Transfer Your Nursing License to Idaho: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Idaho?
Idaho honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses who live in another member state need no Idaho application, while those relocating here apply by endorsement. From a non-compact state such as California or New York, the path is licensure by endorsement through the Idaho Board of Nursing (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses), without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to Idaho from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Idaho requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Idaho, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Idaho Board of Nursing (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without an Idaho application; endorsement is for nurses from non-compact states or those ineligible for multistate licensure.
Idaho requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $70 (board fee table lists $102 for an RN license by endorsement, which includes the $32 fingerprint processing fee; optional temporary license $25) |
| Processing time | no overall range published; board FAQ says final review takes up to 5 business days once the completed application and all documents are received; applications stay open for one year |
Comparing Idaho with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Idaho's current requirements on the Idaho Board of Nursing (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Idaho Board of Nursing (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an RN license issued by another U.S. jurisdiction (a Canadian license earned by passing the Canadian NCLEX after an English-taught program also qualifies).
- Request license verification for endorsement through Nursys.
- Submit fingerprints for a criminal background check (required for all new applications; LiveScan electronic submission accepted).
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Idaho:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Idaho:
Idaho for other professions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Idaho?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Idaho in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Idaho is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Idaho without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Idaho DOPL — Board of Nursing page, FAQs and fee table (Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-02; the live site refused connections on 2026-10-29) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Idaho Board of Nursing — Licensure Policies, HP-BON-Licensure 2 (PDF; Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-16) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nurse Licensure Compact — official site ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com