North Dakota Nurse Licensing Guide

Permanent License

Approximately 2-3 weeks days upon receipt of all required materials.

Temporary License

Approximately 7 - 10 business days upon receipt of all required materials.

Permanent License

1. Submit an application online and pay the fee. The process is the same for RNs and LPNs.
2. You must have a United States Social Security Number.
3. Request your college to send your official transcript of your grades with the degree posted directly to the North Dakota Board of Nursing office. Copies of transcripts sent by applicants or faxed transcripts will not be accepted.

• Transcripts may be sent electronically through National Clearing House, E-Script, Parchment, or another secure transcript service.

4. Request verification of licensure via Nursys from your original state of licensure and the state where you are currently employed. If these states do not participate in Nursys, you will need to contact that state's BON and request verification be sent to the North Dakota BON.
5. Provide a background check with fingerprints. Instructions for fingerprinting can be found on the NDBON background check page. Submit the completed background check form and fingerprints to the North Dakota Board of Nursing at:

• 919 S 7th Street, Suite 504; Bismarck, ND 58504

6. You must provide evidence of one of the following:

• Four hundred hours of licensed nursing practice in the last four years and complete the Verification of Employment Form.
• You must have completed your nursing program in the past four years.
• You must have completed a board-approved refresher course within the past four years.

7. Additional requirements for international educated applicants can be found in the NDBON resource for international applicants.

Temporary License

1. Temporary permits are valid for 90 days and are non-renewable.
2. Once your online application, verification of active license, and official transcripts are received, you may be issued a temporary license.
3. Temporary permits are posted online in the Verify section of this site. There are no paper temporary permits issued.

Endorsement Application: $170.00

Temporary Permit: No extra charge

Fees are the same for RNs and LPNs.

• All necessary forms can be found on the NDBON endorsement page.
• A multistate, or compact, license will automatically be issued for those who claim ND as their primary state of residence if they meet the Uniform License Requirements of the NLC.
• Track the progress of your application in the Application Status section of this website. Items without dates next to them have not been received in the Board office yet.
• You can find the North Dakota BON’s FAQ section on the NDBON website.

• Renewal cadence: Every 2 years. Click through to the NDBON website for renewal FAQs. Applicants for initial licensure by endorsement shall receive a license expiring December 31 of the following year as part of the application fee.
• Renewal fee: RNs: $140.00 if renewed on time. Late renewals will incur an additional fee of $140. LPNs: $130.00 if renewed on time. Late renewals will incur an additional fee of $130.
• Required contact hours: 12 hours within the 2-year renewal period for both RNs and LPNs.
• Log in to the NDBON renewal portal to renew your license online. Only online renewal is offered.
• Allow 3-5 business days for your updated expiration date to display on our Verify site after renewal of an active license.
• To view and print your license information, including your license number and expiration date, go to the Verify section of this website. No hard copy licenses are mailed.

You must have a United States Social Security Number

You must have completed a nursing program that prepared you for the level of licensure sought and includes supervised clinical experience across the life span as apart of the curriculum.

You must have one of the following:

• Four hundred hours of license nursing practice in the last four years for the level of licensure sought (if practice occurred outside of the United States complete the Verification of Employment Form)
• You must have completed your nursing program in the past four years
• You must have completed a board-approved refresher course within the past four years

You must submit proof of initial licensure by examination with the examination meeting North Dakota requirements for licensure examinations in effect at the time the applicant qualified for initial licensure.