North Dakota nursing license rules
Compact stateRN and LPN · Last checked October 29, 2026 · Sources
North Dakota is a compact state (since January 2018). If your primary state of residence is another compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can work in North Dakota in person or by telehealth without a new license. If you live in North Dakota, your multistate license is issued here.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- When it expires
- Expires Dec 31 of the second calendar year; renewal window Oct-Dec of expiration year
- Renewal fee
- $140
- Continuing education
- 12 contact hours per renewal cycle
- Required CE topics
- None found on the board's pages.
- Endorsement fee
- $150
- Fingerprints for endorsement
- Yes, a criminal background check with fingerprints
- Temporary permit
- Available. 90-day single-state permit issued after application review, no separate request; not renewable
- How to apply
- Apply in Nurse Portal; official transcript; license verification via Nursys; attest 400 practice hours in past 4 years (or refresher/recent grad); CHRC packet with fingerprint cards.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- When it expires
- Expires Dec 31 of the second calendar year; renewal window Oct-Dec of expiration year
- Renewal fee
- $130
- Continuing education
- 12 contact hours per renewal cycle
- Required CE topics
- None found on the board's pages.
- Endorsement fee
- $150
- Fingerprints for endorsement
- Yes, a criminal background check with fingerprints
- Temporary permit
- Available. 90-day single-state permit issued after application review, no separate request; not renewable
- How to apply
- Same process as RN: Nurse Portal application, transcript, Nursys verification, 400 practice hours in 4 years, CHRC with fingerprints.
Moving or traveling
Moving to North Dakota from another compact state? Apply by endorsement in the new home state within 60 days (rule effective 2024-01-02). May keep practicing on the old multistate license until the new one is issued; the old one is then deactivated. Can apply before moving.
Moving here from a non-compact state? Apply by endorsement in the new home state; a multistate license may be issued if residency and uniform requirements (incl. state and federal fingerprint background checks) are met. The old single-state license is unaffected.
Board of nursing
Sources
- https://ndbon.org/NurseLicensure/RenewReactivate
- https://ndlegis.gov/api/acdata/pdf/54-02-05.pdf
- https://ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/54-02-06.pdf
- https://ndbon.org/licensing/endorsement/endorsement-us-educated/
- https://www.nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf
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