Idaho LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Idaho is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. LPNs renew every 2 years, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Idaho LPN license
Idaho Board of Nursing (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, DOPL) sends license verification to Nursys, the national database run by NCSBN. Quick Confirm is free and shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline.
Idaho Board of Nursing (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, DOPL) · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Idaho
Idaho requires LPNs to renew their license every two years. Renewal has historically been due by August 31 of even-numbered years, but starting April 1, 2026, the Idaho Board of Nursing began phasing in a change so that nursing licenses expire on the licensee's birthday instead, rolled out gradually based on birth year and month. The board's published materials do not state a continuing education requirement for LPN renewal, nor do they describe what happens if a license lapses.
Renewing an LPN license costs $70, compared with $102 for the initial application, which includes the fingerprint-based criminal history check required under Idaho law. The NCLEX-PN exam is a separate step required before initial licensure; the board's fee schedule does not mention either the exam or a new fingerprint check as part of renewal.
How much does a Idaho LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Idaho board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Idaho: endorsement and temporary permits
Idaho has belonged to the Nurse Licensure Compact since January 19, 2018, so an LPN who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Idaho without applying for a separate Idaho license. A nurse coming from a state that is not part of the compact, or one who holds a single-state license, needs to apply through Idaho's endorsement process instead.
To apply by endorsement, an LPN applies online through the DOPL Nurse Portal, must be a graduate of a state-approved practical nursing program or qualify through Idaho's practical nurse equivalency route, and must have passed the NCLEX-PN. Applicants submit fingerprints for a background check, and licensure is verified through Nursys, except nurses from California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, who use a paper form. Idaho does not require a separate state law exam. A temporary permit is available while the application is processed.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Idaho
Idaho requires LPN applicants to graduate from a state-approved practical nursing program, or to qualify through a practical nurse equivalency route by submitting transcripts showing completion of nursing coursework at an approved registered nursing school, including a course in the personal and vocational relationships of the practical nurse. Graduates who do not sit for the exam within 12 months of finishing must complete remedial measures set by the board. All applicants must pass the NCLEX-PN; Idaho does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam.
What do LPNs earn in Idaho?
BLS OES May 2025 · 1,880 LPNs employed in Idaho · LPN salary in Idaho by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $102 | Verify |
| Montana | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Nevada | No | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $90 | Verify |
| Oregon | No | Every 2 years | None | $195 | Verify |
| Utah | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | — | Verify |
| Washington | Yes | Every year | 8 hours | $93 | Verify |
| Wyoming | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $130 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Idaho Board of Nursing (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, DOPL) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee rulesmedium confidence
- dopl.idaho.gov/bon/bon-license-search
- dopl.idaho.gov/bon/bon-statutes-rules-and-guidance
- adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/24/243401.pdf
- dopl.idaho.gov/pressrelease/big-changes-are-on-the-way-stay-informed-a…
- dopl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BON-Licensure-Policy-1.pdf
- legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title54/T54CH14/SECT54-1411
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Idaho LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.