Licensing authority
North Dakota Board of Nursing
Conditions & source context
Captured official Board homepage identity.
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
ND
North Dakota
Does this state recognize my multistate license?
Multistate license recognizedND
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Licensure route for temporary work on valid home-stateMSL, no NDrestriction.
Supporting evidence and conditions
Licensure route for temporary work on valid home-stateMSL, no NDrestriction.
State Board of Nursing · ndbon.org · verified 9 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- Yes N.D.C.C. § 43-12.4-01 (current code; original enactment act unverified)
- In force
- Yes date not published
- 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.
Licensing portal
Conditions & source context
Exact portal URI printed and linked; mandatory online applications stated in surrounding instructions.
Source quotation
To access the Nurse Portal, click the “Nurse Portal” button located in the main navigation of our website or visit: https://ndbon.boardsofnursing.org/ndbn/
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Contact
- Phone
- (701) 751-3000
- Fax
- (701) 751-2221
- Endorsement email
- endorse@ndbon.org
- Endorsement phone
- (701) 400-0483
- Renewal email
- renewal@ndbon.org
- Address
- 919 S 7th St, Suite 504, Bismarck, ND 58504
Conditions & source context
Board main/fax plus endorsement and renewal-specific contacts separately evidenced.
Source quotation
Contact Us endorse@ndbon.org (701) 400-0483 919 S 7th St., Suite 504 Bismarck, ND 58504
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Governing law
Nurse Practices Act section43-12.1-08; BoardCErule54-02-05-08
Conditions & source context
Board-published references only; full current PracticeAct/rules citation sweep not complete. NDCC/NDACtitle labels not inferred from numbers.
Source quotation
The Nurse Practices Act contains continuing education requirements in Section 43-12.1-08.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
License requirements
License types, exams, expiration dates and multistate eligibility.
Licence types
RN
- State title
- Registered Nurse
LPN
- State title
- LPN
Conditions & source context
RN spelling and RN/LPN pathways explicit. LPN full state-title spelling not independently quoted, so published abbreviation retained. APRN excluded.
Source quotation
To receive your North Dakota LPN or RN license by endorsement, you must complete the following items which are discussed in further detail below:
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Multistate licences issued
Yes
Source quotation
Meet one of the residency requirements below in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) Primary State of Residence (PSOR) rules due to North Dakota being a member of the NLC
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Licence term
- Expires on
- The same date for everyone
- Fixed date
- December 31
Conditions & source context
Initial examination and endorsement licenses expire December 31 of the following year. This field describes the initial term; the ongoing two-year interval is sourced separately under renewal.cycle_years.
Source quotation
Applicants for initial license by examination shall receive a license expiring December 31 of the following year as part of the application fee.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
NCLEX required to get licensed
Yes
Conditions & source context
Endorsement separately requires a license issued after passing the NCLEX.
Source quotation
Register with Pearson for the NCLEX for the level of licensure sought
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Working across state lines
Compact membership, license privileges and application requirements.
NLC law enacted
- Status
- Yes
- Citation
- N.D.C.C. § 43-12.4-01 (current code; original enactment act unverified)
Conditions & source context
Current official codification supports enactment status. This capture provides no enacting bill/session-law history or approval date; leave both unknown rather than manufacturing a bill citation.
NLC law in force
- Status
- Yes
- Delayed clause
- Yes
- Clause
- Article X makes the Compact effective and binding on the earlier of legislative enactment by no fewer than 26 states or December 31, 2018. The actual trigger date is not established in this captured code text.
Conditions & source context
Current Board evidence already supports current visiting practice. Do not use the Commission map's operational date as the unverified Article X trigger date. Article X makes the Compact effective and binding on the earlier of legislative enactment by no fewer than 26 states or December 31, 2018.
Source quotation
This compact becomes effective and binding on the earlier of the date of legislative enactment of this compact into law by no less than twenty-six states or December 31, 2018.
legis.nd.gov · State statute
Issuing multistate licences
- Status
- Yes
Conditions & source context
Current privilege operation confirmed; the initial go-live date is unverified.
Source quotation
Nurses who are residents of NLC states that hold an active multistate license in their PSOR coming to work in North Dakota for a temporary amount of time are not required to obtain ND licensure.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Conditions for privilege
- Hold an active multistate license in the compact primary state of residence
Conditions & source context
Temporary presence only; endorsement PSOR rules decide who must apply for a North Dakota license.
Source quotation
Nurses who are residents of NLC states that hold an active multistate license in their PSOR coming to work in North Dakota for a temporary amount of time are not required to obtain ND licensure.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Home-state residence rule
- Keys off home-state residence
- Yes
- If your home state changes
- New North Dakota resident must establish NDPSOR for ND-issuedMSL; exact application deadline unreviewed.
- Detail
- Endorsement eligibility includes NDresidents; noncompactresidents; compactresidents ineligible forMSL due discipline/criminalhistory; residents moving toND. Visitors with valid home-stateMSL do not needNDlicense.
Conditions & source context
Full listed eligibility restored, including compact-state residents unable to obtainMSL. Eligibility for single-state endorsement is distinct from ND-issuedMSL residency.
Source quotation
Meet one of the residency requirements below in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) Primary State of Residence (PSOR) rules due to North Dakota being a member of the NLC: Be a resident of North Dakota, Be a resident of a state that is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), e a resident of a state that is a resident of the NLC, but are ineligible for a multistate license in that state due to disciplinary action or criminal history, Be a resident of a state that is a member of the NLC, but moving to North Dakota in the near future to become a resident of North Dakota Please note: Nurses who are residents of NLC states that hold an active multistate license in their PSOR coming to work in North Dakota for a temporary amount of time are not required to obtain ND licensure. They are able to work in North Dakota on their current multistate license without any additional requirements.
ndbon.org · 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
Licensure route for temporary work on valid home-stateMSL, no NDrestriction.
Source quotation
They are able to work in North Dakota on their current multistate license without any additional requirements.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Verify privilege
Conditions & source context
Exact Nursys anchor on official Board instructions; returned search result not inspected.
Source quotation
Verify nurse multistate license status at: www.nursys.com
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Apply from another state
Eligibility, application fees, background checks and temporary licenses.
Endorsement available
Yes
Conditions & source context
US-educated and foreign-educated routes documented.
Source quotation
Are you a nurse seeking to transfer your license to North Dakota?
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
What it is called
Initial License by Endorsement
Source quotation
then select the Initial License by Endorsement application for the level of licensure sought.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Where to apply
Conditions & source context
Exact portal URI printed and linked; mandatory online applications stated in surrounding instructions.
Source quotation
To access the Nurse Portal, click the “Nurse Portal” button located in the main navigation of our website or visit: https://ndbon.boardsofnursing.org/ndbn/
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
What you must provide
Endorsement application in the Nurse Portal
- Detail
- Incomplete applications remain active for one year.
Official transcript sent directly by the school
- Detail
- Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse preferred; applicant-sent, unofficial, faxed, and emailed copies not accepted.
Nursys verification of the initial license by exam and at least one active license
- Detail
- An active exam-state license satisfies both verification items.
Practice requirement of 400 hours in the past four years, or program completion or refresher course within the past four years
- Detail
- Attested in the application subject to audit.
Criminal History Record Check items as one packet
- Detail
- Required for issuance of the license, but not for a temporary permit.
Conditions & source context
U.S.-educated RN/LPN pathway; applicant-specific education/eligibility and fullCHRC checklist remain separate. Endorsement refresher lookback4years differs from renewal lookback1year.
Source quotation
Send verification of license for both your initial license by exam as well as an active license. All verifications must be sent through Nursys: www.nursys.com
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
How long it takes
- Fastest published
- 7
- Slowest published
- 10
- Basis
- published_by_state
- Unit
- business_days
- Clock start
- Board receives all completed documents, fees and CHRC report
Conditions & source context
FAQ7–10business days applies after complete receipt, includingCHRC. Current endorsement page also gives5–10business-day document processing. Neither is a typical total elapsed application-to-license time or guaranteed maximum; CHRC is separate.
Source quotation
Once all of the completed paperwork, including Criminal History Record Check (CHRC) report, and fees are received in the Board office, allow a least seven (7) to 10 business days for full licensure.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Background check
- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- FBI check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Fee
- 43
- From out of state
- Contact local law enforcement or a private fingerprinting agency; standard FBI Applicant card FD-258; mail the packet to the Board, which forwards it to BCI.
Conditions & source context
Current43mandatoryBCIfee separate from application and variable fingerprintcollection charges. Current form changedSeptember2026; use updatedform. StandardFD258card, packet mailed to Board, thenBCI. No named vendor inferred.
Source quotation
Contact your local law enforcement agency or a private agency that provides fingerprinting services to make an appointment to be fingerprinted Fee for fingerprinting will vary depending upon agency charges Agencies and law enforcement must use the standard FBI Applicant card (FD-258) for fingerprints Download and complete the Criminal History Record Check form (SFN 60688) and the Fingerprint Identity Verification Form (SFN 62550) available by clicking here Complete the last section titled “To be Completed by Subject of Record Check” only Sign and date the form Completed fingerprint cards (from the law enforcement agency/private agency) TWO completed fingerprint cards if ink and roll ONE completed fingerprint card if electronic (electronic means the fingerprints are electronically scanned and printed onto the fingerprint cards. Applicants are still required to mail in the hard copy of the fingerprint cards) Do not fold fingerprint cards Money Order, Cashier Check, or personal check for $43.00, with a current date, and must be made payable to ND Attorney General (Please do not send cash as your payment – cash is not accepted) Please note this is a separate, mandatory fee for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and not included/part of your original application fee. Mail the completed packet to the North Dakota Board of Nursing North Dakota Board of Nursing 919 S 7th Street, Suite 504 Bismarck, ND 58504 Note: NDBON will submit the completed form, fee, and fingerprint cards to Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI). BCI will return the background check results to NDBON
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Temporary licence
- Available
- Yes
- Type
- Single-state90day nonrenewable temporary permit
- Term days
- 90
- Additional fee usd
- 0
- Extendable
- No
Conditions & source context
Only after application/transcript and license-verification review; previous unfinished permit application can block another. CHRC completion is pending, not prerequisite to permit. Single-state full in-scopeNDpractice only.
Source quotation
90-day Temporary Permit: Upon receipt and processing of your endorsement application, official transcript, and license verification of both your initial exam license and an active license, your application will be reviewed for issuance of a 90-day nonrenewable temporary permit. There is no additional fee, application, or request required to receive a temporary permit, all applications are issued one when eligible after review. All temporary permits are issued as single-state and good for only practice in North Dakota and cannot be used as verification for applying for licensure in other states. The temporary permit is good for full practice as a nurse within the appropriate scope of practice and is issued to allow practice while your CHRC is being processed. Extensions will not be granted. A temporary permit may not be issued if you have previously received a temporary permit for an application that you did not complete the requirements to receive full licensure/registry for, the application will be reviewed for full licensure issuance instead.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Nursys verification
- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
Conditions & source context
Required verification of originalexam and at leastoneactive license underU.S.-educated pathway. One activeexam-stateverification satisfiesboth. Nursysfee unknown; outgoingverification guidance is not used as inboundevidence.
Source quotation
Send verification of license for both your initial license by exam as well as an active license. All verifications must be sent through Nursys: www.nursys.com
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Renewal and education
Renewal dates, required education and reinstatement options.
Renewal interval (years)
2
Conditions & source context
The current Board CE policy explicitly describes a two-year licensure renewal cycle. Initial licenses can expire December 31 of the following year; this does not promise an initial full 24-month term.
Source quotation
Please note, the comprehensive Advanced Life Support Skills courses completed in their entirety may be used to meet CE requirements once each two-year licensure renewal cycle.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Renewal competency and CE
RN
- Regular requirement hours
- 12
- Lookback years
- 2
- Credited alternatives
- Initial examination coursework meets first-renewal requirement
- Reactivation refresher-course contact hours can count for first renewal cycle
LPN
- Regular requirement hours
- 12
- Lookback years
- 2
- Credited alternatives
- Initial examination coursework meets first-renewal requirement
- Reactivation refresher-course contact hours can count for first renewal cycle
Conditions & source context
RN/LPN regular12hours over2years with coursework/refresher credit exceptions. No universal12freshcourse-hours inferred; APRNpharmacotherapy requirement excluded.
Source quotation
The Board determined in Section 54-02-05-08 that continuing education for purposes of relicensure must meet or exceed twelve (12) contact hours within the preceding two (2) years. An APRN with Prescriptive Authority must complete 15 contact hours of pharmacotherapy education related to scope of practice during the previous two (2) years. These contact hours fulfill the registered nurse renewal continuing education requirement. NDAC 54-05-03.1-11 An applicant that obtained initial RN or LPN licensure through examination will not need to complete additional contact hours of approved continuing education before the first renewal of a nursing license. The requirements have been met through the academic coursework. An applicant for reactivation of a license can use the refresher course contact hours for the first renewal cycle after reactivation of a license.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
State-specific requirements
400
- Lookback years
- 4
- Alternatives
- Refresher completed in preceding1year
- Undergraduate/graduate nursing graduation in preceding4years
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Conditions & source context
Renewal refresher lookback1year, not endorsement4years. Other regulated-profession hours cannot satisfy nursingpractice. Complete attestation checklist not swept.
Source quotation
Nursing practice for the purposes of relicensure must meet or exceed 400 hours within the preceding four (4) years. Hours practiced in another regulated profession cannot be used for nursing practice hours. Nurses who have completed a refresher course within the preceding year or graduated from a nursing undergraduate or nursing graduate program in the last four (4) years with less than 400 hours of nursing practice will be able to renew their license without meeting this requirement.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Approved CE providers
Conditions & source context
Official criteria for accepted CE provider categories, activities and credit calculations; this is not a school directory or a guarantee that every course from a named provider qualifies.
Source quotation
Board recognized providers of CE include: The North Dakota Board of Nursing. An accredited college or university. A health care regulatory board A professional organization that is nationally accredited to approve CE.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
If your licence lapses
- Pathway
- Reactivation of a lapsed license; LPN reactivation $210, RN reactivation $220.
- Late renewal
- Late renewal occurs the January following expiration; LPN late $260, RN late $280.
Conditions & source context
Published fee/core route only; full application eligibility/checklist not swept. Practice without current license can add fees; this is not a complete-cost estimate.
Source quotation
Reactivation is a process to activate a license that has since lapsed
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
License verification
Official license-verification links and the information available from each source.
Licence lookup
Conditions & source context
Verification Portal link observed on the Board site; returned fields unverified.
Source quotation
Allow 3-5 business days for your updated expiration date to display on our Verify site after renewal of an active license.
ndbon.org · State Board of Nursing
Ask the board of nursing
North Dakota's published rules don't answer these. Ask before you apply — ndbon.org.
- Jurisprudence exam. Does North Dakota require a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
- Criminal-history requirements. What criminal-history requirements apply to nursing licensure in North Dakota?
- Application fee. What does it cost to get licensed in North Dakota from out of state?