Nursing License from California to Vermont: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Vermont accept a California nursing license?
A nursing license transfers from California to Vermont by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Vermont State Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Regulation), verify your California license, and meet Vermont's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This direction has a silver lining. California is outside the compact, so you have been carrying a single-state license — but Vermont is a member. Endorse into Vermont, establish it as your primary residence, meet the uniform licensure requirements, and the license you receive is multistate: one application turns into practice privileges across the whole compact.
What's different between California and Vermont
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Vermont. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
California to Vermont (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Vermont to California (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from California matter?
Coming from California matters here: only 11 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Vermont.
The others get: compact multistate — already covered (39).
- NLC membership
California is not in the NLC; Vermont is an NLC member state.
Because they are not both active members, the NLC does not cover this move.
A multistate license issued by Vermont does not cover practice in California.
- Application fee
Vermont lists $150 for an out-of-state applicant and California lists $350 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Vermont lists 1–2 weeks; California lists 10–12 weeks for the reverse move.
Vermont's longest listed wait is 10 weeks shorter than California's.
- Exam rules on record
California and Vermont carry the same exam note for a licensee arriving from another state; any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
What changes, California → Vermont
| California (current) | Vermont (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | Licensure by endorsement | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $350 (US-educated endorsement application ($750 if internationally educated); + $49 fingerprint hard card if out of state (Live Scan vendor fees vary); optional $100 temporary license) | $150 (endorsement application (OPR fee schedule updated 7/1/2025); + $100 multistate (compact) specialty; fingerprinting fee paid to vendor) |
| Processing time | 10–12 weeks (board processing-times page (updated 10/22/2026) lists a 10-12 week timeframe for US endorsement applications, processed in date order received; temporary license available (2-3 weeks)) | 1–2 weeks (OPR states 3-5 business days once documents are complete; fingerprint results can take up to 12 weeks - a 90-day provisional license is available while pending) |
| Licensing authority | California Board of Registered Nursing | Vermont State Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Vermont sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Vermont's current requirements on the Vermont State Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Vermont State Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Regulation) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a license in good standing in another U.S. state or jurisdiction.
- Fingerprint-based criminal background check (VCIC and FBI) for all first-time applicants.
- Nursys verification of your original license and your most recent state of practice (Quick Confirm report not accepted).
- Licensed 3+ years: apply via Fast Track Endorsement; under 3 years: standard endorsement.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from California to Vermont?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Vermont OPR — Nursing Applications & Renewals ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Vermont OPR — Nursing FAQs (endorsement processing, Nursys) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Vermont OPR — Background Checks (VCIC fingerprinting, 6-12 week results) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Vermont OPR — RN Application Instructions (Feb 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Vermont OPR — Initial Licensing/Renewal Fees & Dates (updated 7/1/2025; read via Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-16, outside.vermont.gov returned HTTP 403) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- California BRN — Licensure by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- California BRN — Endorsement Application Fees & Instructions (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- California BRN — Processing Times ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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