Maryland LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Maryland is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. LPNs renew every 2 years, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Maryland LPN license
The lookup runs on Maryland'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.
Maryland Board of Nursing (Maryland Department of Health) · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Maryland
A Maryland LPN license must be renewed every two years, expiring on the 28th day of the licensee's birth month; the online renewal window opens 90 days before that date and closes 30 days after it. The board does not spell out a continuing education hour requirement for renewal, but starting with the first renewal after April 1, 2026, licensees must attest once to completing training in implicit bias and structural racism. The board does not state what happens if a license lapses.
Renewing an LPN license in Maryland costs $165, compared with $187 for the initial license by examination. These renewal fees do not include any cost for taking the NCLEX-PN or for the fingerprint-based criminal history record check, which the board handles separately from routine renewal payments and requires for endorsement applicants and, on a rolling schedule since 2025, for some renewals.
Required CE topics
- 1implicit bias and structural racism training (one-time attestation at first renewal after 2026-04-01)
Maryland Board of Nursing (Maryland Department of Health) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-03
How much does a Maryland LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Maryland board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Maryland: endorsement and temporary permits
Maryland belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, effective since January 19, 2018, so an LPN who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Maryland without applying for a separate Maryland license. LPNs who do not hold a multistate license, or whose home state is not part of the compact, must apply for licensure by endorsement instead.
Endorsement applicants must have their original license verified through Nursys.com, complete a Maryland CJIS Live Scan fingerprint criminal history check, and submit the application within 48 hours of fingerprinting. The fee is $230, plus an optional $70 for a 90-day temporary license for applicants without an active multistate license. Maryland must be the primary state of residence, or the home state must fall outside the compact. Foreign-educated LPNs need a TruMerit (CGFNS) CES report and proof of English proficiency; no separate state law exam applies.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Maryland
Maryland requires LPN candidates to graduate from a Board-approved practical nursing program; the board's materials do not state a required program length. Graduates of Puerto Rico or foreign nursing programs must submit a TruMerit (CGFNS) CES report and show proof of spoken English proficiency. All candidates must then pass the NCLEX-PN, administered through Pearson VUE. The board's licensure-by-exam checklist covers RN and LPN applicants together and does not mention a separate state law or jurisprudence exam.
What do LPNs earn in Maryland?
BLS OES May 2025 · 9,560 LPNs employed in Maryland · LPN salary in Maryland by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $187 | Verify |
| Delaware | Yes | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $181 | Verify |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $95 | Verify |
| Virginia | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $170 | Verify |
| West Virginia | Yes | Every year | 24 hours | $75 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Maryland Board of Nursing (Maryland Department of Health) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/services-fees.aspx
- health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/licensure-by-exam.aspx
- health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/licensure-by-endorsement.aspx
- health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/olrenew-rnlp-details.aspx
- health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/chrc-renewal.aspx
- health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/breaking-news-implicit-bias-structural-…
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Maryland LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.