StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in New York

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$343
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old. Minimum age is 17. Applicants must demonstrate good moral character, evaluated case-by-case (prior convictions do not automatically disqualify), but NYSED's own application pages do not describe a fingerprint-based criminal background check as part of LPN licensure — unlike some other NY-licensed professions. Applicants must also complete NYSED-approved infection control coursework (or qualify for an exemption). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. New York does not publish a single codified clock-hour minimum for its own NYSED-registered LPN programs — programs must simply be NYSED-registered (or an equivalent RN program). Applicants trained via a U.S. Armed Forces program, an out-of-state program, or a foreign nursing program must show a minimum of 9 months of study under those alternate pathways. [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 NYSED's own license/registration fee. Applicants previously licensed as an LPN/LVN elsewhere who already passed the NCLEX-PN (or its predecessor, SBTPE) are exempt from retesting. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for New York.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] None specified
License fee [1] $143
Renewal fee [1] $73
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Limited permit (optional, for candidates who have not yet taken the NCLEX-PN) [1] $35

NYSED does not itemize a separate application fee — license issuance and the first 3-year registration period are combined into a single $143 fee, paid via the online Form 1 application.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years.

Registration must be renewed every 3 years ($73 fee) to continue practicing. New York does not impose a standard continuing-education hour requirement for LPNs; the only recurring coursework mandate is infection-control training, which must be repeated every 4 years (a separate cycle from the 3-year registration renewal) unless the licensee qualifies for an exemption.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

New York is explicitly NOT a Nurse Licensure Compact state, per both NYSED's own FAQ and NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map (New York had enacted compact legislation as of this record's access date but implementation had not yet occurred). LPNs licensed in another U.S. state or territory who graduated from a U.S. nursing school may apply via NYSED's endorsement pathway (Form 3, Professional Licensure Verification) rather than a multistate compact license.

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

Cost calculator

  • $143
  • $200
Total$343

Frequently asked questions

What agency licenses LPNs in New York State?

The New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions — not a traditional standalone Board of Nursing.

What is the minimum age to become an LPN in New York?

17 years old, along with graduation from a qualifying nursing program and demonstration of good moral character.

How much does an LPN license cost in New York?

$143 to NYSED, which covers both the license and the first 3-year registration period, separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do New York LPNs renew their registration?

Every 3 years, for a $73 fee. There's no standard continuing-education hour requirement, but infection-control coursework must be repeated every 4 years.

Is New York part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

No. New York State is not a Nursing Licensure Compact state, so an LPN license issued elsewhere is not automatically valid to practice in New York — out-of-state LPNs must apply for New York licensure by endorsement.

Sources

  1. [1] op.nysed.gov/professions/licensed-practical-nurses/license-requirements — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] op.nysed.gov/professions/licensed-practical-nurses/faqs — accessed 2026-07-10