Transfer Your Nursing License to New Hampshire: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to New Hampshire?
Yes — New Hampshire participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN with a multistate license from another member state can work in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) by endorsement ($120 (RN endorsement license fee (non-refundable) per the OPLC Board of Nursing license fees page; optional temporary license available while pending)); the NCLEX is never repeated.
Moving to New Hampshire 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 — New Hampshire requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to New Hampshire, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without a New Hampshire application unless New Hampshire becomes the primary state of residence.
New Hampshire requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $120 (RN endorsement license fee (non-refundable) per the OPLC Board of Nursing license fees page; optional temporary license available while pending) |
| Processing time | no timeframe published; applicants have up to 180 days to complete the application |
Comparing New Hampshire with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm New Hampshire's current requirements on the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Show 400 hours of active practice within the previous 4 years, or NCLEX passage within the previous 2 years.
- Request Nurse License Verification for Endorsement through Nursys from your original state of licensure.
- Criminal history record check.
- 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 New Hampshire:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering New Hampshire:
New Hampshire for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in New Hampshire
- Real Estate in New Hampshire
- Contractor in New Hampshire
- Teaching in New Hampshire
- CPA / Accounting in New Hampshire
- Electrician in New Hampshire
- Plumber in New Hampshire
- Engineering in New Hampshire
- Pharmacy in New Hampshire
- Physical Therapy in New Hampshire
- Psychology in New Hampshire
- Counseling in New Hampshire
- Social Work in New Hampshire
- Occupational Therapy in New Hampshire
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in New Hampshire?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is New Hampshire in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — New Hampshire is an NLC member as of 2026-07-21. A multistate license from another member state is valid in New Hampshire 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 2026-07-21.
- NH OPLC — Board of Nursing License Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — Board of Nursing ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com