StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in New Mexico

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$350
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
New Mexico Board of Nursing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. Applicants must register and complete a criminal background check through Idemia/IdentoGo; fingerprints are valid for the duration of an active initial application (up to 1 year). No codified minimum age was found on the Board's fee/rule pages. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training (including 250 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 500 total clock hours minimum (250 didactic + 250 clinical/lab) at a Board-approved practical nursing program, per 16.12.2 NMAC. The rule also sets subject-specific minimums within those hours: OB/Peds 30 didactic/40 clinical, medical-surgical 60 didactic/90 clinical, pharmacology 45 didactic, and psychiatric nursing 60 contact hours. [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 the New Mexico Board of Nursing's own licensure fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Mexico Board of Nursing. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

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

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $150
Renewal fee [3] $110
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Re-examination fee [3] $60
Temporary license [3] $60
License verification [3] $30
Late renewal / reactivation / reinstatement [3] $200

New Mexico does not itemize a separate application fee — initial LPN licensure by examination or endorsement is a single combined fee of $150, per the Board's official fee schedule. All fees are non-refundable.

Renewal & continuing education

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

Standard renewal cycle is 2 years; a licensee's first cycle after initial licensure may run longer (one year plus the months remaining to the applicant's birth month) before settling into the standard 2-year cycle. 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education are required within the 24 months preceding license expiration, uploaded to CE Broker before renewal.

Reciprocity

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

New Mexico implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on Jan. 19, 2018 (per NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map), one of the compact's original implementation states. LPNs licensed in another state may also apply for New Mexico licensure by endorsement (same $150 fee as licensure by examination) rather than relying on a multistate compact license.

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

Cost calculator

  • $150
  • $200
Total$350

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of practical nursing training does New Mexico require?

500 total clock hours at a Board-approved program: 250 hours of didactic instruction and 250 hours of clinical/lab experience, with specific minimums for OB/Peds, medical-surgical, pharmacology, and psychiatric nursing content.

What does it cost to get an LPN license in New Mexico?

The Board charges a single $150 fee for initial licensure by examination or endorsement, separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do New Mexico LPNs renew their license?

Every 2 years (the first cycle after initial licensure may run slightly longer), with 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education required each cycle and a $110 renewal fee.

Is New Mexico a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. New Mexico has been an NLC member since the compact's original Jan. 19, 2018 implementation date, so a New Mexico multistate license is valid to practice in other NLC member states.

Can an out-of-state LPN transfer their license to New Mexico?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement, which uses the same $150 fee as licensure by examination and requires a criminal background check through Idemia/IdentoGo.

Sources

  1. [1] srca.nm.gov/parts/title16/16.012.0002.html — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] bon.nm.gov/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10