Transfer Your Nursing License to North Dakota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to North Dakota?
North Dakota honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses who live in another member state need no North Dakota 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 North Dakota Board of Nursing, without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to North Dakota 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 — North Dakota requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to North Dakota, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the North Dakota Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — nurses with an active multistate license from another compact state may work in North Dakota with no ND application; nurses declaring ND as primary state of residence receive a compact multistate license automatically at no extra fee. Apply via the ND Nurse Portal (ORBS); paper applications not accepted.
North Dakota requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $150 (nonrefundable endorsement fee set by NDAC 54-02-06-01; + $43 Criminal History Record Check fee payable to the ND Attorney General, plus local fingerprinting agency charges) |
| Processing time | 1–2 weeks (board asks 5-10 business days once all items are received; a 90-day temporary permit is issued automatically at no extra fee while the CHRC pends) |
Comparing North Dakota with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm North Dakota's current requirements on the North Dakota Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the North Dakota Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a U.S. Social Security number (ITIN not accepted).
- Provide Nursys verification of your initial exam license and an active license.
- Have your nursing school send an official transcript directly to the board.
- Show 400 hours of licensed nursing practice in the past 4 years, or program completion or a board-approved refresher course within 4 years.
- Complete a fingerprint-based Criminal History Record Check (ND BCI and FBI).
- 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 North Dakota:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering North Dakota:
North Dakota for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in North Dakota
- Real Estate in North Dakota
- Contractor in North Dakota
- Teaching in North Dakota
- CPA / Accounting in North Dakota
- Electrician in North Dakota
- Plumber in North Dakota
- Engineering in North Dakota
- Pharmacy in North Dakota
- Physical Therapy in North Dakota
- Psychology in North Dakota
- Counseling in North Dakota
- Social Work in North Dakota
- Occupational Therapy in North Dakota
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in North Dakota?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is North Dakota in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — North Dakota is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in North Dakota 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.
- ND Board of Nursing — Endorsement, US Educated ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ND Board of Nursing — Criminal History Record Check (CHRC) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ND Administrative Code 54-02-06 — License by Endorsement ↗ (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