StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Maryland

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$387
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing program (or an out-of-state program found substantially equivalent)., pass a criminal background check. No minimum age requirement was found on MBON's official licensure pages for LPN licensure itself; individual nursing programs may set their own enrollment age minimums. A Criminal History Records Check (Maryland CJIS Central Repository plus FBI national check) is required for initial licensure. The Board retired its FAQs-Licensure PDF; the citation above is its current FAQ page. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. MBON requires graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing program (or an out-of-state program the Board finds substantially equivalent), per Health Occupations Article Section 8-302 and COMAR Title 10.27. Unlike the CNA program (which codifies a 100-hour minimum in COMAR 10.39.02.06), the pages reviewed for LPN licensure by examination did not state a specific statewide minimum classroom/clinical hour count — program length is set by each approved school within Board accreditation standards rather than by a single fixed regulatory hour figure. The Board retired its FAQs-Licensure PDF; the citation above is its current FAQ page. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computerized adaptive test administered at Pearson VUE test centers. National registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from the Maryland Board of Nursing's own examination/re-examination processing fee (see fees.application below). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) with the $187 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

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

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $187
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $165
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
RN and LPN Endorsement (out-of-state transfer) [3] $230

MBON's fee schedule (effective 7/1/2025) lists a combined 'Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) exam and re-exam' fee of $187, which covers the Board's application/licensure-by-examination processing (distinct from the $200 NCLEX-PN fee paid separately to Pearson VUE — see exams). No separate stand-alone 'license' fee is itemized beyond the exam/application fee; biennial active renewal is $165.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Maryland does not mandate a single fixed continuing-education-hour figure as the only renewal path. COMAR 10.27 offers alternative continued-competency options (a minimum of active practice hours, completion of a Board-approved degree program, or completion of continuing education), but the official MBON pages reviewed during this research session did not state an exact CE-hour number on a Board-owned page, so it is left null rather than cite a secondary aggregator site for that figure. Renewal is biennial.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: NLC.

Maryland is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state; the NLC covers both RNs and LPNs. NCSBN's official NLC implementation table lists Maryland as implemented January 19, 2018. Non-compact applicants, or those not eligible for a multistate license, may apply for a single-state Maryland license by endorsement ($230 fee) if they hold an active, good-standing license from another jurisdiction with substantially similar requirements.

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

Cost calculator

  • $187
  • $200
Total$387

Frequently asked questions

How do I qualify for an LPN license in Maryland?

Graduate from a Maryland Board of Nursing-approved practical nursing program (or an out-of-state program the Board finds substantially equivalent), then pass the NCLEX-PN.

Who administers the NCLEX-PN and what does it cost?

Pearson VUE, under contract with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, administers the exam for a $200 national registration fee. Maryland's own examination/application processing fee is a separate $187.

How much does an LPN license cost to renew in Maryland?

The biennial active renewal fee is $165.

Is Maryland part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. Maryland implemented the NLC on January 19, 2018, so an LPN holding a Maryland multistate license may practice in other NLC member states without a separate license, subject to each state's practice laws.

Can I transfer my LPN license from another state to Maryland?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement ($230 fee) if you hold an active, good-standing license from a state with substantially similar requirements.

Sources

  1. [1] health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/faqs.aspx — accessed 2026-07-27
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/services-fees.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/licensure-by-exam.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10