Minnesota Nursing License
How to get your Minnesota nursing license
- Complete an approved nursing program (RN or LPN/LVN).
- Pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination.
- Apply to the Minnesota Board of Nursing for licensure by examination or endorsement.
- Complete the required criminal background check and pay licensure fees.
Minnesota licensing at a glance
| Initial license fee | $105 |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | $85 / 2 years |
| Continuing education | 24 hours / 2 years |
| Compact (NLC) member | No |
Initial $105 (by examination); biennial renewal $85. 24 CE contact hours are required per 24-month renewal period, with no mandated course topics. Not an NLC member — an individual Minnesota license is required even with a multistate compact license.
Official resources
- Minnesota Board of Nursing — apply, renew, and check requirements.
- Verify a nursing license (Nursys)
- Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) map — which states honor a multistate license.
- Directory of state boards of nursing (NCSBN)
Minnesota nursing license FAQ
- Does my compact nursing license let me work in Minnesota?
- No. Minnesota is not a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so you must hold an individual Minnesota nursing license even if you carry a multistate compact license.
- How much does a Minnesota nursing license cost?
- The initial RN licensure fee in Minnesota is $105, and renewal is $85 / 2 years.
- How many continuing-education hours does Minnesota require?
- Minnesota requires 24 hours / 2 years for RN license renewal.
- How do I verify a Minnesota nursing license?
- Verify any U.S. nursing license through Nursys, the national verification system operated by the state boards of nursing.