StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Vermont

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$275
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Vermont Board of Nursing — Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Graduation from a Vermont Board of Nursing-approved (or equivalent out-of-state/international) practical nursing program of at least one academic year., pass a criminal background check. Vermont's official application instructions do not publish a statewide minimum age for LPN licensure; left as null rather than guessed. A fingerprint-based criminal background check (processed through the Vermont Crime Information Center) is required for both single-state and multistate applicants. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. The Vermont Board of Nursing's Administrative Rules (Rule 5-14) require an acceptable practical nurse program to be no less than one academic year, with clinical/theory hours sufficient to establish competency across required content areas per the program's own accrediting-agency standards, but no single statewide clock-hour total is codified. Left as null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). The $200 Pearson VUE registration fee is separate from and in addition to the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation's (OPR) own application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Vermont Board of Nursing — Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State) with the $75 application fee. Typical processing time: OPR allows 3-5 business days to process applications and post-application documents. Criminal background check turnaround adds significantly more time: up to 4-6 weeks for single-state applicants and up to 12 weeks for multistate (compact) applicants once VCIC receives fingerprints.. [5]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Vermont Board of Nursing — Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Vermont.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $75
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $200
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Licensure by endorsement (out-of-state applicants) [3] $150
Multistate (compact) specialty add-on [3] $100

Per OPR's official fee schedule: first-time NCLEX examination applicants pay a $75 application fee; endorsement applicants pay $150; an additional $100 applies to add multistate (NLC compact) privilege to either pathway. The biennial renewal fee is $200. No separate 'license' issuance fee beyond the application fee was found.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 20 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPN licenses renew every two years (January 31 renewal date) for a $200 fee. To renew, a licensee must meet ONE of: active practice of 400 hours (50 days) within the last two years, active practice of 960 hours (120 days) within the last five years, completion of 20 hours of continuing education within the last two years, holding a nationally recognized nursing certification, or completion of an original/re-entry nursing program within the last five years. The 'ceHours' value here reflects the CE-only path (20 hours); the practice-hour and certification alternatives are documented in these notes.

Reciprocity

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

Vermont has been an implemented NLC member since February 1, 2022 (per nursecompact.com's official member-state list), so LPNs with an active multistate license from another compact state may practice in Vermont without a separate Vermont license, and Vermont residents may apply for a Vermont multistate LPN license (a $100 add-on to the standard application) valid in other compact states. For nurses not using compact privileges, Vermont also offers Licensure by Endorsement for applicants licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards, plus a 'Fast Track Endorsement' for applicants actively licensed for three or more years in another jurisdiction.

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $200
Total$275

Frequently asked questions

How long must a Vermont practical nursing program be?

At least one academic year per the Board of Nursing's Administrative Rules; a specific statewide clock-hour total is not codified beyond that, since programs set hours per their accrediting agency's standards.

Who administers the Vermont LPN licensing exam?

The NCLEX-PN, administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of NCSBN, for a $200 registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from OPR's own application fee.

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

OPR's application fee is $75 for first-time NCLEX applicants or $150 for endorsement applicants; adding multistate (compact) privileges costs an additional $100.

How often do I need to renew my Vermont LPN license?

Every two years (renewal date is January 31) for a $200 fee, along with meeting a practice-hours or continuing-education requirement (e.g. 20 hours of CE, or 400 hours of paid practice in the prior two years).

Does Vermont participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. Vermont has been an implemented NLC member since February 1, 2022, so a Vermont multistate LPN license is valid to practice in other compact states, and LPNs with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Vermont without a separate Vermont license.

Sources

  1. [1] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/nursing/nursing_administrative_rules.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/general/initial_licensing_renewal_fees_dates_90-day_licensing_policy.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/nursing/nursing_licensed_practical_registered_nurse_renewal_instructions.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/nursing/nursing_licensed_practical_registered_nurse_application_instructions.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10