Licensing authority
Montana Board of Nursing
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
MT
Montana
Does this state recognize my multistate license?
Multistate license recognizedMT
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Limited to RN/LPN practice when the nurse holds the corresponding multistate privilege; Board states this separately on RN and LPN pages. Does not address employer requirements, APRN authority, or every contract circumstance.
Supporting evidence and conditions
Limited to RN/LPN practice when the nurse holds the corresponding multistate privilege; Board states this separately on RN and LPN pages. Does not address employer requirements, APRN authority, or every contract circumstance.
State Board of Nursing · boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · verified 10 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- Yes enacted
- In force
- Yes since 19 Jan 2018
- Issuing multistate licenses
- Yes issuing multistate licenses
Each answer links to the state rule it comes from. Open “Source quotation” for the exact wording.
Licensing authority
Board contacts, official applications and governing rules.
Authority website
Licensing portal
Conditions & source context
Exact Board page href from the captured “Apply for a License” link.
Contact
- Phone
- 406-444-6880
Source quotation
We can be reached at (406) 444-6880.
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Governing law
ARM 24.159.422; 37-8-434, MCA
Conditions & source context
RN endorsement checklist cites these authorities for licensure verification and fingerprint background check; LPN checklist independently cites corresponding requirements.
Source quotation
Submission of license verification from the state, territory, or country in which the applicant currently holds an active license which should include proof of education, proof of passage of NCLEX-RN, and demonstration of active license in good standing -- 24.159.422 3. Submission of fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for the purpose of a fingerprint-based background check -- 37-8-434, MCA Checklist of Required Documents to Submit for Application for RN by Endorsement The following documents and additional forms are required in addition to the basic application submitted at https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol/. Some documents may be submitted directly by the applicant as part of the application. Others, such as transcripts, may need to be sent t
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
License requirements
License types, exams, expiration dates and multistate eligibility.
Licence types
RN
- State title
- Registered Nurse
LPN
- State title
- Licensed Practical Nurse
Conditions & source context
Board separately identifies RN and LPN license pages; page says Montana issues compact licenses.
Source context The corresponding LPN license page independently identifies the practical-nursing track.
Source quotation
Montana Board of Nursing LPN Checklist for License by Credentialing
Source quotation
Montana Board of Nursing RN Checklist for License by Credentialing
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Multistate licences issued
Yes
Source quotation
Montana has been a member of the NLC since 2015 and has been issuing multistate compact licenses to nurses who meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements for a multistate license since that time.
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Licence term
- Years
- 2
- Expires on
- The same date for everyone
- Fixed date
- December 31; odd licensees in odd years and even licensees in even years
Source quotation
Renewal Period: Occurs every other year. If you are an "odd" licensee, your license must be renewed by December 31st of odd numbered years, if you are an "even" licensee, your license must be renewed by December 31st of even numbered years.
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
NCLEX required to get licensed
Yes
Conditions & source context
LPN page separately states NCLEX-PN.
Source quotation
You are required to pay an additional fee to take the NCLEX-RN
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Working across state lines
Compact membership, license privileges and application requirements.
NLC law enacted
- Status
- Yes
Conditions & source context
NCSBN's NLC implementation table (rev. Aug 2026) lists Montana as implemented on Jan. 19, 2018.
NLC law in force
- Status
- Yes
- Effective
- 2018-01-19
Conditions & source context
NCSBN's NLC implementation table (rev. Aug 2026) lists Montana as implemented on Jan. 19, 2018.
Issuing multistate licences
- Status
- Yes
Conditions & source context
Current issuance is supported by the Board. Its 2015 membership/issuance wording conflicts in terminology with the NLC map’s 2018 implementation date; exact historical start is held unresolved.
Source conflict
Montana Jan. 19, 2018
nursecompact.com says otherwise.
NLC map labels this date as implementation; the Board separately describes membership and multistate issuance since 2015. Wording differs and the historical operational start remains unresolved.
Source quotation
Montana has been a member of the NLC since 2015 and has been issuing multistate compact licenses to nurses who meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements for a multistate license since that time. If you hold a Montana RN or LPN license and want to know if your license is a multistate license, you can look your license up at Montana
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Conditions for privilege
- Hold active RN or LPN multistate privilege in a compact state.
Conditions & source context
LPN page gives the corresponding LPN rule.
Source quotation
If you currently hold an RN license with a Multistate privilege in a Compact state, you do not need a license in Montana to practice
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Home-state residence rule
- Keys off home-state residence
- Yes
- If your home state changes
- A multistate licensee changing primary state of residence to another party state shall apply for a multistate license in the new party state within 60 days.
- Detail
- Montana separately advises RN and LPN nurses changing primary residence to Montana to apply for a Montana license within 60 days; that state page does not specify license type.
Conditions & source context
The Board announcement quotes the compact rule for multistate licensees. Separate RN and LPN pages state a Montana application within 60 days after changing primary residence to Montana, without specifying single- or multistate license type.
Source quotation
Nurses relocating to another compact state have 60 days from the time they move to apply for a new license by endorsement in a new primary state of residence. The new rule (effective beginning January 2, 2024) reads: 402(2) A multistate licensee who changes primary state of residence to another party state shall apply for a multistate license in the new party state within 60 days
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Can I take a contract on privilege alone
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Conditions & source context
Limited to RN/LPN practice when the nurse holds the corresponding multistate privilege; Board states this separately on RN and LPN pages. Does not address employer requirements, APRN authority, or every contract circumstance.
Source quotation
If you currently hold an RN license with a Multistate privilege in a Compact state, you do not need a license in Montana to practice
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Verify privilege
Conditions & source context
Exact printed URL in Board instruction; exact href captured in page link map.
Source quotation
look yourself up at https://nursys.com/ if you don’t know your status
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Apply from another state
Eligibility, application fees, background checks and temporary licenses.
Endorsement available
Yes
Source quotation
RN by Endorsement License Requirement
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
What it is called
RN/LPN by endorsement
Where to apply
Conditions & source context
Exact published target printed in the current RN checklist; LPN checklist prints the same target.
Source quotation
You can apply for a license online at https://ebiz.mt.gov/POL/.
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
What you must provide
License verification / education / exam
- Detail
- RN: active license verification should include proof of education, passage of NCLEX-RN, and active good-standing license. LPN: corresponding verification should include proof of education, passage of NCLEX-PN, and active good-standing license.
Other jurisdiction verifications
- Detail
- Provide official verification from every state/jurisdiction where the applicant holds or has ever held a professional license; use Nursys where the jurisdiction participates and direct source verification for non-Nursys or international jurisdictions.
Fingerprint background check
- Detail
- Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for a fingerprint-based background check.
Conditions & source context
RN requirements are quoted here; the LPN checklist independently states the corresponding LPN/NCLEX-PN and fingerprint requirements. Verification is required from all jurisdictions ever licensed, with Nursys used only where available.
Source quotation
RN by Endorsement License Requirements for RN by Endorsement Below are the minimum requirements you must meet in order to be licensed in the state of Montana. 1. Application submitted at https://ebiz.mt.gov/ for RN license 2. Submission of license verification from the state, territory, or country in which the applicant currently holds an active license which should include proof of education, proof of passage of NCLEX-RN, and demonstration of active license in good standing -- 24.159.422 3. Submission of fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for the purpose of a fingerprint-based background check -- 37-8-434, MC
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Application fee
- Amount
- 200
- Per
- application
- Also payable
Montana DOJ fingerprint card processing fee; capture may cost extra
- Amount
- 30
Conditions & source context
RN and LPN checklists independently show $200 application fees. DOJ card route lists $30; fingerprint capture may cost extra, so this is not a universal total.
Source quotation
Application Fee(s) for RN by Endorsement The following fee(s) must be submitted with your application. Online applicants can pay using a credit card or e-check. $200 application fee You can apply for a license online at https://ebiz.mt.gov/POL/. You must include a valid e-mail address with your application. E-mail is the department's primary form of communication. If you have any questions about
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Background check
- Required
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- Montana Department of Justice
- Fee
- 30
- From out of state
- DOJ fingerprint-card route requires $30 payment; fingerprint capture service may cost extra.
Conditions & source context
The RN and LPN checklists require the Montana DOJ fingerprint-based background check. DOJ card instructions list $30 and advise that fingerprint capture may be an additional cost. Captured sources do not specify state-only versus FBI search scope.
Source quotation
Submission of fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for the purpose of a fingerprint-based background check -- 37-8-434, MC
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Nursys verification
- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
- Condition
- Use Nursys when the jurisdiction participates; request direct source verification for non-Nursys or international jurisdictions.
Conditions & source context
Conditional incoming endorsement-verification procedure; LPN checklist independently states the same condition. Distinct from existing-license lookup.
Source quotation
Official license verification from states and jurisdictions in which the applicant holds or has ever held a professional license of any type. (Verification must be through Nursys – green license verification option at https://www.nursys.com. IF state is NOT part of Nursys (Pennsylvania and California VN) or international license, must request verification directly from source to be sent to address above Fingerprint-Based Background Check Report from Montana Department of Justice Non-Criminal Notice of Applicants Rights form (this is automatically completed when you submit your application online) Application Fee(s) for RN by Endorsement The following fee(s) must be submitted with your appli
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Renewal and education
Renewal dates, required education and reinstatement options.
Renewal interval (years)
2
Conditions & source context
RN and LPN Board pages independently state the same every-other-year renewal period.
Source quotation
Renewal Period: Occurs every other year.
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Renewal competency and CE
RN
- Hours
- 0
- Mandated topics
None
- Any category
- 0
LPN
- Hours
- 0
- Mandated topics
None
- Any category
- 0
Conditions & source context
This records only that no continuing-education contact hours are required for renewal; it does not claim there are no other renewal conditions. Board guidance applies to RN and LPN.
Source quotation
no longer requires continuing education contact hours to be completed as a requirement for renewal of a nursing license
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
State-specific requirements
Renew by December 31 in the assigned odd/even year; late-submitted renewal applications are subject to additional fees. The renewal fee is $100.
Conditions & source context
The RN and LPN pages independently state this same schedule and fee.
Source quotation
If you are an "odd" licensee, your license must be renewed by December 31st of odd numbered years, if you are an "even" licensee, your license must be renewed by December 31st of even numbered years. Renewal applications post marked or submitted online after this date are subject to additional fees. Renewal Fee: $100.00
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
Approved CE providers
Conditions & source context
Exact linked Board CE page; free modules remain available although no hours are required.
Source quotation
Continuing Education no longer required for Renewal of LPN, RN and APRN Licenses
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · State Board of Nursing
License verification
Official license-verification links and the information available from each source.
Licence lookup
Conditions & source context
Exact Board page href.
Ask the board of nursing
Montana's published rules don't answer these. Ask before you apply — boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov.
- Jurisprudence exam. Does Montana require a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
- Criminal-history requirements. What criminal-history requirements apply to nursing licensure in Montana?
- Where privilege is not enough. When do I need a Montana single-state licence instead of privilege?
- If you hold only a single-state licence. I hold a single-state licence — does the NLC do anything for me in Montana?
- Extra state requirements. Does Montana add anything on top of the compact?
- How long it takes. How long will Montana take to process my application?
- Temporary licence. Can I start working in Montana before full approval?
- If your licence lapses. My Montana licence expired — what is the reinstatement process?
Where the sources disagree or go quiet
Worth asking about directly.
Why does the Board report compact issuance since 2015 while the NLC map lists implementation on 2018-01-19?
Does the Montana endorsement fingerprint check include an FBI search?
What requirements and fees apply to reinstating a lapsed Montana RN or LPN license?