Transfer Your Nursing License to Maryland: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Maryland?
Maryland is a Nurse Licensure Compact state: a multistate license from another compact state works in Maryland immediately, with no new application while you live in that other state; moving your residence to Maryland means applying by endorsement. Nurses from non-compact states (California, New York, and the other non-members) apply to the Maryland Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement — the NCLEX is not retaken.
Moving to Maryland 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 — Maryland requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Maryland, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Maryland Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — an active multistate license from another compact state is honored in Maryland without an endorsement application unless Maryland becomes the nurse's primary state of residence; compact applicants follow a separate compact process.
Maryland requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $230 (endorsement application; optional 90-day temporary license $70 ($300 if both); CJIS fingerprinting fee paid separately to the fingerprinting vendor) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a timeline; 90-day temporary license available while the application is pending |
Comparing Maryland with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maryland Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check through Maryland CJIS Live Scan.
- Submit the endorsement application within 48 hours of completing fingerprinting.
- Have official transcripts from every nursing program emailed to the Board directly from a digital credentialing service.
- Upload a digital passport-style photograph.
- Hold an active RN license in another state.
- 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 Maryland:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Maryland:
Maryland for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Maryland
- Real Estate in Maryland
- Contractor in Maryland
- Teaching in Maryland
- CPA / Accounting in Maryland
- Electrician in Maryland
- Plumber in Maryland
- Engineering in Maryland
- Pharmacy in Maryland
- Physical Therapy in Maryland
- Psychology in Maryland
- Counseling in Maryland
- Social Work in Maryland
- Occupational Therapy in Maryland
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Maryland?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Maryland in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Maryland is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Maryland 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.
- Maryland Board of Nursing — Licensure by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nurse Licensure Compact — official commission 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