Nurse state crossing · Rhode Island licensing · NLC status table · LPN/LVN list
RN work list: Rhode Island
What an RN has to do to work in Rhode Island. Pick where you live and the page shows your route.
Pick your home state to see which route applies. Both are listed below.
Rhode Island: Nurse Licensure Compact state
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 9 Oct 2026
Home and work in Rhode Island
If you already hold a licence Rhode Island issued, there is no state line to cross. Renewal and continuing-education rules are on the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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
Eligible visiting RN/LPN compact-license holders may use privilege. RI PSOR applicants and single-state-only license holders follow their respective application routes.
State Board of Nursing · webserver.rilegislature.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
A multistate license to practice registered or licensed practical nursing/vocational nursing issued by a home state to a resident in that state will be recognized by each party state as authorizing a nurse to practice as a registered nurse (RN) or as a licensed practical nurse/vocational nurse (LPN/VN), under a multistate licensure privilege, in each party state.
webserver.rilegislature.gov · State Board of Nursing
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 Rhode Island licence by endorsement
For everyone else. Each step comes from Rhode Island’s own licensing sources; tick it off as you go.
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Current RN/LPN license issued by examination or endorsement in another state, territory or DC
- Detail
- Board determines that the applicant meets Rhode Island qualifications.
Completed application, fee and proof of PSOR
- Detail
- PSOR determines multistate versus single-state application option.
Verification from every state where a license is or was held
- Detail
- Nursys generally; the current official application PDF specifically directs PA license holders to request direct PA verification.
National fingerprint-supported background check before licensure
- Detail
- Foreign-trained applicant credential/English evaluation requirements are separate; RI multistate upgrades from an existing single-state license have an express no-new-background-check instruction.
Conditions & source context
Foreign-trained nurses must use the role-specific evaluation requirements in the active rule and current application PDF. This summary is not a complete foreign-education checklist.
State administrative code · rules.sos.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
A license to practice nursing as a professional or practical nurse may be issued without examination to an applicant
rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code
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Conditions & source context
Observed displayed application URL and PDF link annotation href https://healthri.mylicense.com/ on page 1.
State Board of Nursing · health.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Apply online at https://healthri.mylicense.com.
health.ri.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Per
- application
- By license
RN
- Amount
- 135
LPN
- Amount
- 45
Conditions & source context
Active fee rule effective March 25, 2026: RN $135, LPN $45. Nonrefundability and background/Nursys amounts are unverified.
State administrative code · rules.sos.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Professional (Registered) Nurse: Initial Application - Endorsed/Reciprocal | § 5-34-11(b)§ 5-34-12§ 23-1-54 | $135.00
rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code
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- Required
- Yes
- FBI check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- Rhode Island Bureau of Criminal Identification / Department of Attorney General
- Scope
- Initial/exam/endorsement applications; existing RI single-state-to-multistate upgrade instructions expressly state no new background check.
Conditions & source context
National/FBI fingerprint check confirmed.
State administrative code · rules.sos.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
a national criminal records check that shall include fingerprints submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code
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- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
- Scope
- Nursys is the verification route directed by the RIDOH application instructions except for their specified direct-verification alternative.
- Alternative
- RIDOH instructions retrieved October 9, 2026 direct applicants who held a PA license to request direct PA verification.
Conditions & source context
Conditional Board-directed Nursys route, not a universal system requirement for every licensing state. The retrieved RIDOH PDF specifically directs PA-held licenses to direct PA verification; this does not assert current Pennsylvania nonparticipation in Nursys. Fees are unverified.
State Board of Nursing · health.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Verifications are done online at www.NURSYS.com. If you have held a license in (PA) you must request a verification, be sent directly to us.
health.ri.gov · State Board of Nursing
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RN
- Hours
- 10
- Period years
- 2
- Definition
- One continuing-education hour equals one contact hour; one CE unit equals ten CE hours.
- Hardship extension
- One six-month extension may be granted by the Department.
LPN
- Hours
- 10
- Period years
- 2
- Definition
- One continuing-education hour equals one contact hour; one CE unit equals ten CE hours.
- Hardship extension
- One six-month extension may be granted by the Department.
Conditions & source context
RN/LPN active renewal requirement. Inactive reentry has separate CE-attestation or approved re-entry-program alternatives; APRN-specific requirements are outside this record.
State administrative code · rules.sos.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Every person seeking renewal of a license under the provisions of the Act and this Part, shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Department that in the preceding two years the practitioner (i.e., licensee) has completed the ten (10) required continuing education hours
rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code
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- Renewal fee usd by license
- RN
- 135
- LPN
- 45
- Ce attestation
- Yes
- Ce records retained years
- 4
- Inactive reentry alternative
- Five CE hours per inactive year or a Board-approved re-entry program, plus notice, fee and Board approval.
Conditions & source context
Active nursing rule and active March 25, 2026 fee schedule. Inactive status and lapse are separate processes.
State administrative code · rules.sos.ri.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
These documents shall be retained by each licensee for no less than four (4) years
rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code
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- Slowest published
- 90
- Basis
- statutory
Conditions & source context
A Board-action deadline, not guaranteed license issuance, a typical wait, or temporary permission to practice. The active rule also states the Board acts on each application within 90 days.
State statute · webserver.rilegislature.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
The board of nurse registration and nursing education shall act on each application within ninety (90) days of its submission.
webserver.rilegislature.gov · State statute
Pick a start date to see the latest day to apply, based on the board’s legal deadline of 90 days to act on an application. That limits the board; it is not a promise of a licence by then.
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Our Rhode Island record has nothing sourced for RNs on: temporary permits, any jurisprudence exam. Get those from the board directly: health.ri.gov.
NCSBN · ncsbn.org · checked 9 Oct 2026
Built from the Rhode Island 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.