StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Massachusetts

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$430
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (part of the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure, Department of Public Health)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing program.. Massachusetts licensure is based on a 'Good Moral Character' standard defined by state law rather than a fingerprint-based criminal background check requirement stated on the Board's application pages reviewed. No minimum age was published on the exam-application page. Applicants for initial licensure must also complete a one-time Alzheimer's/dementia care training course. mass.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-14. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Applicants must graduate from a Board-approved practical nursing program. The Board's own application page does not publish a fixed statewide classroom/clinical hour minimum for LPN programs — accreditation of the program itself (not a state-set hour count) is the qualifying standard. [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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing's own application fee (see fees.application). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (part of the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure, Department of Public Health) with the $230 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (part of the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure, Department of Public Health) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Massachusetts.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $230
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $120
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Licensure by reciprocity application fee [1] $275
License verification fee (per license, via Nursys) [1] $30

The $230 application fee (credit card only) covers licensure by examination; there is no additional separate 'license issuance' fee once the application is approved and NCLEX is passed. Reciprocity (endorsement) applicants pay $275 plus a $30 per-license Nursys verification fee instead of the $230 exam-track fee. mass.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-14.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 15 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPN licenses expire at 11:59 PM on the licensee's birthday in odd-numbered years (i.e., a 2-year cycle). Renewal requires attesting to completion of 15 contact hours of continuing education for the registration period, plus compliance with mandatory abuse-reporting and prescriber-training laws where applicable. mass.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2026-06-17.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Massachusetts has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact but, per NCSBN's official NLC implementation table, Massachusetts is listed with an implementation date of 'TBD' — meaning a multistate compact license is not yet available for Massachusetts as of this research date. Nurses licensed in another state must instead apply for a Massachusetts license by reciprocity/endorsement ($275 application fee plus a $30 Nursys verification fee per license held).

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

Cost calculator

  • $230
  • $200
Total$430

Frequently asked questions

What are the requirements to become an LPN in Massachusetts?

Graduate from a Board-approved practical nursing program, meet the Board's Good Moral Character standard, and pass the NCLEX-PN.

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

The application fee is $230 (credit card only), on top of the $200 NCLEX-PN registration fee paid separately to Pearson VUE.

When does a Massachusetts LPN license expire?

At 11:59 PM on your birthday in odd-numbered years — a two-year renewal cycle. Renewal requires 15 contact hours of continuing education and costs $120.

Is Massachusetts part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Massachusetts has enacted NLC legislation but had not yet implemented it as of this research date, so a Massachusetts LPN cannot yet hold a multistate compact license.

Can I transfer my out-of-state LPN license to Massachusetts?

Yes, through licensure by reciprocity: submit an application ($275), verify each license you hold through Nursys ($30 per license), and meet the Board's Good Moral Character and education requirements.

Sources

  1. [1] mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-nursing-license-by-exam — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-nursing-license — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10