Nurse state crossing · North Carolina licensing · NLC status table · LPN/LVN list
RN work list: North Carolina
What an RN has to do to work in North Carolina. Pick where you live and the page shows your route.
Pick your home state to see which route applies. Both are listed below.
North Carolina: Nurse Licensure Compact state
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 3 Oct 2026
Home and work in North Carolina
If you already hold a licence North Carolina issued, there is no state line to cross. Renewal and continuing-education rules are on the North Carolina licensing page.
Moved here from another compact state? NCSBN says “when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement” and “You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.” The endorsement steps are below.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement
You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
Route A: practise on your multistate licence
For a nurse whose home state and North Carolina are both compact states in force, holding a multistate licence.
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Look yourself up on Nursys QuickConfirm. NCSBN: “If you already have a license and you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
If you already have a license and you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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Only the compact state you actually live in can issue your multistate licence. NCSBN: “If a nurse's PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate license.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
If a nurse's PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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NCSBN defines the privilege to practise as the authority “permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or LPN/VN in a remote state”.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or LPN/VN in a remote state
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Conditions & source context
Conditional RN/LPN nursing-license portability only: active multistate authority, compact PSOR and applicable state practice laws. Employer onboarding, clinical scope and job credentials remain separate; changing PSOR triggers a new home-state application.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 3 Oct 2026
Source quotation
If a nurse holds a multistate license, they can practice in other NLC states/territories without obtaining additional licenses, while their primary state of residence (PSOR) is in a compact state.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
If you move for good, not just for a contract: NCSBN says “when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement” and “You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
Route B: get a North Carolina licence by endorsement
For everyone else. Each step comes from North Carolina’s own licensing sources; tick it off as you go.
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Licensed RN or LPN in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent or higher initial licensure requirements
- Detail
- Jurisdictions in the statute include another state, US territory, DC, or foreign country.
Board determination of competence
- Detail
- Board may require proof of competence and qualifications.
Conditions & source context
Statutory minimum pathway, not a complete board application checklist; original/current verification, current practice and board forms need live operational review.
State statute · ncleg.gov · checked 3 Oct 2026
Source quotation
The Board may, without examination, issue a license to an applicant who is duly licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse under the laws of another state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or foreign country when that jurisdiction's requirements for licensure as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, as the case may be, are substantially equivalent to or exceed those of the State of North Carolina at the time the applicant was initially licensed, and when, in the Board's opinion, the applicant is competent to practice nursing in this State. The Board may require such applicant to prove competence and qualifications to practice as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in North Carolina.
ncleg.gov · State statute
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Conditions & source context
Select Endorsement Application after signing in. The application and background-check process are held active for one year.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
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- Amount
- 150
- Per
- RN/LPN endorsement application
- Also payable
Criminal background check; separate from the endorsement application
- Amount
- 38
License verification and local fingerprinting, when applicable
Conditions & source context
Application: $150; Board background check: $38. The endorsement guide describes application fees as nonrefundable. Nursys and local fingerprinting charges are separate; this is not an all-in price.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Criminal Background Check $38.00 CRNA Recognition $25.00 Data Requests variable Registered Nurses ($475.00) Licensed Practical Nurses ($350.00) Nurse Aide II ($300.00) Advanced Practice Registered Nurse ($250.00): NP Only ($175.00) CNM Only ($75.00) CRNA Only ($25.00) CNS Only ($10.00) Additional Customization ($50.00) Endorsement into state - RN & LPN $150.00
ncbon.com · State Board of Nursing
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- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- FBI check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- SBI/FBI
- Fee
- 38
- From out of state
- Applicants outside North Carolina mail a hard-copy fingerprint card and the required forms. Applicants within North Carolina use Live Scan through an authorized fingerprinting agency.
Conditions & source context
Board background-check fee: $38, nonrefundable. Any local fingerprinting charge is separate. The check is part of the application process; fingerprints from another employer or agency are not inferred to transfer.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
Source quotation
As required by the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act, applicants for nurse licensure as specified below are required to undergo a fingerprint-based State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history check: Applicant Seeking Licensure by Examination (NCLEX) Applicants Seeking Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity)
ncbon.com · State Board of Nursing
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Yes
Conditions & source context
Use Nursys when the original and/or current licensing board participates. For a non-Nursys board, request verification directly from that board. The Board lists $30 per license type for Nursys endorsement verification.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Verification from original state of license and, if different, last state practiced.
ncbon.com · State Board of Nursing
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- Available
- Yes
- Max months
- 6
- Renewable
- No
- Conditions
- May be issued only during the first six months after submitting the endorsement application.
- Expires at permanent-license issuance or six months, whichever comes first.
- Only once per lifetime; cannot be renewed or extended.
- An active single-state license and an NC or non-compact-state primary address are required at issuance; an active multistate license in another compact state prevents issuance.
- Out-of-state applicants must submit the required background-check fingerprints, forms and fee; NC residents must satisfy the Board’s Live Scan/results or hard-copy requirements.
Conditions & source context
Conditional, nonrenewable endorsement permit. Application submission does not create permission to practice.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Temporary licenses can only be issued once per lifetime and cannot be renewed or extended for any reason. An applicant must have a valid North Carolina or non-compact state primary address on file in the Nurse Portal and must not hold an active multistate license in another compact state. An active single state license is required at the time of issuance of the temporary license.
ncbon.com · State Board of Nursing
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- Requirement
- Complete one of eight continuing-competence options.
- Period years
- 2
- Scope
- 30 CE hours is one option. Alternatives are listed below.
Conditions & source context
Choose one of eight continuing-competence options. The 15-hour option also requires 640 active-practice hours in the previous two years, and the other alternatives have their own conditions.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
Source quotation
One of the following eight learning options must be completed:
ncbon.com · State Board of Nursing
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- 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of active practice in the previous two years.
- National certification or recertification by a Board-recognized national credentialing body.
- 30 contact hours of continuing education.
- Completion of a Board-approved refresher course.
- At least two semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice.
- 15 contact hours plus a nursing project as principal investigator or co-investigator, with the required project documentation.
- 15 contact hours plus authoring or coauthoring a nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter.
- 15 contact hours plus developing and conducting nursing continuing-education presentations totaling at least five contact hours, with the required presentation documentation.
Conditions & source context
Complete one option before renewal or reinstatement. proof is submitted when the Board specifically requests it; no grace period is published.
State Board of Nursing · ncbon.com · checked 10 Oct 2026
Source quotation
One of the following eight learning options must be completed: 15 Contact Hours of continued education and 640 hours of active practice within previous 2 years. Active practice is defined as activities performed, either for compensation or without compensation, consistent with the scope of practice for each level of licensure, RN or LPN [21 NCAC 36 .0120(5)]. National Certification or Re-certification by a National Credentialing Body recognized by the Board 30 Contact Hours of continued education Completion of a Board-Approved Refresher Course Completion of a minimum of two (2) semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice 15 Contact Hours of continued education and completion of a nursing project as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator to include statement of problem, project objectives, methods, date of completion and summary of findings 15 Contact Hours of continued education and Authoring or Co-Authoring a nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter 15 Contact Hours of continued education and developing and conducting a nursing continuing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours, including program brochure or course syllabi, objectives, date and location of presentation, and approximate number of attendees
ncbon.com · State Board of Nursing
Built from the North Carolina nursing licensing record and the compact status table. A step appears only when the record has a sourced answer for it; anything else points to the board. Informational only: confirm with the board of nursing before you apply.