Massachusetts LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Massachusetts's Nurse Licensure Compact membership is pending. LPNs renew every 2 years, complete 15 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Massachusetts LPN license
The lookup runs on Massachusetts's state licensing portal, which covers LPNs alongside other licensed professions. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (Bureau of Health Professions Licensure, Department of Public Health) · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Massachusetts
A Massachusetts LPN license expires at 11:59 p.m. on the licensee's birthday in odd-numbered years, with renewal falling every two years; RN licenses follow the same pattern in even-numbered years. The renewal window opens 90 days before expiration, and a license issued within three months of the birthday stays valid until the next cycle. Renewal requires 15 hours of continuing education. The board does not state what happens if a license lapses.
The renewal fee is $120, compared with an initial licensing fee of $230. The profile does not break down renewal fees by category beyond this base amount. Fees for the NCLEX-PN exam and any fingerprinting or background-check services are handled separately from the renewal fee.
How much does a Massachusetts LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Massachusetts board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Massachusetts: endorsement and temporary permits
Massachusetts is not currently part of the Nurse Licensure Compact for LPNs; the profile lists the state's compact status as pending. The Compact was signed into law in November 2024 but is not yet in effect, and the board is targeting implementation around May 2027. Until then, an LPN moving to Massachusetts from another state needs a Massachusetts license by endorsement rather than relying on a multistate license.
An LPN already licensed in another state applies through the Health Professions Licensing Portal for licensure by endorsement, paying $275 plus a $30 verification fee for each license held. Each license is verified through Nursys, or directly by the issuing board if it does not use Nursys. Massachusetts does not offer a temporary permit, and the profile does not mention a separate state law exam or English proficiency test. LPNs previously licensed in Massachusetts renew instead of reapplying.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Massachusetts
Massachusetts requires LPN candidates to graduate from a Board-approved practical nursing program; applicants who trained out of state should check the board's educational-requirements documentation for equivalency. Candidates must also attest to good moral character and provide a Social Security number. The required licensing exam is the NCLEX-PN; Massachusetts does not require a separate state law exam. The profile does not state a required program length.
What do LPNs earn in Massachusetts?
BLS OES May 2025 · 13,210 LPNs employed in Massachusetts · LPN salary in Massachusetts by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Pending | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $230 | Verify |
| Connecticut | Yes | Every year | 2 hours | $150 | Verify |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $116 | Verify |
| New York | No | Every 3 years | — | $143 | Verify |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Every 2 years | 10 hours | $45 | Verify |
| Vermont | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $75 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (Bureau of Health Professions Licensure, Department of Public Health) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-nursing-license-by-exam
- mass.gov/info-details/check-eligibility-for-a-nursing-license-by-exam
- mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-nursing-license-by-reciprocity
- mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-nursing-license
- mass.gov/info-details/mandatory-continuing-education-for-nurses
- checkahealthlicense.mass.gov
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Massachusetts LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.