Nursing License from Ohio to Maine: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Maine State Board of Nursing ↗
Yes — both Ohio and Maine are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Ohio is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Maine now; if you are moving your residence to Maine, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Maine your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
This is the move the compact was built for. Both Ohio and Maine are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in Maine while living in Ohio — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to Maine means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into Maine and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What changes, Ohio → Maine
| Ohio (current) | Maine (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $75 (non-refundable endorsement (reciprocity) application; + eLicense system transaction fee and BCI/FBI fingerprinting costs paid to vendors) | $75 (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a stated range; application is void and fee forfeited if incomplete for one year | applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board |
| Licensing authority | Ohio Board of Nursing | Maine State Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maine sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
- If you are moving your primary residence to Maine: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Maine State Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare Maine as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Maine's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Maine accept a Ohio nursing license?
Yes — both Ohio and Maine are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Ohio is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Maine now; if you are moving your residence to Maine, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Maine your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from Ohio to Maine?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to Maine: $75 (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee) (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Maine State Board of Nursing — Licensing by Endorsement/Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maine State Board of Nursing — RN Endorsement Licensure Requirements (rev 7/2025, PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio BON — RN Licensure by Endorsement application instructions (official sample application, eLicense) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Nursys — participating boards of nursing (Ohio listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]