Transfer Your Nursing License to Iowa: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Iowa?
Yes — Iowa participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN with a multistate license from another member state can work in Iowa without applying for anything as long as they live in another compact state (moving here means applying by endorsement). Coming from a non-compact state, you apply to the Iowa Board of Nursing by endorsement ($119 (board collects $169 total: $119 endorsement application + $50 criminal history background check)); the NCLEX is never repeated.
Moving to Iowa 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 — Iowa requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Iowa, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Iowa Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without an Iowa application unless Iowa becomes the primary state of residence; a multistate nurse who moves to Iowa must apply for an Iowa multistate license within 60 days and may keep working on the active multistate license while the Iowa application is pending.
Iowa requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $119 (board collects $169 total: $119 endorsement application + $50 criminal history background check) |
| Processing time | board's current endorsement and licensure pages publish no processing time; application status is tracked in the Board of Nursing online portal |
Comparing Iowa with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Iowa's current requirements on the Iowa Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Iowa Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based criminal history background check (digital fingerprinting through Fieldprint).
- Official nursing program transcript submitted directly to the board by your school.
- Verification of your original state of licensure through Nursys.
- Complete a refresher course if you have not held an active license in any jurisdiction within the previous five years.
- 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 Iowa:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Iowa:
Iowa for other professions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Iowa?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Iowa in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Iowa is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Iowa 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.
- Iowa DIAL — Apply for a Nursing License by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Iowa DIAL — Nursing Licensure Fees and Fee Waivers ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Iowa DIAL — Nurse Licensure Compact ↗ (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