Transfer Your Nursing License to Maine: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Maine?
Maine honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses who live in another member state need no Maine 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 Maine State Board of Nursing, without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to Maine 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 — Maine requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Maine, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Maine State Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without a Maine application; Maine must be your primary state of residence to be issued a Maine multistate license.
Maine requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $75 (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee) |
| Processing time | applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board |
Comparing Maine with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Maine's current requirements on the Maine State Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maine State Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based criminal background check through IdentoGO ($52 fee; results valid only 90 days).
- Upload a recent, unedited, color full-face headshot photograph.
- Verification of your original state of licensure through Nursys ($30 fee).
- Provide a US Social Security Number before a license can be issued.
- 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 Maine:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Maine:
Maine for other professions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Maine?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Maine in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Maine is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Maine 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.
- Maine State Board of Nursing — Licensing by Endorsement/Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maine State Board of Nursing — RN Endorsement Licensure Requirements (rev 7/2025, PDF) ↗ (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