StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Rhode Island

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$245
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. All applicants must apply to the RI Department of Attorney General for a national background check supported by fingerprints. No codified minimum age requirement was found on the Department of Health's application-requirements document. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Applicants must be graduates of a Board-approved practical nursing program (or an equivalent program approved by another jurisdiction for endorsement applicants). No single codified total clock-hour minimum was found on the Department of Health's own application-requirements document. [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 RIDOH's own application fee. First-time applicants apply to NCSBN directly to become eligible to sit for the exam. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education with the $45 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Rhode Island.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $45
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] None specified
NCLEX-PN [2] $200

RIDOH's official Nursing Online Initial Application Requirements document confirms a single $45.00 application fee for LPN licensure (examination or endorsement) via the healthri.mylicense.com portal — no separate license-issuance line item is published. A biennial renewal fee applies, but this record could not confirm the current dollar amount on an official RIDOH page (only on non-official aggregator sites, which are excluded per this project's sourcing rules), so it is left null rather than guessed.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 10 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Renewal is on a 2-year cycle. Nurses must complete 10 continuing education hours during every 2-year licensing cycle, with at least 2 of those hours on substance abuse; courses must be approved by the Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education. Separately, every nurse must complete a one-time (career, not per-cycle) 1-hour Alzheimer's disease CEU, required since Aug. 1, 2019. A six-month hardship extension for the CE requirement may be granted by the Board.

Reciprocity

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

Rhode Island rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective Jan. 1, 2024 per RIDOH's own application-requirements document (NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map lists the implementation date as Jan. 8, 2024 — a minor date discrepancy between the two official sources). Nurses whose primary state of residence is Rhode Island are required to apply for the multistate license if eligible. LPNs licensed elsewhere and already holding the NCLEX-PN may also apply for Rhode Island licensure by endorsement (same $45 fee), with license verification requested through NURSYS.

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

Cost calculator

  • $45
  • $200
Total$245

Frequently asked questions

What agency licenses LPNs in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), through its Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education, using the healthri.mylicense.com online portal.

How much does it cost to apply for an LPN license in Rhode Island?

A $45 application fee, separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do Rhode Island LPNs renew their license?

Every 2 years, requiring 10 continuing education hours per cycle (including at least 2 hours on substance abuse), plus a one-time career-long 1-hour Alzheimer's disease CEU.

Is Rhode Island a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Rhode Island rejoined the NLC effective January 2024, so a Rhode Island multistate license is valid to practice in other NLC member states; RI residents who are eligible are required to apply for the multistate license.

Does Rhode Island require a background check for LPN licensure?

Yes, a national fingerprint-based background check through the RI Department of Attorney General is required for all applicants.

Sources

  1. [1] health.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur1006/files/publications/requirements/NursingApplicationRequirements.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] health.ri.gov/licensing/nurses — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10