StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Maine

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$275
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Maine State Board of Nursing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing program (or an equivalent out-of-state/international program meeting Board standards, with foreign credentials evaluated by TruMerit/CGFNS)., pass a criminal background check. No statewide minimum age for LPN licensure is published in the Board's licensure-requirements document — left null rather than guessed. A fingerprint-based criminal background check through IdentoGO is required for initial licensure ($52 fee, results valid 90 days). Applicants must hold a valid U.S. Social Security number, and foreign-educated applicants whose education was not in English must pass the TOEFL (minimum total score 84, speaking subscore 26). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Maine requires graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing program, and Maine-program graduates submit a School Certification Form completed by the program administration, but the Board's own licensure-requirements document and LPN Nursing Programs page do not publish a single statewide clock-hour minimum for PN programs. Left as null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Registration fee is paid directly to Pearson VUE via nclex.com and is separate from the Board's own $75 application fee. Authorization to Test is valid for 90 days and cannot be extended. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maine State Board of Nursing with the $75 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

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

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $75
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $50
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Endorsement (licensure from another state) [3] $50
Reactivation [3] $50
Reinstatement [3] $60
Criminal background check (IdentoGO, valid 90 days) [3] $52

Application fee for licensure by examination is $75 (non-refundable). Renewal, endorsement, and reactivation are each $50; reinstatement is $60. A separate $52 criminal background check fee (paid to IdentoGO, not the Board) applies to all applicants. There is no separate 'license issuance' fee beyond the $75 application fee, so license is left null.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Per 32 M.R.S. §2255, a practical nurse license is renewable every 2 years and expires on the anniversary of the licensee's birthday, with a renewal fee capped by statute at $100 (the Board's current renewal fee is $50). The statute contains no continuing education requirement, and Maine does not require LPNs to complete continuing education hours as a condition of renewal (renewal instead requires attestation of continued competency) — so ceHours is left null (confirmed absence, not simply unpublished).

Reciprocity

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

Maine is a current Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member, confirmed both on the Board's own PN licensure-requirements document ('The State of Maine is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact') and on the official NCSBN/nursecompact.com compact map, which lists Maine as 'Enacted NLC.' To be eligible for a Maine multistate license, Maine must be declared as the applicant's primary state of residence (PSOR); if the applicant's PSOR is a different compact state, they are not eligible for Maine licensure. LPNs licensed in another state may also apply for a Maine license by Endorsement ($50 application fee).

1 state-approved training provider in Maine — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $200
Total$275

Frequently asked questions

Who administers the LPN licensing exam in Maine?

The NCLEX-PN, administered by Pearson VUE for a $200 fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from the Maine Board of Nursing's own $75 application fee.

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

The non-refundable application fee for licensure by examination is $75, plus a separate $52 IdentoGO criminal background check fee. Renewal, endorsement, and reactivation are each $50.

How often do Maine LPNs renew their license, and is continuing education required?

Every 2 years, on the anniversary of the licensee's birthday. Maine does not require continuing education hours as a condition of LPN renewal.

Does Maine participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. Maine is a current NLC member, so a Maine multistate LPN license is valid to practice in other compact states — but you must declare Maine as your primary state of residence to qualify for a multistate license.

Do I need a Social Security number to get a Maine LPN license?

Yes. A valid U.S. Social Security Number is required to be issued a Maine PN license; applicants without one at the time of initial application must submit it once issued.

Sources

  1. [1] maine.gov/boardofnursing/sites/boardofnursing/files/2026-06/PN%20licensure%20requirements_6.2026.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] maine.gov/boardofnursing/licensure/fees-fines — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec2255.html — accessed 2026-07-10