Rhode Island

Licensing authority

Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education

Source quotation

Contact Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education

ncsbn.org · NCSBN

Authority website

health.ri.gov

Conditions & source context

NCSBN observed official website link points to RIDOH; the source of this URL claim is the Board directory detail page.

Source quotation

Visit Website

ncsbn.org · NCSBN

Contact

Phone

401-222-5700

Email

michele.monroe@health.ri.gov

Address

Three Capitol Hill - Room 103, Providence, RI 02908-5097

Conditions & source context

Applicant contact in the current official initial-application PDF; NCSBN lists a separate Board location room.

Source quotation

Department of Health Three Capitol Hill - Room 103 Providence, RI 02908-5097 Phone: 401-222-5700 Email: michele.monroe@health.ri.gov

health.ri.gov · State Board of Nursing

Licensing portal

healthri.mylicense.com

Conditions & source context

Observed displayed application URL and PDF link annotation href https://healthri.mylicense.com/ on page 1.

Source quotation

Apply online at https://healthri.mylicense.com.

health.ri.gov · State Board of Nursing

Governing law

216-RICR-40-05-3, Licensing of Nurses and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs

Conditions & source context

Captured official rule is Active, effective January 4, 2022, periodic refile with no text changes. Fee rule 216-RICR-10-05-2 is separately active from March 25, 2026.

Source quotation

Licensing of Nurses and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs (216-RICR-40-05-3)

rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code

Licence types

• RN

  State title

  Registered Nurse

• LPN

  State title

  Licensed Practical Nurse

Conditions & source context

The same titles subsection states licensed practical nurse and L.P.N.; RN/LPN scope only.

Source quotation

Any person who holds a license to practice as a professional nurse in this state shall have the right to use the title "registered nurse"

rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code

Multistate licences issued

Yes

Conditions & source context

Official application instructions include actual RN/LPN multistate and single-state license options; eligibility and PSOR rules apply.

Source quotation

If you are eligible for a RI multistate license you are required to apply for one.

health.ri.gov · State Board of Nursing

Licence term

Years

2

Expires on

The same date for everyone

Fixed date

March 1

Conditions & source context

The statutory initial-expiration rule is March 1 of every other year following the license date; it is not an issuance anniversary.

Source quotation

a renewal license effective March second and expiring two (2) years later on March first

webserver.rilegislature.gov · State statute

Conditions for privilege

• Hold a current unencumbered RN/LPN multistate license from the compact primary state of residence.
• Practice subject to Rhode Island scope, discipline and other applicable practice laws.

Conditions & source context

Visiting privilege is separate from applying for a Rhode Island multistate license. RIDOH directs nurses whose PSOR is another compact state to apply in that home state.

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

Home-state residence rule

Keys off home-state residence

Yes

If your home state changes

Meet applicable requirements to obtain a multistate license from the new home state.

Detail

RI multistate application option requires RI PSOR or intended RI PSOR within 60 days following submission plus the stated applicant eligibility; noncompact PSOR or multistate-ineligible applicants use the single-state option.

Conditions & source context

The application option wording is not substituted for a general 60-day deadline for every residence change.

Source quotation

A nurse, who changes primary state of residence after this compact's effective date, must meet all applicable requirements to obtain a multistate license from a new home state

webserver.rilegislature.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

Eligible visiting RN/LPN compact-license holders may use privilege. RI PSOR applicants and single-state-only license holders follow their respective application routes.

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 hold only a single-state licence

Single-state grants no privilege

Yes

Upgrading

RI PSOR holders of active unencumbered single-state licenses use the Upgrade to Multistate option with residency proof. RIDOH states no new background check is required for that upgrade.

Source quotation

the single-state license granted to these individuals will not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice nursing in any other party state

webserver.rilegislature.gov · State Board of Nursing

NLC law enacted

Status

Yes

Citation

P.L. 2023, chapters 338 and 397, section 1

Conditions & source context

Current compact enactment history, distinct from prior 2007 compact.

Source quotation

P.L. 2023, ch. 338, § 1, effective January 1, 2024; P.L. 2023, ch. 397, § 1, effective January 1, 2024.

webserver.rilegislature.gov · State statute

NLC law in force

Status

Yes

Effective

2024-01-01

Conditions & source context

The current official section is marked Expires January 1, 2027; future continuation has not been confirmed. This effective date is distinct from NCSBN operational implementation on January 8, 2024.

Source quotation

P.L. 2023, ch. 338, § 1, effective January 1, 2024; P.L. 2023, ch. 397, § 1, effective January 1, 2024.

webserver.rilegislature.gov · State statute

Issuing multistate licences

Status

Yes

Connected

2024-01-08

Conditions & source context

NCSBN jurisdiction implementation table gives January 8, 2024. RIDOH instructions say Rhode Island rejoined effective January 1, 2024 and show actual multistate application options; the statutory effective date is retained separately.

Source context The retrieved NCSBN PDF contains a Revised: Sept. 6, 2023 footer while its implementation table includes 2025 dates. The table is preserved as a retrieval-date snapshot; the footer does not establish its actual revision date.

Source quotation

Revised: Sept. 6, 2023

nursecompact.com

Source quotation

Rhode Island Jan. 8, 2024

nursecompact.com · NCSBN

Where to apply

healthri.mylicense.com

Conditions & source context

Observed displayed application URL and PDF link annotation href https://healthri.mylicense.com/ on page 1.

Source quotation

Apply online at https://healthri.mylicense.com.

health.ri.gov · State Board of Nursing

Endorsement available

Yes

Conditions & source context

The active rule covers professional/registered and practical nurse endorsement.

Source quotation

Without Examination by Endorsement.

rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code

What it is called

Without Examination by Endorsement

Source quotation

Without Examination by Endorsement.

rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code

What you must provide

• 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.

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

Application fee

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.

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

How long it takes

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.

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

Background check

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.

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

Nursys verification

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.

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

Renewal interval (years)

2

Source quotation

a renewal license effective March second and expiring two (2) years later on March first

webserver.rilegislature.gov · State statute

Renewal competency and CE

• 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.

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

State-specific requirements

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.

Source quotation

These documents shall be retained by each licensee for no less than four (4) years

rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code

If your licence lapses

Pathway

Application and current renewal fee for licenses lapsed through nonrenewal, unless suspended or revoked.

Renewal fee usd by license

RN

135

LPN

45

Practice during lapse

Illegal practice under the statute/rule.

Conditions & source context

No grace period is inferred. Inactive-list return may instead require CE attestation or an approved re-entry program plus Board approval.

Source quotation

may be reinstated by the Department upon submission of an application and on payment of the current renewal fee, unless license has been suspended or revoked.

rules.sos.ri.gov · State administrative code