RN work list: District of Columbia

Moved here from another state? District of Columbia does not honour multistate licences yet, so you need a District of Columbia licence to work here. The endorsement steps are below.

NCSBN · ncsbn.org · checked 15 Oct 2026

1. Check you qualify for endorsement

   • Active RN or LPN license

     Detail

     Apply under the matching endorsement checklist. RN applicants must have a qualifying nursing education/examination history and remain in good standing in all licensing jurisdictions.

   • Identity and supporting documents

     Detail

     Government-issued photo ID, passport-style photo, name-change evidence when applicable and Social Security affidavit when needed.

   • License verification

     Detail

     Request official verification from the original state; if expired, include a current-state verification. Participating boards use Nursys; other boards send verification directly.

   • Application payment and fingerprints

     Detail

     Pay the published application/CBC charge and follow the Fieldprint email instructions.

   Conditions & source context

   RN checklist Rev.9/22 remains linked by the current Board page. LPN requirements were separately reviewed in its Rev.5/21 checklist; RN education conditions are not imposed on LPN applicants.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   5405.1 Except as provided otherwise in this section, an applicant shall be eligible for licensure by endorsement if the applicant is currently licensed as a registered nurse under the laws of a state or territory of the United States and the following applies: (a) The applicant's original licensure in the state or territory was based on their completion of an educational program that meets the requirements of § 5402.1 or § 5403.1, and the applicant's receipt of a passing score on the NCLEX-RN or the State Board Test Pool Examination for Nurses; i. Approved by a nursing board in the US or US territory with standards determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to the standards in the District in accordance with Chapter 56 - national nursing accreditation and/or US Department of Education accreditation. ii. That the applicant has successfully completed a basic nursing education program in Canada except Quebec which was approved by a Canadian Provincial nursing board with standards determined to be substantially equivalent to the standards in the District in accordance with Chapter 56. (b) The applicant's licensure history shows that the applicant has continuously been in good standing in all jurisdictions where the applicant holds or has held a registered nursing license. Go to the online license site to apply: https://doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page During the online application process, be prepared to:  Upload a copy of a US government or State issued photo ID such as a passport or driver's license.  Upload a 2X2 Photo of head and neck, front-facing with a plain white background.  Upload proof of name change- If the name on your application is different from the name on any of your supporting documents, proof of name change is required. Acceptable documents are marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order or spouse's death certificate.  Upload the Social Security affidavit form if you do not have a social security number. (Located on the BON's page).  Pay the application and criminal background check fee of $280.00 by Visa or MasterCard only. You must request or complete the remaining application requirements through the separate institutions indicated below.  Criminal background check (CBC) Fieldprint- You will receive an email that includes the code and link to schedule your fingerprint appointment after you make the payment.  Official verification from your original state of licensure. If it is expired, official verification is needed from both the original and a current state. If your current state is also your original licensure by examination, then that is the only verification required. To submit verification of your licensure status access NURSYS.COM. There is a $30.00 fee for this service.  If your state does not participate in the NURSYS verification system (PA or MI), visit that state board of nursing's website and request that verification be emailed to the DC Board of Nursing. Our email address verifications.bon@dc.gov is on file with each non-participating state board of nursing. Non-NURSYS Participating Boards (California; Michigan; Pennsylvania)

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

2. Open the application

   dohenterprise.my.site.com

   Conditions & source context

   Use the Board-published new-application route; older checklists publish a previous Salesforce entry URL.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   How to Apply for Licensure

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

3. Pay the application fee

   Amount

   280

   Per

   application

   Non-refundable

   Yes

   Also payable

   • Nursys verification when applicable

     Amount

     30

   Includes criminal background check

   Yes

   Conditions & source context

   Both currently linked RN and LPN checklists publish a combined $280 application/CBC charge; do not add CBC again. Nursys verification is a separate $30 charge. RN checklist Rev.9/22; LPN Rev.5/21. The eligibility warning says fees are non-refundable.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   Pay the application and criminal background check fee of $280.00 by Visa or MasterCard only.

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

4. Fingerprints and background check

   Required

   Yes

   Fingerprints

   Yes

   Vendor

   Fieldprint

   From out of state

   Scheduling instructions are emailed after application/CBC payment.

   Conditions & source context

   Endorsement applicants require fingerprints; renewing RN applicants instead use a name search. The combined application charge does not separately itemize an endorsement fingerprint fee.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   Criminal background check (CBC) Fieldprint- You will receive an email that includes the code and link to schedule your fingerprint appointment after you make the payment.

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

5. Verify your current licence

   Required

   Yes

   Verification for endorsement

   Yes

   Fee

   30

   Nonparticipating board route

   Request direct official Board verification when the issuing board does not participate.

   Conditions & source context

   The checklist contains an older nonparticipating-board list. Use the current Nursys participation directory rather than treating that old list as current.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   Official verification from your original state of licensure. If it is expired, official verification is needed from both the original and a current state. If your current state is also your original licensure by examination, then that is the only verification required. To submit verification of your licensure status access NURSYS.COM. There is a $30.00 fee for this service.  If your state does not participate in the NURSYS verification system (PA or MI), visit that state board of nursing's website and request that verification be emailed to the DC Board of Nursing. Our email address verifications.bon@dc.gov is on file with each non-participating state board of nursing. Non-NURSYS Participating Boards (California; Michigan; Pennsylvania)

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

6. Continuing education you will owe at renewal

   • RN

     Hours

     24

     Mandated topics

     • LGBTQ

       Hours

       2

     • Public health priorities

       Hours

       2.5

   Conditions & source context

   Published 2026 RN cycle guidance. First-renewal exception and transition adjustment are described separately. LPN renewal hours remain unconfirmed in this record; the reinstatement checklist has a conflicting18/24-hour instruction.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   FOR RN • Twenty-four (24) hours of CE, which must include 2 HOURS of LGBTQ and 2.5 hours must be in the public health priority topics shown here https://dchealth.dc.gov/node/1163176

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

7. Other state-specific requirements

   During the birth-month transition, licenses with less than two years in their term require 50% of standard CE, including all mandatory topics; fees are not prorated.

   Conditions & source context

   The Board states this is a transition adjustment. Mandatory LGBTQ and public-health-priority topics still apply.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

   Source quotation

   DC Health has determined that CEU requirements will be adjusted for licensees whose renewal periods are less than two years; however, no fees will be discounted or prorated. All health professional licensing boards in the District of Columbia have transitioned to a birth month/birth year-based renewal cycle to improve administrative efficiency and simplify license tracking for both the Board and licensees. As a result of this transition, some licensees received license terms shorter than the standard two-year period. Because CEU requirements are based on a two-year renewal cycle, this shift created an equity consideration for affected licensees. To maintain fairness while upholding continuing education standards and public protection licensees whose renewal cycles were shorted due to the transition to the birth/month year schedule are required to complete 50% of the standard CEU hours, including all mandatory topics (e.g., LGBTQ+ cultural competency and DC Health public health priorities).

   dchealth.dc.gov · State Board of Nursing

8. Confirm the rest on the District of Columbia Board of Nursing site

   Our District of Columbia record has nothing sourced for RNs on: temporary permits, any jurisprudence exam, processing time. Get those from the board directly: dchealth.dc.gov.

   State Board of Nursing · dchealth.dc.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026