Getting your RN license involves the same core steps in every state – graduate from an accredited program, pass the NCLEX – but the fees, processing times, and additional requirements vary significantly. If you’re applying for a first license, endorsing into a new state, or evaluating whether the Nursing Licensure Compact changes your situation, the differences between states affect your timeline and your costs.
This guide summarizes the requirements that vary across states, including initial application fees, compact license eligibility, criminal background check requirements, and endorsement timelines.
At a glance:
- Every state requires NCLEX passage and graduation from a board-approved nursing program
- 40 states participate in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) and issue multistate licenses – a compact license covers all of them
- Board application fees for initial licensure run from under $100 to $350 depending on state and where you trained, on top of the $200 NCLEX registration fee and any fingerprinting fee
- Ten states plus Washington DC do not issue multistate licenses and require a separate state license – California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Massachusetts
- Many states issue licenses within days to a few weeks of a passing NCLEX result when the application is complete; fingerprint processing is the most common delay
- Most states now require fingerprint-based state and FBI criminal background checks (Nursys is a license-verification system, not a criminal background check)
How nursing licensure works in the US
Nursing licensure is regulated at the state level. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) sets the national exam standard (NCLEX), but each state board of nursing sets its own application requirements, fees, and processing procedures.
To become licensed as an RN in any state, you need to:
- Graduate from a nursing program approved by a state board of nursing
- Apply to the state board and pay the application fee
- Register with Pearson VUE and pay the $200 NCLEX exam fee
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
- Receive your license – often within days to a few weeks of a passing result, once your background check and school verification are complete
Once licensed, you maintain your license through renewal (typically every 2 years) and continuing education requirements set by your state.
The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC): the most important variable
Whether your state participates in the NLC is the single most consequential variable in nursing licensure, especially for nurses who travel, relocate, or work across state lines.
Under the NLC, a nurse who holds a license in a compact state holds a multistate license – valid in all 40 implemented compact states without additional applications or fees. This matters for travel nurses, remote telehealth nurses, and any nurse considering relocation.
To qualify for a multistate compact license, you must:
- Live (primary residence) in a compact state
- Meet the compact’s uniform licensure requirements, which include graduating from a board-approved program (or an equivalent program for internationally educated nurses), passing the NCLEX, passing fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background checks, having no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions related to nursing, not currently participating in an alternative-to-discipline program, and holding a Social Security number
- Hold a license in good standing with no discipline or encumbrances
If your primary state of residence is a compact state and you meet these requirements, your home-state board issues a multistate license when you are licensed. Nurses who hold an older single-state license, or who were licensed before their state joined, may need to submit an upgrade or conversion application to their board.
Current NLC compact states (40 implemented states as of 2026):
| State | NLC compact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | |
| Arizona | Yes | |
| Arkansas | Yes | |
| Colorado | Yes | |
| Connecticut | Yes | Implemented October 2025 |
| Delaware | Yes | |
| Florida | Yes | |
| Georgia | Yes | |
| Idaho | Yes | |
| Indiana | Yes | |
| Iowa | Yes | |
| Kansas | Yes | |
| Kentucky | Yes | |
| Louisiana | Yes | |
| Maine | Yes | |
| Maryland | Yes | |
| Mississippi | Yes | |
| Missouri | Yes | |
| Montana | Yes | |
| Nebraska | Yes | |
| New Hampshire | Yes | |
| New Jersey | Yes | |
| New Mexico | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Yes | |
| North Dakota | Yes | |
| Ohio | Yes | |
| Oklahoma | Yes | |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | |
| Rhode Island | Yes | |
| South Carolina | Yes | |
| South Dakota | Yes | |
| Tennessee | Yes | |
| Texas | Yes | |
| Utah | Yes | |
| Vermont | Yes | |
| Virginia | Yes | |
| Washington | Yes | |
| West Virginia | Yes | |
| Wisconsin | Yes | |
| Wyoming | Yes |
States outside the NLC (require separate license):
| State | NLC status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | No | |
| California | No | One of the largest nursing workforces in the US; requires separate CA BRN license |
| Hawaii | No | |
| Illinois | No | |
| Massachusetts | Enacted, not implemented | Passed NLC legislation; implementation date to be determined, so no multistate license is available yet |
| Michigan | No | NLC bills have been introduced but not enacted |
| Minnesota | No | NLC bills have been introduced but not enacted |
| New York | No | NLC bills have been introduced but not enacted |
| Nevada | No | |
| Oregon | No | |
| Washington DC | No | Not an NLC member |
For states with pending NLC status, check nursecompact.com for current implementation timelines – these can change.
Initial RN license requirements by state: fees and key differences
Board fees, background-check procedures, and temporary-permit rules change often, and many third-party fee lists (including earlier versions of this page) drift out of date. The table below lists figures checked against each board’s own published fees in September 2026 for several of the largest states. For any other state, and before you pay, confirm current fees directly with your state board.
| State | Board application fee (licensure by exam) | Temporary practice option |
|---|---|---|
| California | $300 (California program graduates); $350 (out-of-state US graduates); plus a $49 processing fee if fingerprinting by card | Optional $100 interim permit, valid 6 months or until your first NCLEX result |
| Texas | $75 (includes the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam); endorsement $150 | Graduate nurse (GN) permit for eligible exam applicants, practicing under direct supervision |
| Florida | $110 | Check with the board |
| New York | $143 (license and first registration) | Limited permit ($35) for eligible new graduates, requested with a New York employer |
| Pennsylvania | $95 (Pennsylvania program graduates); $115 (out-of-state graduates) | Check with the board |
Budget separately for the $200 NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE and for fingerprinting, which is charged by the vendor or state police agency and usually runs roughly $40–$90.
License by endorsement: moving to a new state
If you are a licensed RN moving to a new state – and you do not hold a compact multistate license that covers your destination – you need to apply for licensure by endorsement. This is not a new NCLEX. It is a transfer of your existing license credentials.
Standard endorsement process:
- Confirm your new state’s board of nursing requirements (fees, documentation, criminal background check requirements)
- Verify your existing license through Nursys (the national nurse license verification system used by most state boards)
- Submit the endorsement application and pay the state fee (typically $50–$200)
- Complete any additional state-specific requirements (fingerprints, English proficiency attestation for internationally educated nurses, CE documentation)
- Receive your new state license (typically 2–6 weeks after complete application)
Some states issue temporary practice permits while your application is processed – useful if you need to start work before full licensure is issued. Availability, eligibility, and fees change often, so check your destination state’s board website to confirm before relying on one.
If you hold a compact license and are relocating to another compact state, you must still apply for licensure by endorsement in your new home state, and the compact expects you to apply within 60 days of moving (with a Declaration of Primary State of Residence). You can keep practicing on your existing multistate license until the new home state issues its license, at which point the old one is inactivated. If your new home state is outside the NLC, you apply for a single-state license by endorsement, and your former multistate license converts to a single-state license in your old state.
For a detailed walkthrough of the endorsement process including Nursys verification, see our nursing license by endorsement guide.
Criminal history and nursing licensure
Every state runs a criminal background check as part of initial licensure and often for endorsement. Most use fingerprint-based checks through the FBI database; some rely on self-disclosed criminal history supplemented by state database searches.
A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from nursing licensure – but it does trigger a board review. Factors the board considers include:
- The nature and severity of the offense
- How long ago it occurred
- Evidence of rehabilitation
- Relevance to patient safety
Felony convictions, drug-related offenses, and offenses involving violence or fraud receive the most scrutiny. Minor misdemeanors from years ago often proceed without issue, but you should disclose everything the application asks about – omitting criminal history when asked is itself grounds for denial or revocation.
If you have a criminal history and are uncertain about your eligibility, contact the board of nursing in your state before investing time and money in a nursing program. Some states offer advisory opinions in advance of application. For a deeper review of how criminal history affects licensure, see our guide on nursing background checks and licensing.
Continuing education requirements by state
Most states require continuing education (CE) for license renewal. The amount and type varies considerably.
| CE hours required (per renewal cycle) | States |
|---|---|
| No general contact-hour requirement for RN renewal | Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, Montana (repealed in November 2023), New York (topic mandates only: infection control every 4 years and one-time child abuse reporting training) |
| 15–20 hours per 2 years | Arkansas (15 hours, or an alternative such as national certification), Texas (20 hours, or national certification) |
| 24 hours per 2 years | Alabama, Florida (including state-mandated topics), Ohio, Oklahoma (one of several continuing-qualification options) |
| 30 hours per 2 years | California, Kansas, New Jersey, Georgia and Wyoming (both allow alternatives such as documented practice hours) |
| 36 hours per 3 years | Iowa |
| Specialty-specific requirements | Many states require specific topics: infection control, substance abuse, implicit bias, domestic violence, human trafficking, or ethics |
CE requirements are separate from the NCLEX and apply only at renewal – typically every 2 years. Most states accept online CE from approved providers. Check your state board’s approved provider list before completing CE hours, as not all providers are accepted in all states.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work as a nurse in a state where I’m not licensed? No. You must hold an active, valid license in every state where you practice (the state where the patient is located), unless you hold a compact multistate license that covers that state. Practicing without a license is illegal under every state’s nurse practice act and can lead to fines, criminal charges, and disciplinary action that follows you into future license applications.
How long does it take to get an RN license after passing the NCLEX? Many candidates receive their license within days to a few weeks of passing. Processing times vary by state – some states process quickly, others take longer. States that require fingerprint-based background checks add processing time. Check your state board’s published processing time before making employment plans.
What’s the difference between a compact license and license by endorsement? A compact (NLC) multistate license automatically covers all 40 implemented compact states if you live in a compact state. License by endorsement is a separate application you submit to each new state you want to work in – you pay separate fees and wait for separate processing. Compact is faster and cheaper if you work or travel across multiple compact states.
Can I get an RN license in a state if I went to nursing school in a different state? Yes. You apply to the board of nursing in the state where you want to be licensed, not necessarily the state where you attended school. Your nursing program must be approved by the board of nursing in the state where it operates, but you are not required to license in your school’s state first. Some states add requirements for out-of-state or online program graduates, so check before applying.
What happens if my license lapses? A lapsed license means you cannot legally practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement requirements vary by state and by how long the license has been lapsed. Some states require CE completion; others may require re-examination after an extended lapse. See our nursing license reinstatement guide for state-specific reinstatement requirements.
Do I need a separate license for each state I want to work in as a travel nurse? If you hold a compact multistate license and your travel assignments are in compact states, no. If you travel to non-compact states (California, Illinois, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon), you must apply for endorsement in each. Most travel nursing contracts build in time for this, and many agencies provide license support assistance.
Next steps by situation
You’re a new graduate applying for your first license: Apply to your state board as soon as your school submits your graduation verification. Register with Pearson VUE and schedule your NCLEX. Many new graduates receive their license within days to a few weeks of passing.
You’re relocating to a new state: First check whether both your current and new states are in the NLC. If both are compact, you can keep working on your current multistate license, but you must apply for licensure by endorsement in your new home state (within 60 days of the move). If your new state is non-compact, apply for endorsement before your move date, because processing takes time.
You’re evaluating states for employment or relocation: Compact license eligibility, salary, and cost of living are the three most important variables. See our best states for nurses guide and nurse salary by state comparison for data on where nurses earn the most after adjusting for cost of living.
You’re a travel nurse managing multiple state licenses: The compact license should cover most of your compact-state assignments. For non-compact states, work with your agency – most provide license management support and may cover endorsement fees. Keep a spreadsheet of each license’s renewal date; letting a license lapse while on assignment creates a legal work stoppage.
For a full breakdown of the NLC compact states and how multistate licensing works in practice, see our nursing compact license guide.
References
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC): Current Member States,” nursecompact.com, 2026.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin,” ncsbn.org, 2026.
- Pearson VUE, “NCLEX Registration and Examination Fees,” pearsonvue.com/nclex, 2026.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Nursys License Verification,” nursys.com, 2026.
- California Board of Registered Nursing, “Initial Licensure and Interim Permit Requirements,” rn.ca.gov, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing, “Licensure Requirements and Fees,” bon.texas.gov, 2026.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “NLC Uniform Licensure Requirements for a Multistate License” and nursecompact.com FAQs (60-day endorsement requirement when changing primary state of residence), accessed September 2026.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Continuing Competence and Renewal Requirements by State,” ncsbn.org, 2026.
- New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, “How to Apply for Licensure – Registered Professional Nursing” ($143 license fee; limited permit), accessed September 2026.
- Montana Board of Nursing, repeal of continuing education requirements for license renewal (effective November 18, 2023); Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, “Continuing Education Basic Requirements” (36 contact hours per three-year cycle), accessed September 2026.