Open a jurisdiction to review its dated requirements and official sources. Use the compact tables to compare which states participate.
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
Does this state recognize my multistate license?
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Louisiana has implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN with an active multistate license from their primary state of residence may practice here without a Louisiana license. The facility and contract still set their own credentialing requirements.
Louisiana has implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN with an active multistate license from their primary state of residence may practice here without a Louisiana license. The facility and contract still set their own credentialing requirements.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · verified 15 Oct 2026
Each answer links to the state rule it comes from. Open “Source quotation” for the exact wording.
Board contacts, official applications and governing rules.
Louisiana State Board of Nursing (RN); Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners (LPN)
RN and LPN licenses are administered by separate boards. The RN Board is the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
Source context RN licensing is administered by the separate State Board of Nursing.
Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners
lsbpne.la.gov · State Board of Nursing
RN Board homepage. LPN guidance is provided by the separate Practical Nurse Examiners Board linked in Sources.
Separate application portals for RN and LPN licenses.
Source context LPN Nurse Portal: https://lapn.boardsofnursing.org/lapn
Submit your applications online via the Nurse Portal.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
License types, exams, expiration dates and multistate eligibility.
RN
LPN
RN quote is supported by separate LPN Board licensure guidance.
Source context LPN licensing is handled by LSBPNE.
In order for a person to be considered for approval to take the NCLEX-PN® licensing exam, he/she must submit an LPN Initial Exam application and fee, via the Nurse Portal. The candidate must meet the qualifications for licensure, including completion of an accredited program in practical nursing that meets LSBPNE requirements.
The NLC allows a registered nurse licensed in a Compact state to practice across state lines in another Compact state without having to obtain a license in the other state.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Yes
The LPN Board separately describes Louisiana LPN multistate applications from July 1, 2019.
Source context The LPN Board separately confirms Louisiana compact application access.
Louisiana is now a compact state and will be accepting applications from Louisiana LPNs as of July 1, 2019.
Louisiana implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) July 1, 2019.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Yes
Separate LSBN RN/NCLEX-RN and LSBPNE PN/NCLEX-PN evidence. Preserve RN four attempts within four years of graduation versus PN up to four attempts within two years after eligibility and no later than three years from completion, with re-entry consequences. PN Board application and Pearson VUE payments are separate; RN foreign credential/English requirements remain separate.
Source context The primary source_quote above is the LSBN RN route. The separate LSBPNE PN page independently supports the NCLEX-PN route and eligibility limit; attempt/time limits differ by level and must not be merged. The page states that initial PN applicants may take up to four NCLEX-PN attempts within two years after eligibility, no later than three years after program completion; failure requires re-entry into and completion of the entire program without advance credits.
Applicant must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN Examination within four attempts and within four years of graduation;
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Compact membership, license privileges and application requirements.
The history gives an act citation and effective date, not a governor approval date. Keep enacted_date null.
31 May 2018
May 31, 2018 is the effective date in Louisiana's session-law history, not the date the national Article X trigger occurred. Keep existing operationally_connected date July 1, 2019 separate. Louisiana's enacting law is shown effective May 31, 2018. The compact's Article X separately makes the Compact nationally effective and binding on the earlier of enactment by at least 26 states or December 31, 2018; the exact trigger date isn't published here — check with the board.
1 Jul 2019
The RN Board identifies July 1, 2019 implementation; the LPN Board separately confirms compact application access on that date.
Louisiana implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) July 1, 2019.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Louisiana-issued multistate licenses additionally require the Board’s uniform eligibility criteria, including Louisiana primary residence. Those are issuance conditions, separate from traveling with an existing valid multistate license.
What does Single State License mean? A single state license only authorizes the nurse to practice in the state that issued the license. For individuals issued a single state license in Louisiana, "single-state license" means a license issued by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to practice as a registered nurse (RN) within the state of Louisiana and which does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other state. You can look up your license in NURSYS by using this link: https://www.nursys.com/LQC/LQCTerms.aspx . Nurses are eligible to work in Louisiana when they hold a valid multistate license from another Compact State.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Louisiana has implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN with an active multistate license from their primary state of residence may practice here without a Louisiana license. The facility and contract still set their own credentialing requirements.
Eligibility, application fees, background checks and temporary licenses.
Yes
RN and LPN endorsement routes are available through their respective Boards.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR RN LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
RN endorsement through LSBN; LPN endorsement through LSBPNE
The RN application is distinct from the LPN application and its fee.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR RN LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Separate application portals for RN and LPN licenses.
Source context LPN Nurse Portal: https://lapn.boardsofnursing.org/lapn
Submit your applications online via the Nurse Portal.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
RN route
LPN route
RN and LPN routes have separate Board requirements. This is an eligibility summary; full documentation appears in Sources.
Source context LPN route has separate eligibility and background-check requirements.
Licensure by endorsement means that you have graduated from an approved nursing program (the nursing program must meet the same educational criteria as Louisiana), have successfully taken the NCLEX-PN ®, and have been granted a LPN license to practice in another state. If you wish to apply for licensure in Louisiana, you will need to complete the endorsement application through the Nurse Portal . Results of a state and federal background check are required to complete the process. The fee for applying for endorsement is $185 plus 1.8% state charge. Please click here for criminal background check information.
SECTION A: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR RN LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT 1. Applicant must possess a current/valid, unrestricted RN license in another US state, territory, or country; 2. Applicant must have been actively engaged in practice as a Registered Nurse within the most recent four years; 3. Applicant must have successfully completed an accredited nursing education program approved by the Board or completed an accredited nursing program that meets or exceeds the educational standards for programs in Louisiana; 4. Applicant has successfully passed the NCLEX-RN Examination or recognized predecessor; 5. Applicant must have no grounds for or pending disciplinary action by any nursing or other health regulatory board in any US state or in a country outside the US; 6. Applicant must have no pending civil or criminal charges in any US state or in a country outside the US; 7. Applicant must evidence of proficiency in the English language if a graduate of a nursing program offered internationally; 8. Graduates from nontraditional programs that did not include a faculty supervised clinical component (such as Excelsior and Deaconess College), must also: a. Provide documentation supporting the equivalency of six (6) months to one (1) year full-time clinical experience as a RN in a staff position under RN supervision in another US state; AND b. Have three (3) letters of recommendation for licensure submitted to LSBN. Each letter should be typed, dated and signed by your current/previous RN supervisor/employer(s) attesting to your ‘satisfactory clinical performance’, provide verification of RN employment dates and supervisor’s contact information. 9. Applicant must have been issued a United States Social Security Number (SSN). Social insurance numbers from Canadian Provinces are not accepted. 10. In order to be eligible for a multistate license issued by Louisiana, the applicant must meet the criteria above and all of the following: a. Have no state or federal felony convictions; b. Have no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (determined on a case-by-case basis); c. Not be currently a participant in an alternative program; d. Be required to self-disclose current participation in an alternative program and e. Declare Louisiana as your primary state of residence.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Application fee by license level
Additional fees
RN temporary permit
RN: $100, or $200 total with a temporary permit. LPN: $185 plus the published 1.8% state charge. Background-check charges are separate unless stated by the applicable Board.
Source context LPN endorsement has a separate charge.
SECTION D: FEES $100.00 – application for full licensure, without a 90 day temporary endorsement permit. $200.00 – application for full licensure with a 90 day temporary endorsement permit. This total includes: $100.00 application fee; $100.00 temporary permit fee. All fees are non-refundable and must be paid electronically through the Nurse Portal.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Authorized by La. R.S. 37:920.1; LSBN runs Louisiana State Police and FBI checks for RN endorsement.
All applicants are required to submit their fingerprints at an Indentogo location of your choice
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
The $100 temporary-permit fee is additional to the $100 RN endorsement fee.
Source context LPN temporary work permit exists; this source does not state its length, fee or eligibility.
It is illegal to practice practical nursing in the state of Louisiana without a temporary work permit issued by our board or a current Louisiana lpn license.
SECTION C: RN TEMPORARY PERMITS LSBN offers a 90-day temporary endorsement permit, for an additional fee (see “FEES” below), that allows the applicant to practice nursing in Louisiana until full RN licensure can be issued. The permit does not authorize practice in any other state or jurisdiction. A 90-day temporary endorsement permit may be requested by individuals who: a. Submit the request and submit the payment with the electronic endorsement application; b. Reside in and plan to work in the state of Louisiana; c. Hold a current/active and unencumbered RN license from another US state or jurisdiction; d. Obtained an RN nursing degree from an accredited diploma, associate degree, baccalaureate, and/or masters nursing education program in the United States; e. Successfully passed the NCLEX-RN Examination or recognized predecessor; f. Have no civil and/or criminal charges pending; g. Have no cause for denial of licensure as defined in R.S. 37:921 and L.A.C.XLVII. §3331, or allegations of acts or omissions which constitute grounds for disciplinary action as defined in R.S. 37:921 and §3403 and §3405.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Applicant must request verification of RN License from exam and current / active states to be completed on the Nursys.com website. If the state BON does not participate in Nursys.com, utilize the form for Verification of Nursing License - RN
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Renewal dates, required education and reinstatement options.
RN licenses renew biennially.
The compact status (single state or multistate) that is held at the time of biennial renewal.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
RN
RN requirements only. Thirty CE hours is one option, not a universal CE requirement;
All Louisiana licensed Registered Nurses (RNs), except those issued their initial Louisiana RN license during the current year, must be in compliance with LSBN nursing CE requirements. For RN license renewal, at least one of options below must have been completed during the two-year licensure period: a. a minimum of 30 board-approved contact hours of continuing education during the two-year licensure period; or b. a minimum of 900 practice hours during the two-year licensure period as verified by the employer on a form provided by the board; or c. initial RN licensure by examination or by endorsement during the previous calendar year; or d. current certification in a specialty area of nursing by a certifying body whose requirements have been approved by the board as being equivalent to or exceeding the above requirements.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
RN
LPN
RN requirements only. Thirty CE hours is one option, not a universal CE requirement;
Source context LPN online renewal has a different season.
The renewal link will only appear during the active renewal period which is November 1 st through January 31 st .
All Louisiana licensed Registered Nurses (RNs), except those issued their initial Louisiana RN license during the current year, must be in compliance with LSBN nursing CE requirements. For RN license renewal, at least one of options below must have been completed during the two-year licensure period: a. a minimum of 30 board-approved contact hours of continuing education during the two-year licensure period; or b. a minimum of 900 practice hours during the two-year licensure period as verified by the employer on a form provided by the board; or c. initial RN licensure by examination or by endorsement during the previous calendar year; or d. current certification in a specialty area of nursing by a certifying body whose requirements have been approved by the board as being equivalent to or exceeding the above requirements.
lsbn.state.la.us · State Board of Nursing
Official license-verification links and the information available from each source.
Louisiana's published rules don't answer these. Ask before you apply — lsbn.state.la.us.