Minnesota LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Minnesota is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so its licenses are single-state. LPNs renew every 2 years, complete 12 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Minnesota LPN license
The board's search shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Minnesota Board of Nursing · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Minnesota
Minnesota LPN licenses renew every two years. The license expires on the last day of the holder's birth month, in an even-numbered year for those born in an even year, or an odd-numbered year for those born in an odd year, and the first renewal period after initial licensure can run from 6 to 29 months before settling into the standard 24-month cycle. Renewal requires 12 contact hours of continuing education; the board does not state what happens to a license that lapses.
Renewal costs $85, compared with $105 for the initial license. The board's profile does not include a separate CE reporting or verification fee. Passing the NCLEX-PN and completing the fingerprint-based criminal background check are one-time requirements tied to initial licensure, not renewal, and are handled separately from the renewal fee.
How much does a Minnesota LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Minnesota board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Minnesota: endorsement and temporary permits
Minnesota is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an LPN moving from another state cannot practice on a multistate license and must apply for licensure by endorsement instead. A 2025-26 bill to join the compact, HF1925, failed in committee. LPNs from the border states of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin may instead qualify for a licensure privilege in Minnesota through the border-state registry, for a $50 fee.
To apply by endorsement, an LPN pays $105 plus a $32 background check fee, has the original licensing state verify the license through Nursys, and completes Minnesota's fingerprint-based criminal background check. The board's profile does not describe a separate Minnesota state law exam or English proficiency test for endorsement applicants. While the application is under review, the applicant may request a 60-day temporary permit. An out-of-state LPN with 24 months of experience in the past 5 years does not need to repeat the education requirement.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Minnesota
To become licensed as an LPN in Minnesota, an applicant must complete a practical nursing education program approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing, another U.S. nursing board, or a Canadian province, and pass the NCLEX-PN exam; Minnesota does not require a separate state law exam. Graduates of foreign nursing programs must also complete a credentials evaluation and demonstrate English proficiency. All applicants undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check.
What do LPNs earn in Minnesota?
BLS OES May 2025 · 12,840 LPNs employed in Minnesota · LPN salary in Minnesota by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | No | Every 2 years | 12 hours | $105 | Verify |
| Iowa | Yes | Every 3 years | 36 hours | $143 | Verify |
| North Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | 12 hours | $125 | Verify |
| South Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $57 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Minnesota Board of Nursing ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee rulesmedium confidence
- mn.gov/boards/nursing/verify-a-license
- revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.243
- revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.211
- revisor.mn.gov/rules/6310.2800
- mn.gov/boards/assets/Endorsement_RN_Packet_tcm21-37442.pdf
- mn.gov/boards/assets/Renewal_Licensure_FAQ_tcm21-356028.pdf
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Minnesota LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.