Iowa LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

Iowa has belonged to the Nurse Licensure Compact since January 19, 2018. An LPN who holds an active multistate license from another compact state can practice in Iowa on that license without applying separately, as long as another compact state remains that nurse's primary state of residence. A nurse who makes Iowa their primary home, or who holds only a single-state license, needs to apply for an Iowa license through endorsement.

An LPN from another state applies for Iowa endorsement online, pays a $169 fee, and completes a Fieldprint fingerprint background check. The practical nursing program sends official transcripts, or a TruMerit report for foreign-educated applicants, directly to the board, and the applicant requests Nursys verification from the original state of licensure. Iowa offers a temporary permit, and anyone without an active license anywhere for five years must complete a refresher course within 12 months of applying. The board does not mention a state law exam.

Iowa requires graduation from a board-approved practical nursing program, with official transcripts showing the credential and conferral date sent directly from the program to the board. Nurses educated outside the United States must submit a TruMerit credential evaluation report, or VisaScreen, along with proof of English proficiency. Before licensure, candidates must pass the NCLEX-PN exam, registered separately through NCLEX.com and Pearson VUE for a $200 fee paid directly to NCSBN. The board's materials do not describe a separate state jurisprudence exam.