Initial RN licensure (license by examination) follows this process for most new graduates:
1. Apply to the State Board of Nursing. Submit the initial licensure application to the State Board of Nursing in the state where you plan to work first. Applications are submitted online through the state board's portal. Required documents typically include: completed nursing program verification (your school submits this directly to the board), official transcripts, application fee ($75–$250 depending on state), photo ID, and any required background check authorization.
2. Receive Authorization to Test (ATT). The State Board of Nursing processes your application and, when approved, sends your ATT. The ATT is your authorization to schedule the NCLEX — without it, you cannot register for the exam. ATT processing times vary from 2–8 weeks depending on state and application completeness. Incomplete applications (missing school verification, outstanding fees) delay the ATT.
3. Register for NCLEX with Pearson VUE. Once you have the ATT, register at pearsonvue.com/nclex to schedule your exam appointment. The NCLEX is administered at Pearson VUE testing centers nationwide. Registration fee: $200 (paid at registration, regardless of whether you pass or fail).
4. Pass the NCLEX-RN. The NCLEX uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) — the exam adjusts question difficulty based on your performance. The exam ends when the computer has determined with 95% confidence whether you are above or below the passing standard. Minimum 85 questions; maximum 145 questions. Results are typically available 48 business hours after testing via the Quick Results service (fee applies) or 6 weeks by mail.
5. License Issued. After passing, your license is issued by the State Board of Nursing and appears in the public license verification database. Processing after passing: typically 1–4 weeks. Most hospitals allow you to start orientation and complete non-clinical training while awaiting the license number, but you cannot practice independently until the license appears in the state database.
If you hold an active RN license in one state and want to practice in another state, you apply for licensure by endorsement — you don't retake the NCLEX. The endorsing state verifies your original license and NCLEX passage through NURSYS (the national nurse licensure database) and issues a new state license.
Endorsement requirements typically include: Active RN license in your current state (cannot endorse from an expired license); application and fee to the new state board; NURSYS verification or primary source verification of your original license; criminal background check (most states); any state-specific additional requirements (jurisprudence exam in some states — a short exam on that state's Nurse Practice Act).
Timeline: Endorsement processing ranges from 2–12 weeks depending on state. Some states offer temporary permits that allow you to work while the endorsement is processing; others require you to wait for the full license. If you are relocating for a new job, apply for endorsement immediately after accepting the offer — do not wait until after your move.
The Nurse Licensure Compact is an agreement among 41 states (as of 2026) that allows nurses who live in a compact state to hold one multistate license that is valid to practice in all compact member states — without applying for separate licenses in each state.
How the NLC works: You apply for your license in your state of legal residence (your "home state"). If your home state is a compact member, you receive a multistate license that allows practice in all other compact member states. To practice in a compact state where you do not live, you use your multistate license — no separate application, no additional fees, no waiting period. If you move your legal residence to a new compact state, you must apply for a new license in that state (it becomes your new home state) within 60–90 days.
States NOT in the NLC as of 2026 include: California, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Nevada, and others. Check the NCSBN website (ncsbn.org) for the current compact member state list — membership changes as new states legislate to join.
RN licenses must be renewed periodically — renewal cycles are 2 years in most states, though some states use 1-year or 3-year cycles. Renewal requires: the renewal application (submitted online through your state board portal), the renewal fee ($30–$150 depending on state), and completion of required continuing education hours.
| State Example | Renewal Cycle | CE Hours Required | Specific CE Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2 years | 30 hours | Includes mandatory CE: pain management, end-of-life care, cultural competency, geriatrics |
| Texas | 2 years | 20 hours | Includes: 2 hrs jurisprudence (TX NPA), 2 hrs nursing ethics |
| New York | 3 years | None (no CE requirement) | NY has no CE requirement for RN renewal — one of the few states with this policy |
| Florida | 2 years | 24 hours | Includes: 2 hrs medical errors, 1 hr domestic violence, 2 hrs HIV/AIDS; 3 hrs laws and rules for first renewal |
| Washington | 2 years | 45 hours | Continuing competency model — can include education, professional development, and practice hours |
CE requirements are state-specific and change over time — always verify your state board's current requirements directly.
A lapsed or expired license means you are not legally permitted to practice nursing. Working with an expired license is practicing without a license — a violation of the Nurse Practice Act that can result in civil and criminal liability, and will almost certainly result in board investigation and disciplinary action if discovered.
Most states have a grace period (30–90 days after the expiration date) during which you can still renew with a late fee without requiring reinstatement. After the grace period, you enter reinstatement territory — which may require additional documentation, board review, possible re-examination requirements (in some states, a lapse of more than 5 years triggers NCLEX retake requirements), and significantly higher fees.
Initial licensure and most renewal processes include criminal background checks. Arrests (even without conviction), prior license discipline in any state, and certain civil judgments must be disclosed. Non-disclosure of a reportable event is considered falsification of the application — a more serious offense than the underlying incident in many boards' view.
If you have a criminal history or prior board action, consult a nursing license defense attorney before applying — the process for disclosure and the likelihood of approval vary significantly by state, offense type, and time elapsed. Many nurses with past issues successfully obtain and maintain licenses through proper disclosure and demonstrated rehabilitation.
Related guides: Nursing scope of practice | Nurse practitioner salary
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