renewal” (renew by the last day of your birth month), ncbon.com/rnlpn-renewal; N.D. Admin. Code § 54-02-01-06 (licensure by examination fee $125), § 54-02-06-01 (nonrefundable endorsement fee $150; amended effective April 1, 2024) and §§ 54-02-05-02 and 54-02-05-03 (licenses valid for two calendar years, renewal before December 31 of the second year; RN renewal fee $140, amended effective July 1, 2020), ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/; North Dakota Board of Nursing contact page, ndbon.org/contact/; all accessed October 29, 2026.
35. Rhode Island Department of Health, 216-RICR-10-05-2.9, fee schedule (Professional (Registered) Nurse: initial application by examination $135, endorsed/reciprocal $135, renewal $135; Licensed Practical Nurse: examination $45, endorsed/reciprocal $45, renewal $45; amended effective 5/14/2025), law.cornell.edu/regulations/rhode-island/216-RICR-10-05-2.9, and R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-34-19 (licenses expire on March 1 of every other year), webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-34/5-34-19.htm; South Carolina Board of Nursing, “Fees” (RN examination without temporary license $90, with temporary license $100; endorsement without temporary license $100, with temporary license $110; RN/LPN renewals $75), llr.sc.gov/nurse/fees.aspx, and “Nursing Renewals” (renewals submitted after April 30, 2026 are subject to reinstatement requirements; board phone (803) 896-4550), llr.sc.gov/nurse/renewals.aspx; all accessed October 29, 2026.
36. S.D. Admin. R. 20:48:06:01, “Registered nurse fees” (license by examination $100 plus the current fee for a nationally administered examination; license by endorsement $100; biennial renewal $95 plus $10 for the nurses’ education assistance scholarship program and $10 for the nursing workforce center; amended effective August 3, 2026), and S.D. Admin. R. 20:48:03:10 (licenses expire biennially on the licensee’s birth date), sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative; South Dakota Board of Nursing contact page (4305 S. Louise Ave., Suite 201, Sioux Falls; 605-362-2760), sdbon.org/contact/; Tennessee Board of Nursing, “Board of Nursing” (fees including the state regulatory fee: Registered Nurse renewal $100 before April 8, 2026 and $140 on or after April 8, 2026; initial licensure on or after April 8, 2026, examination $150, re-exam $100, endorsement $150; nurses renew every two years; contact 615-532-5166 or 1-800-778-4123, 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243), tn.gov/health/licensure/nurs.html, which supersedes the older fee rule Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.02 (effective 10/8/2024) and the board’s 2019 fee schedule PDF; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.05 (renewal due by the last day of the licensee’s birth month under the biennial birth date renewal system); 26 V.S.A. § 1577, “Fees” (practical and registered nurses: application by exam $75, application by endorsement $175, biennial renewal for registered nurses $220; last amended 2023, No. 77), legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/26/028/01577; Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, “OPR Initial Licensing/Renewal Fees & Dates” (updated 7/1/2025: Registered Nurse renewal $220, $150 endorsement, $75 exam, plus $100 multistate specialty), outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/general/, “RN and LPN Renewal Instructions” (renewal options: 400 practice hours in two years or 960 in five, 20 CE hours in two years, a nationally recognized certification, or a nursing program within five years), and “Contact Us” (89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602; 802-828-1505), sos.vermont.gov/opr/; all accessed October 29, 2026.
37. 18VAC90-19-30, “Fees” (application for licensure by examination, RN $190; by endorsement, RN $190; biennial licensure renewal, RN $140; last amended effective March 3, 2021), law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section30/, and 18VAC90-19-150 (licensees renew by the last day of the birth month, in even years if born in an even year and odd years if born in an odd year), law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section150/; Virginia Board of Nursing, “Contact the Board” (Nursing Call Center 804-367-4515; Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463), dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/; West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses, “Fees and Waivers” (licensure by examination (RN) or re-examination $70; RN and APRN endorsement, including temporary permit, $125; RN renewal (biennial) $90, of which $20 supports nurse health programs), wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/fees-waivers, and “Renewals” (RN licenses renew May 1 to June 30 of even-numbered years; failure to renew by June 30 causes the license to lapse; 5001 MacCorkle Ave SW, South Charleston, WV 25309; 304-744-0900), wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/renewals; Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, “Credential Fees and Renewal Dates” (Registered Nurse, reg code 30: initial fee $73, renewal fee $73, renew by 02/29 of even years; $25 late fee after expiration), dsps.wi.gov/credentialing/credential-fees-and-renewal-dates/, and “Registered Nurse (RN)” (4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705; 608-266-2112), dsps.wi.gov; Wyoming State Board of Nursing Rules, Chapter 5, “Fees” (effective 05/26/2026: licensure by examination, RN $130; by endorsement, RN $135; renewal, RN $110; DCI background check $60; Section 3(c): licensees are not subject to renewal fees from October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026), and Chapter 2, “Licensure/Certification Requirements” (effective 10/01/2026; all licenses expire on December 31 of the renewal year; renewal cycle January 1 of every odd year to December 31 of every even year), linked from wsbn.wyo.gov, and WSBN “Announcements” (September 16, 2026: “Renewal fees will be waived this year”), wsbn.wyo.gov/announcements; all accessed October 29, 2026.