StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Alabama

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$325
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No ABN source states a minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null. Fingerprint-based FBI/Alabama Law Enforcement Agency criminal background checks are required, effective Jan. 1, 2020, for all applicants for multistate (Nurse Licensure Compact) licenses and all applicants for licensure by endorsement; the ABN fingerprinting page does not state that in-state, single-state licensure-by-examination applicants are subject to the same fingerprint requirement. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Alabama requires graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing program (ABN Administrative Code Chapter 610-X-3, Nursing Education Programs); the parent institution must be accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized accreditor, and practical nursing programs may satisfy programmatic-accreditation requirements via the Council on Occupational Education (COE). No specific clock-hour or credit-hour minimum for LPN programs could be located in Chapter 610-X-3 or on the ABN site, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computerized adaptive test (CAT) delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. National exam-registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from the Alabama Board of Nursing's own application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) with the $125 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Alabama.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $125
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $103.5
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Online transaction fee (application) [3] $3.5
NCLEX-PN registration (Pearson VUE, national) [3] $200

ABN's licensure-by-exam (single-state license, SSL) application fee is $125 plus a $3.50 online transaction fee; there is no separate 'license issuance' fee beyond this application fee. Renewal fee is $103.50 ($100 license fee + $3.50 transaction fee) each odd-numbered year. Reinstatement after lapse is $250 + $3.50.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPN licenses renew every odd-numbered year; the renewal window runs September 1 to December 31. 24 contact hours of continuing education are required per 2-year license period, including a one-time 4-hour Nurse Practice Act course.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Alabama implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on Jan. 1, 2020, per the compact commission's official implementation-date table (NurseCompact.com / NCSBN NLC_Map.pdf). Out-of-state LPNs may also apply for a single-state Alabama license by endorsement.

20 state-approved training providers in Alabama — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $125
  • $200
Total$325

Frequently asked questions

What license does Alabama issue to practical nurses?

Alabama issues the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license through the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Is Alabama part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. Alabama implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) on January 1, 2020, so LPNs with a multistate compact license from another NLC state may practice in Alabama without a separate Alabama license.

How much does it cost to apply for an Alabama LPN license by examination?

The single-state license (SSL) application fee is $125 plus a $3.50 online transaction fee, in addition to the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do Alabama LPN licenses renew, and is continuing education required?

LPN licenses renew every odd-numbered year (window: September 1 to December 31) for a $103.50 fee. 24 contact hours of continuing education are required per 2-year license period, including a one-time 4-hour Nurse Practice Act course.

Do I need a background check to become an LPN in Alabama?

Fingerprint-based FBI/state criminal background checks are required for applicants seeking a multistate (Compact) license or licensure by endorsement from another state, effective January 1, 2020.

Sources

  1. [1] admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/chapter/610-X-3 — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] abn.alabama.gov/licensing/apply/licensure-by-exam/exam-application-single-state/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] abn.alabama.gov/licensing/renewal/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] abn.alabama.gov/licensing/fingerprinting/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  6. [6] nursecompact.com — accessed 2026-07-10