StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in District of Columbia

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$437
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
DC Health, Board of Nursing (Health Regulation and Licensing Administration)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No DC Health source reviewed states a minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null. All applicants (both by examination and by endorsement) must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check (CBC) through Fieldprint, bundled into the combined application-and-CBC fee ($237 by exam, $280 by endorsement). [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. DC requires successful completion of a practical nursing education program approved by the Board of Nursing (or a nursing board in another US jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards). No specific clock-hour minimum for LPN programs was found in the Board's own Licensed Practical Nurse Examination Requirements document, 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; applicants must obtain an Authorization to Test (ATT) after paying the Pearson VUE fee. National exam-registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from DC Health's own combined application-and-background-check fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to DC Health, Board of Nursing (Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) with the $237 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, DC Health, Board of Nursing (Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for District of Columbia.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $237
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] None specified
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Licensure by endorsement (application + criminal background check) [1] $280
NURSYS licensure verification service [1] $30
NCLEX-PN registration (Pearson VUE, national) [1] $200
Late renewal fee [1] $85

Per DC Health's official 'Licensed Practical Nurse Examination Requirements' form (Rev. 5/21), the combined application-and-criminal-background-check fee for licensure by examination is $237; licensure by endorsement instead costs $280 (also a combined application + CBC fee), plus a separate $30 NURSYS verification-of-licensure fee for endorsement applicants. DC Health does not appear to publish a single fixed current renewal-fee figure on an official page reviewed during this research (non-official aggregator sources cite conflicting figures of $145 and $195), so renewal is left null rather than guessed; a confirmed $85 late fee applies for renewals submitted after the June 30 deadline.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 18 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPN licenses expire at midnight on June 30 of odd-numbered years (biennial). Per the Board of Nursing's official 'Continuing Education Requirements' notice (dated 3/30/2022, governing the 2023 LPN renewal cycle and used as the standing LPN CE structure), LPNs must complete 18 total contact hours, including 2 hours in LGBTQ/cultural awareness and 3 hours in HIV/AIDS or Director's Topics as required by DC law. First-time renewals are exempt from the CE requirement.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

The District of Columbia is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact — it does not appear on the compact commission's official implementation list (NurseCompact.com / NCSBN NLC_Map.pdf), which is limited to the 50 states plus Guam, Massachusetts, and the US Virgin Islands (the latter two enacted-but-not-implemented). DC offers licensure by endorsement ($280 fee) for LPNs currently licensed in another US state or territory whose original licensure was based on a passing NCLEX-PN score (or the pre-1982 State Board Test Pool Examination). Out-of-state verification runs through NURSYS.COM ($30 fee); California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania do not participate in NURSYS and require manual verification instead.

Cost calculator

  • $237
  • $200
Total$437

Frequently asked questions

What license does DC issue to practical nurses?

The District of Columbia issues the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license through the DC Health Board of Nursing.

Is DC part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

No. The District of Columbia is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so LPNs need a DC-specific license (by examination or endorsement) to practice there — a multistate compact license from another state does not authorize DC practice.

How much does it cost to apply for an LPN license in DC?

The combined application-and-background-check fee is $237 for licensure by examination or $280 by endorsement, plus the separate $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do DC LPN licenses renew and how much continuing education is required?

Licenses renew every 2 years, expiring June 30 of odd-numbered years. LPNs must complete 18 contact hours of continuing education per cycle, including 2 hours on LGBTQ/cultural awareness and 3 hours on HIV/AIDS or Director's Topics. First-time renewals are exempt from CE.

Does DC require a background check for LPN licensure?

Yes. All applicants must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check through Fieldprint, bundled into the combined application fee.

Sources

  1. [1] dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/LICENSED%20PRACTICAL%20NURSE%20EXAMINATION%20REQUIREMENTS.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/service_content/attachments/CE%20Methods%20of%20Compliance%202022%20and%202023%20Renewals.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/LICENSED%20PRACTICAL%20NURSE%20ENDORSEMENT%20REQUIREMENTS.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] nursecompact.com — accessed 2026-07-10