StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in North Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$325
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. A Criminal History Record Check (CHRC), including fingerprint cards submitted to the ND Attorney General, is required before a license is issued (though not required to receive a temporary permit while the application is pending). No codified minimum age requirement was found on the Board's endorsement or examination pages. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. North Dakota requires graduation from an NDBON-approved practical nursing program (associate-degree or certificate) with supervised clinical experience meeting the Board's curriculum standards, but no single codified total clock-hour minimum was found on the Board's own education pages; specific hour requirements may exist in NDAC Article 54-03.2 rule text that was not directly located during this research. [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 NDBON's own licensure-by-examination fee. The candidate is separately responsible for this NCSBN/Pearson VUE fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON). [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for North Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $125
Renewal fee [3] $130
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Late renewal (additional, on top of standard $130 renewal fee) [3] $130

NDBON's fee for licensure by examination is a single combined $125 fee (not split into separate application and license line items). The endorsement fee for out-of-state LPNs was not stated in dollar terms on the Board's own endorsement page and was therefore left unconfirmed here rather than estimated.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 12 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Biennial renewal, processed through the Nurse Portal (window opens Oct. 1, closes Dec. 31). Renewal requires 12 contact hours of continuing education within the preceding 2 years (first-time renewers who received initial licensure by exam are exempt) plus at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding 4 years, with exceptions for recent graduates and refresher-course completers. CE completed after Dec. 31 in the renewal year incurs an extra $50-per-hour fee.

Reciprocity

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

North Dakota has been an NLC member since the compact's original Jan. 19, 2018 implementation date, per NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map. LPNs licensed elsewhere via NCLEX-PN (or its predecessor SBTPE) may also apply for North Dakota licensure by endorsement through the Nurse Portal, providing transcripts, license verification (via NURSYS or a paper verification form), and CHRC results, rather than relying solely on a multistate compact license.

4 state-approved training providers in North Dakota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $125
  • $200
Total$325

Frequently asked questions

What agency licenses LPNs in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON), which processes all applications and renewals online through its Nurse Portal — paper applications are no longer accepted.

How much does an LPN license by examination cost in North Dakota?

NDBON charges a combined $125 licensure-by-examination fee, separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do North Dakota LPNs renew their license?

Every 2 years, for a $130 fee, requiring 12 contact hours of continuing education in the prior 2 years and at least 400 hours of nursing practice in the prior 4 years.

Is North Dakota a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

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

Does North Dakota require a background check for LPN licensure?

Yes, a Criminal History Record Check (CHRC) with fingerprint cards submitted to the ND Attorney General is required before a license is issued, though applicants may still receive a temporary permit while that check is pending.

Sources

  1. [1] ndbon.org/academic/nursing-programs/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] ndlegis.gov/files/rule-changes/changes/bon102419changes.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ndbon.org/licensing/renewal/nursing-renewal/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] ndbon.org/licensing/endorsement/endorsement-us-educated/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  6. [6] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10