StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in New Hampshire

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$348
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), Board of Nursing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Graduation from an approved (or comparable, for NH-based programs) practical nursing education program., pass a criminal background check. A FBI fingerprint and NH State Police criminal background check is required for each initial licensure; the Board cannot issue a license or temporary license until it has received and reviewed the criminal records report, a process that can take up to 8 weeks. No minimum age was stated in the application packet reviewed. oplc.nh.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2024-07-12. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. The Board's License by Examination (NCLEX) application packet states that for NH-based practical nursing programs (under the 'Comparable Education' pathway), the core courses (Fundamentals of Nursing, Medical/Surgical Nursing, Mental Health, and Maternal/Child Health) plus any additional nursing courses must equal a minimum of 600 hours of concurrent classroom and clinical education. Graduates of out-of-state programs instead qualify via degree/diploma completion at an accredited program rather than a specific hour count verified by NH directly. oplc.nh.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2024-07-12. [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 New Hampshire's own application fee (see fees.application). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), Board of Nursing with the $148 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), Board of Nursing issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for New Hampshire.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $148
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $108
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Reinstatement fee [3] $148
Certificate fee [3] $20
License verification fee [3] $10

Per OPLC's current Board of Nursing License Fees schedule: LPN Application Fee is $148.00 and LPN Renewal Fee is $108.00 — both figures include a mandatory $28.00 Professional Health Program (PHP) fee paid at the time of licensing/renewal. There is no separate stand-alone 'license issuance' fee beyond the application fee. A 2017-dated application form on file with the Board lists an older $120 exam fee, but the current fee schedule page ($148) is treated as authoritative for this record. oplc.nh.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2025-05-31.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPN licenses expire every two years on the last day of the licensee's birth month. Per Nur 403.01, each applicant for licensure by endorsement, renewal, or reinstatement for an RN or LPN license must complete at least 30 contact hours of workshops, conferences, lectures, or in-service educational offerings designed to enhance nursing knowledge, judgment, and skills within the 2 years preceding application (current national certification may substitute). oplc.nh.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; verified via archive snapshot 2025-11-03.

Reciprocity

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

New Hampshire is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state; the NLC covers both RNs and LPNs. NCSBN's official NLC implementation table lists New Hampshire as implemented January 19, 2018. Nurses relocating permanently to New Hampshire from another compact state may practice on their former compact license for up to 90 days after becoming a New Hampshire resident while completing endorsement paperwork.

2 state-approved training providers in New Hampshire — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $148
  • $200
Total$348

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to become an LPN in New Hampshire?

Graduate from an approved practical nursing program, pass a FBI/NH State Police criminal background check, and pass the NCLEX-PN.

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

$148, which includes a mandatory $28 Professional Health Program fee, plus the separate $200 NCLEX-PN fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do I renew my New Hampshire LPN license, and how many CE hours are required?

Every two years, on the last day of your birth month, for a $108 renewal fee. New Hampshire requires 30 contact hours of continuing education in the 2 years before renewal.

Is New Hampshire part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. New Hampshire implemented the NLC on January 19, 2018, so a New Hampshire LPN holding a multistate license may practice in other NLC member states, subject to each state's practice laws.

How long does the background check take for a New Hampshire LPN application?

The criminal background check and fingerprinting process can take up to 8 weeks, and the Board cannot issue a license or temporary license until it is complete.

Sources

  1. [1] oplc.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt441/files/inline-documents/sonh/rn-lpnlicense-examination.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] oplc.nh.gov/board-nursing-license-fees — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] oplc.nh.gov/board-nurses-education-and-training — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10