District of Columbia LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

The District of Columbia is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an LPN who holds a multistate license from another state cannot use it to practice in DC. Instead, the nurse must apply for licensure by endorsement through the DC Board of Nursing before working in the district.

To apply by endorsement, an LPN submits an online application to the DC Board, pays $280 for the application and background check, and completes Fieldprint fingerprinting. The board also requires Nursys verification, at $30, from the state where the nurse originally passed the NCLEX-PN, plus a second verification if that license has expired. A temporary permit is available while the application is pending; the board does not name a separate jurisprudence or English exam.

To become licensed as an LPN in the District of Columbia, a candidate must complete a practical nursing program approved by the DC Board or by another state board with substantially equivalent standards, or hold an honorable discharge from the US Army after the MOS 91C practical nursing program. Foreign-educated candidates must meet internationally educated nurse requirements through a CGFNS CES report. Candidates must pass the NCLEX-PN exam through Pearson VUE for a $200 fee; the board names no separate DC jurisprudence exam.