Transfer Your Nursing License to Minnesota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Minnesota?
No license transfers into Minnesota automatically: it is one of the non-compact jurisdictions, and a compact multistate license carries no privilege there. The route is licensure by endorsement with the Minnesota Board of Nursing ($105 (endorsement application (Minn. Stat. 148.243, subd. 3); + criminal background check fee set by the BCA and FBI, paid to the Board)); your NCLEX pass transfers, the license does not.
Moving to Minnesota from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Plan the timeline first. Because Minnesota recognizes no outside license, you cannot legally work a single shift there until its own license (or temporary permit, where offered) is in hand — and unlike compact states, there is no shortcut for travel or telehealth work either.
Not an NLC member — compact multistate licenses are not honored, so out-of-state RNs need a Minnesota license by endorsement. Exception: a nurse who lives in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin and holds a current license from that state has a border-state licensure privilege to practice in Minnesota (conditions apply) and must report Minnesota employment to the Board within 10 days. Endorsement applicants currently licensed in another state may be issued a non-renewable temporary permit valid up to 60 days.
Minnesota requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $105 (endorsement application (Minn. Stat. 148.243, subd. 3); + criminal background check fee set by the BCA and FBI, paid to the Board) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a timeline; optional temporary permit valid up to 60 days (non-renewable) while the application is under review |
Comparing Minnesota with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Minnesota 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, completed after you submit the application.
- Submit verification of licensure from your state of original licensure and, if different, the state where you most recently practiced.
- Have your nursing employer complete the Board's form verifying your nursing practice dates.
- If you have neither practiced nor graduated from a nursing program in the past 2 years, complete continuing education (1 contact hour per month out of practice, up to 60 for RNs); after more than 5 years, complete a Board-approved refresher course.
- 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 Minnesota:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Minnesota:
Minnesota for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Minnesota
- Real Estate in Minnesota
- Contractor in Minnesota
- Teaching in Minnesota
- CPA / Accounting in Minnesota
- Electrician in Minnesota
- Plumber in Minnesota
- Engineering in Minnesota
- Pharmacy in Minnesota
- Physical Therapy in Minnesota
- Psychology in Minnesota
- Counseling in Minnesota
- Social Work in Minnesota
- Occupational Therapy in Minnesota
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Minnesota?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Minnesota in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Minnesota does not participate as of 2026-10-29, so compact multistate licenses carry no practice privilege there.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Minnesota Board of Nursing — Licensure by Endorsement process ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Minnesota Board of Nursing — Licensure Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Minnesota Statutes 148.211 — Licensing (endorsement; border-state license recognition) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Minnesota Statutes 148.212 — Temporary permit ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Minnesota Statutes 148.243 — Fee amounts (licensure by endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Minnesota Statutes 214.075 — Health-related licensing boards; criminal background checks ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Minnesota Rules 6305.0500 — Requirements for professional and practical nurse licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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