Nursing License from New York to Hawaii: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Hawaii Board of Nursing ↗
A nursing license transfers from New York to Hawaii by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Hawaii Board of Nursing, verify your New York license, and meet Hawaii's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your original licensure and exam scores are verified through Nursys or directly by your original state board.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Neither New York nor Hawaii participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so this is a classic endorsement move: Hawaii's board verifies the license you already hold and issues its own. Nothing about New York speeds it up or slows it down — the timeline below is Hawaii's standard out-of-state queue.
What changes, New York → Hawaii
| New York (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Application fee | $143 (licensure and first registration fee (Form 1); optional limited permit $35; NYSED RN checklists list no fingerprint background check) | $186–$254 (total varies by point in the 2-year licensing cycle ($40 application + $36 license + Compliance Resolution Fund $50-$100 + $60 Center for Nursing + $18 half-renewal when applicable); fingerprint fee paid directly to Fieldprint; optional temporary permit $50) |
| Processing time | NYSED does not publish processing times for RN licensure applications | 3–4 weeks (board states processing is normally 15-20 working days for complete applications; one single-employer temporary permit available) |
| Licensing authority | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions | Hawaii Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Hawaii sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Hawaii's current requirements on the Hawaii Board of Nursing website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Hawaii Board of Nursing (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based FBI and Hawaii state criminal history check through Fieldprint (code FPHIBrdNursing).
- Submit an original National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report.
- Obtain verification of licensure from your state of original licensure by exam (via Nursys if that state participates).
- If you have not actively practiced in the past 5 years, the board may require proof of continued competency (NCLEX retake or board-recognized continuing education).
- Pay the fees ($186–$254 (total varies by point in the 2-year licensing cycle ($40 application + $36 license + Compliance Resolution Fund $50-$100 + $60 Center for Nursing + $18 half-renewal when applicable); fingerprint fee paid directly to Fieldprint; optional temporary permit $50)) and allow 3–4 weeks (board states processing is normally 15-20 working days for complete applications; one single-employer temporary permit available).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii accept a New York nursing license?
A nursing license transfers from New York to Hawaii by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Hawaii Board of Nursing, verify your New York license, and meet Hawaii's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your original licensure and exam scores are verified through Nursys or directly by your original state board.
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from New York to Hawaii?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your original licensure and exam scores are verified through Nursys or directly by your original state board.
What does the move cost?
$186–$254 (total varies by point in the 2-year licensing cycle ($40 application + $36 license + Compliance Resolution Fund $50-$100 + $60 Center for Nursing + $18 half-renewal when applicable); fingerprint fee paid directly to Fieldprint; optional temporary permit $50) (total varies by point in the 2-year licensing cycle ($40 application + $36 license + Compliance Resolution Fund $50-$100 + $60 Center for Nursing + $18 half-renewal when applicable); fingerprint fee paid directly to Fieldprint; optional temporary permit $50).
How long will it take?
3–4 weeks (board states processing is normally 15-20 working days for complete applications; one single-employer temporary permit available) — board states processing is normally 15-20 working days for complete applications; one single-employer temporary permit available.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Hawaii DCCA — Application for License (Endorsement or Without Exam), NSG-02/NSG-07 with fee schedule ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii Board of Nursing — Application Forms and Publications ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — RN Pathway #3 (licensed in another state) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — RN License Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — How do I apply for Licensure by Endorsement? ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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