Licensing authority
New Mexico Board of Nursing
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
NM
New Mexico
Does this state recognize my multistate license?
Multistate license recognizedNM
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Applies to RN/LPN practice under a valid home-state multistate license. Employer credentials and APRN authority are separate.
Supporting evidence and conditions
Applies to RN/LPN practice under a valid home-state multistate license. Employer credentials and APRN authority are separate.
State statute · files.bon.nm.gov · verified 9 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- Yes 2018 SB 1 / Chapter 1; 61-3-24.1 NMSA 1978
- In force
- Yes since 18 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.
Licensing portal
Contact
- Phone
- 505-841-8340
- Fax
- 505-841-8347
- Address
- 6301 Indian School Road, NE, Suite 710, Albuquerque, NM 87110
Source quotation
Phone 505.841.8340 Fax 505.841.8347 Location 6301 Indian School Road, NE, Suite 710 Albuquerque, NM 87110
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
Governing law
Nursing Practice Act, Chapter 61, Article 3 NMSA 1978
Source quotation
Chapter 61, Article 3 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Nursing Practice Act".
files.bon.nm.gov · State statute
License requirements
License types, exams, expiration dates and multistate eligibility.
Licence types
RN
- State title
- Registered Nurse
LPN
- State title
- Licensed Practical Nurse
Multistate licences issued
Yes
Source quotation
Current multistate license holders will see the fee during renewal.
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
Licence term
- Expires on
- Your birth month
- Initial term
- Through the last day of the birth month after the first anniversary of initial licensure.
- Renewal term years
- 2
Conditions & source context
Renewals use a two-year interval; the initial term is shorter.
Source quotation
An initial license shall be valid until the last day of the applicants' birth month after the first anniversary of the initial license.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
NCLEX required to get licensed
Yes
Conditions & source context
Initial RN and LPN licensure by examination requires the corresponding NCLEX. The expedited prior-license route has separate conditions.
Source quotation
Applicants for licensure as registered nurses shall be required to pass the NCLEX-RN.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Working across state lines
Compact membership, license privileges and application requirements.
NLC law enacted
- Status
- Yes
- Enacted
18 Jan 2018
- Citation
- 2018 SB 1 / Chapter 1; 61-3-24.1 NMSA 1978
Source quotation
Laws 2018, ch. 1, § 1 repealed former 61-3-24.1 NMSA 1978, and enacted a new section, effective January 18, 2018.
files.bon.nm.gov · State statute
NLC law in force
- Status
- Yes
- Effective
18 Jan 2018
Conditions & source context
The statutory effective date is separate from the date multistate licensing began.
Source quotation
Laws 2018, ch. 1, § 1 repealed former 61-3-24.1 NMSA 1978, and enacted a new section, effective January 18, 2018.
files.bon.nm.gov · State statute
Issuing multistate licences
- Status
- Yes
Conditions & source context
Current multistate licensing is confirmed; the initial implementation date is unverified.
Source quotation
Current multistate license holders will see the fee during renewal.
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
Conditions for privilege
- Hold a valid RN or LPN/VN multistate license issued by the compact home state in which you reside.
- Follow the nursing practice laws where the patient is located.
Source quotation
A multistate license to practice registered or licensed practical or 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 or as a licensed practical or vocational nurse, under a multistate licensure privilege, in each party state.
files.bon.nm.gov · State statute
Home-state residence rule
- Keys off home-state residence
- Yes
- Detail
- New Mexico can issue compact-state applicants a license only when New Mexico is their primary state of residence.
Source quotation
For states who are a part of the nurse licensure compact, licensure in New Mexico can only be issued to applicants who declare New Mexico as their primary state of residence.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Can I take a contract on privilege alone
Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Conditions & source context
Applies to RN/LPN practice under a valid home-state multistate license. Employer credentials and APRN authority are separate.
Source quotation
A multistate license to practice registered or licensed practical or 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 or as a licensed practical or vocational nurse, under a multistate licensure privilege, in each party state.
files.bon.nm.gov · State statute
Apply from another state
Eligibility, application fees, background checks and temporary licenses.
Endorsement available
Yes
Source quotation
Submit an RN/LPN ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION and fee through the Nurse Portal.
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
What it is called
RN/LPN endorsement
Where to apply
What you must provide
Submit the online RN/LPN endorsement application and fee.
- Detail
- Applications remain valid for one year; fees are nonrefundable.
Provide verification from the original exam state or Nursys.
- Detail
- Applicants without a Social Security number may need the two verifications described by the Board.
Complete the criminal background check through Idemia/IdentoGo.
- Detail
- Retain the fingerprint receipt. Accepted fingerprints are valid for the active initial application.
Conditions & source context
The expedited one-year provisional route has separate current-license, good-standing, fingerprint and eligibility requirements.
Source quotation
Submit an RN/LPN ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION and fee through the Nurse Portal. NM BON only accepts on-line applications.
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
Application fee
- Amount
- 150
- Per
- application
- Non-refundable
- Yes
- Also payable
Multistate license, when applicable
- Amount
- 50
Temporary license, when separately requested
- Amount
- 60
Conditions & source context
Standard RN/LPN application fee. The rules list fee waivers for military applicants and related eligible groups. Fingerprint charges are unverified; this is not a complete application-cost total.
Source quotation
Initial licensure by examination or endorsement: Licensed practical nurse (LPN) $150 Registered nurse (RN) $150
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
How long it takes
- Slowest published
- 30
- Basis
- statutory
- License route
- Expedited provisional license only
Conditions & source context
The deadline begins only after all required materials, including third-party documents, are received. It does not establish a timeline for ordinary endorsement.
Source quotation
Upon submission of a complete application, the board's staff shall process the application and issue the expedited license to the applicant within 30 days unless the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction, or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Background check
- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- Idemia/IdentoGo
- From out of state
- Register through the Board-listed IdentoGo route and follow its fingerprint instructions.
Conditions & source context
The application guide identifies fingerprints and Idemia/IdentoGo. FBI-specific screening scope and the vendor fee are unverified.
Source quotation
Applicants for licensure in New Mexico are subject to a state and national criminal background check at their cost.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Temporary licence
- Available
- Yes
- Type
- Expedited provisional license
- Term
- One year
- Scope
- Qualified applicants already licensed in an eligible jurisdiction.
Conditions & source context
This is the expedited prior-license route. Graduate permits and refresher clinical permits have separate conditions; it is not an unrestricted temporary endorsement permit.
Source quotation
An expedited license is a one-year provisional license that confers the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as regular licenses issued by a board.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Nursys verification
- Required
- No
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
Conditions & source context
The Board accepts original-state verification or Nursys; Nursys is not the only route.
Source quotation
Verification of Licensure from state where applicant was licensed by exam or NURSYS.
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
Renewal and education
Renewal dates, required education and reinstatement options.
Renewal interval (years)
2
Source quotation
Licensed nurses shall be required to complete the renewal process by the end of their renewal month every two years.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Renewal competency and CE
RN
- CE option (hours)
- 30
- Requirement
- 30 approved CE hours within the preceding 24 months. Specialty-certification credit is described below.
LPN
- CE option (hours)
- 30
- Requirement
- 30 approved CE hours or qualifying certification/recertification under the LPN rule.
Conditions & source context
Initial endorsement does not require CE; CE applies at the first renewal and may be prorated.
Source context The Board’s RN summary lists current specialty certification as a substitute for CE hours. The 2026 RN rule states that certification may count as approved CE without assigning a full 30-hour credit. The amount of credit is unverified.
Source quotation
RN | 30 contact hours | CE courses OR Current National Certification (from Board of your specialty such as CCRN, CPN, CNOR) to cover continuing education requirements | 16.12.2.9 Q
Source quotation
30 hours of approved CE must be accrued within the 24 months immediately preceding expiration of license. CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
State-specific requirements
- Complete and upload continuing education to CE Broker before the renewal application.
- Online renewal opens 60 days before expiration.
Source quotation
Continuing Education must be complete and uploaded to CE Broker prior to submitting your renewal application.
bon.nm.gov · State Board of Nursing
Approved CE providers
Conditions & source context
The Board describes accepted approval bodies and activities on this CE page.
If your licence lapses
- Pathway
- Meet relicensure requirements; a lapse over 90 days requires a background check.
- Refresher
- Four or more years lapsed requires a refresher with didactic and clinical components.
- Clinical permit
- Refresher clinical temporary license up to six months, unless the Board approves an extension.
Conditions & source context
Reinstatement also uses the Board’s online renewal/reinstatement application and expired/lapsed attestation.
Source quotation
Reactivation/reinstatement of a lapsed license must meet the requirements for re-licensure, to include a background check if lapsed for over 90 days, pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act and these rules.
files.bon.nm.gov · State administrative code
Where the sources disagree or go quiet
Worth asking about directly.
Does current specialty certification receive full 30-hour RN renewal credit under the 2026 RN rule?
What was the first operational multistate licensing date under the 2018 compact?
What is the current IdentoGo fingerprint fee and FBI-specific screening scope for endorsement?