Registered Nurse license count, how many states?

51 states require a license for Registered Nurse practitioners. Same-lane licenses to open next: Athletic Trainer; Certified Nurse-Midwife; Dental Assistant.

Registered Nurse education hours, what is typical?

On average, states require approximately 2,459 hours of education or training, with requirements ranging from 2,000 to 2,986 hours. For contrast in the same category, open Athletic Trainer next.

Registered Nurse initial fee range across boards

The average initial licensing fee is $155, ranging from $75 to $248 across states. Fee shape for Dental Assistant is a useful same-lane check.

Registered Nurse reciprocity / compact reality

License reciprocity varies by state. Many states participate in interstate compacts that allow license portability. Check the reciprocity information in the state-by-state details for your specific situation. Compact coverage can differ for Athletic Trainer even when the boards look similar.

Registered Nurse exam gate, how common?

51 out of 51 states require passing an examination to obtain a registered nurse license. Exam requirements, names, and formats vary by state, check the state-by-state table above for specifics.

Registered Nurse criminal-history screen, how often?

51 out of 51 states require a criminal background check as part of the registered nurse licensing process. Background check requirements and disqualifying offenses vary by jurisdiction.

Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Registered Nurse Licensing Requirements by State

Registered Nurse licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Registered Nurse across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By PlainCredential ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated: 51
Avg initial fee: $155
Require an exam: 100%
Avg education hours: 2,459

View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Registered Nurse: 51 boards · ~2,459 avg pre-licensure hrs · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $155. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Pre-licensure hour neighbourhood for Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse vs. every tracked profession

Average confirmed pre-licensure education hours, board-sourced state requirements

2,459 19th of 47 higher than 28 of 47 professions

professions with confirmed education-hour requirements, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more professions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainCredential NCSL and state-board corpus · 2026

Provides patient care, administers medications, and coordinates with physicians. Requires NCLEX-RN exam.

Registered Nurse initial fees swing $75 (NH) to $248 (CA), a $173 spread across 51 boards ; Athletic Trainer often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Registered Nurse drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Registered Nurse states

Bottom quartile, lowest

Registered Nurse edu hrs

2,459 hrs

Above median

Registered Nurse first fee

$155

Above median

Registered Nurse renewal

$107

Below median

Board gates for Registered Nurse: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 30 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Registered Nurse: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Hour load

Private Investigator · 2,777 avg hrs
Radiologic Technologist · 2,122 avg hrs

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Registered Nurse

A $173 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 75) and California ($ 248) bracket the field, a 3.3× spread for identical practice rights.

New Hampshire

$75 initial licensing fee

Renewal cycle: 2 years

California

$248 initial licensing fee

Renewal cycle: 2 years

Registered Nurse boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states

State	Edu. Hours	Exam	Init. Fee	Renewal	Cycle	CE Hrs	Lic. Fee	Process	Same-board peer
Alabama	2,311	Yes	$129	$89	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Alaska	2,149	Yes	$101	$69	2 yrs	30	$175	6 wks	Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Arizona	2,832	Yes	$221	$154	2 yrs	30	$150	5 wks	Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Arkansas	2,243	Yes	$118	$80	2 yrs	30	$75	3 wks	Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
California	2,986	Yes	$248	$173	2 yrs	30	$200	8 wks	Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Colorado	2,851	Yes	$224	$156	2 yrs	30	$43	3 wks	Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Connecticut	2,676	Yes	$193	$134	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
Delaware	2,554	Yes	$172	$119	2 yrs	30	$115	4 wks	Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
District of Columbia	2,573	Yes	$175	$122	2 yrs	30	$125	5 wks	Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
Florida	2,622	Yes	$184	$128	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Georgia	2,459	Yes	$155	$107	2 yrs	30	$40	3 wks	Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Hawaii	2,789	Yes	$213	$149	2 yrs	30	$80	5 wks	Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Idaho	2,135	Yes	$99	$67	2 yrs	30	$90	3 wks	Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Illinois	2,919	Yes	$236	$165	2 yrs	30	$50	3 wks	Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Indiana	2,432	Yes	$151	$104	2 yrs	30	$50	2 wks	Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
Iowa	2,189	Yes	$108	$74	2 yrs	30	$73	3 wks	Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Kansas	2,176	Yes	$106	$72	2 yrs	30	$60	3 wks	Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Kentucky	2,270	Yes	$122	$84	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Louisiana	2,730	Yes	$203	$141	2 yrs	30	$75	4 wks	Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
Maine	2,027	Yes	$80	$53	2 yrs	30	$75	4 wks	Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
Maryland	2,662	Yes	$191	$133	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
Massachusetts	2,635	Yes	$186	$129	2 yrs	30	$150	5 wks	Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Michigan	2,473	Yes	$158	$109	2 yrs	30	$53	3 wks	Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Minnesota	2,351	Yes	$136	$94	2 yrs	30	$105	4 wks	Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Mississippi	2,297	Yes	$127	$87	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Missouri	2,338	Yes	$134	$92	2 yrs	30	$55	3 wks	Also Real Estate Broker · Secondary School Teacher
Montana	2,757	Yes	$207	$145	2 yrs	30	$75	3 wks	Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Nebraska	2,162	Yes	$103	$70	2 yrs	30	$75	3 wks	Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Nevada	2,889	Yes	$231	$161	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
New Hampshire	2,000	Yes	$75	$50	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
New Jersey	2,649	Yes	$189	$131	2 yrs	30	$200	6 wks	Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
New Mexico	2,770	Yes	$210	$146	2 yrs	30	$90	4 wks	Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
New York	2,589	Yes	$178	$124	2 yrs	30	$143	5 wks	Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
North Carolina	2,446	Yes	$153	$106	2 yrs	30	$75	4 wks	Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
North Dakota	2,108	Yes	$94	$64	2 yrs	30	$100	3 wks	Also School Librarian / Media Specialist · Surgical Technologist
Ohio	2,514	Yes	$165	$114	2 yrs	30	$75	3 wks	Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
Oklahoma	2,203	Yes	$110	$75	2 yrs	30	$85	3 wks	Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Oregon	2,941	Yes	$240	$168	2 yrs	30	$200	4 wks	Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
Pennsylvania	2,568	Yes	$174	$121	2 yrs	30	$35	2 wks	Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
Rhode Island	2,743	Yes	$205	$143	2 yrs	30	$130	4 wks	Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
South Carolina	2,216	Yes	$113	$77	2 yrs	30	$75	4 wks	Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
South Dakota	2,081	Yes	$89	$60	2 yrs	30	$75	3 wks	Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Respiratory Therapist
Tennessee	2,378	Yes	$141	$97	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Texas	2,527	Yes	$167	$116	2 yrs	30	$186	5 wks	Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
Utah	2,284	Yes	$125	$85	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Vermont	2,041	Yes	$82	$55	2 yrs	30	$190	5 wks	Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist
Virginia	2,405	Yes	$146	$101	2 yrs	30	$190	4 wks	Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Washington	2,811	Yes	$217	$151	2 yrs	30	$88	4 wks	Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
West Virginia	2,284	Yes	$125	$85	2 yrs	30	$100	4 wks	Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Wisconsin	2,324	Yes	$132	$91	2 yrs	30	$82	3 wks	Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Wyoming	2,054	Yes	$84	$57	2 yrs	30	$100	3 wks	Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)

Cheapest / fastest Registered Nurse boards (then check Athletic Trainer)

Fee and processing extremes for Registered Nurse. Same-lane peers Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife can land on different boards even when the practice looks similar.

Lowest Registered Nurse fee

1. Pennsylvania
$35
2. Georgia
$40
3. Colorado
$43
4. Illinois
$50
5. Indiana
$50

Highest Registered Nurse fee

1. California
$200
2. New Jersey
$200
3. Oregon
$200
4. Virginia
$190
5. Vermont
$190

Fastest Registered Nurse process

1. Indiana
2 wks
2. Pennsylvania
2 wks
3. Arkansas
3 wks
4. Colorado
3 wks
5. Georgia
3 wks

What to do with this

Registered Nurse is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

Registered Nurse ranks #19 of 47 professions by average pre-licensure education hours -- see how it compares to similar roles. Browse all professions
#78 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
Initial fees for Registered Nurse range from $75 (NH) to $248 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Registered Nurse requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.