StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in New Jersey

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$395
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
New Jersey Board of Nursing, Division of Consumer Affairs

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. Applicants must submit to state and federal (FBI) fingerprint-based criminal background checks and cannot have certain felony or disqualifying misdemeanor convictions. No codified minimum age requirement was found on the Board's own application pages. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. New Jersey's Board of Nursing regulations (N.J.A.C. 13:37, Subchapter 1) approve practical nursing programs against curriculum, faculty, clinical-agency, and administrative criteria rather than publishing a single codified minimum clock-hour count. Applicants must be graduates of a program approved by the Board (or an equivalent out-of-state/foreign program). A specific hour figure circulated by individual private schools' own marketing pages was not corroborated on any Board page and is not used here. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computer adaptive test administered at Pearson VUE test centers. National Pearson VUE registration fee, uniform across all U.S. jurisdictions; separate from New Jersey Board of Nursing application/license fees. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Jersey Board of Nursing, Division of Consumer Affairs with the $75 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New Jersey Board of Nursing, Division of Consumer Affairs issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for New Jersey.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $75
License fee [3] $120
Renewal fee [3] $125
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Alternative to Discipline Fee [3] $5

Licensure by endorsement totals $200: $120 license fee + $75 nonrefundable application fee + $5 mandatory nonrefundable Alternative to Discipline fee (per the Board's official endorsement instructions). The same combined application/license fee schedule applies at initial licensure. A separate fingerprinting fee (~$58.69, paid directly to the state's fingerprinting vendor, not the Board) is required but not included in the totals above.

Renewal & continuing education

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

Biennial renewal. Active LPNs must complete 30 contact hours of Board-approved continuing professional education per two-year cycle, including at least one hour on prescription-opioid topics. Inactive-status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement until reactivating.

Reciprocity

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

New Jersey implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on Nov. 15, 2021 (per NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map). NJ residents who meet the Compact's Uniform Licensure Requirements may hold a multistate license valid to practice in all NLC member states; those who don't meet ULR requirements receive a single-state license. Out-of-state LPNs not relying on the compact license may apply for endorsement using the same Candidate application used by exam applicants, providing verification of licensure in good standing from every state ever licensed in.

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

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $120
  • $200
Total$395

Frequently asked questions

What license do I need to work as a practical nurse in New Jersey?

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license issued by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, which requires graduating from a Board-approved practical nursing program, passing the NCLEX-PN, and clearing a criminal background check.

How much does LPN licensure cost in New Jersey?

The Board's application/license fee totals $200 ($120 license + $75 nonrefundable application + $5 Alternative to Discipline fee), separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE and a fingerprinting fee of roughly $58.69.

How often do New Jersey LPNs need to renew their license?

Every two years. Active licensees must complete 30 contact hours of Board-approved continuing education during each cycle, including at least one hour on prescription opioids.

Does New Jersey participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. New Jersey has been an NLC member state since November 15, 2021. Residents who meet the compact's Uniform Licensure Requirements can hold a multistate license valid in other NLC states.

Can an LPN licensed in another state transfer their license to New Jersey?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement. Applicants must provide verification of licensure in good standing from every state they've ever been licensed in, pass a background check, and pay the same $200 application/license fee as new applicants.

Sources

  1. [1] dspace.njstatelib.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/ac20a8c4-4460-40b4-802a-acf5b899ed6f/content — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Applications/Instructions-For-Licensure-By-Endorsement-In-New-Jersey.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] njconsumeraffairs.gov/renewals/Pages/Nurse.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/pages/applications.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  6. [6] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10