Montana LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Montana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. LPNs renew every 2 years with no continuing education hours required, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Montana 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.
Montana Board of Nursing (Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Montana
Montana LPN licenses renew every two years, with the license expiring on December 31 of odd-numbered years for nurses on the odd cycle and December 31 of even-numbered years for those on the even cycle. The Montana Board of Nursing does not list continuing education hours as a renewal requirement for LPNs. The board's LPN materials do not state what happens to a license that lapses past its renewal date.
The renewal fee is $100, the same amount charged for the initial license. This fee covers only the renewal itself; the NCLEX-PN exam and the Montana Department of Justice fingerprint-based background check required of exam and endorsement applicants are separate processes with their own requirements, not part of the renewal transaction.
How much does a Montana LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Montana board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Montana: endorsement and temporary permits
Montana belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an LPN who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Montana under that license without applying for a separate Montana license. An LPN coming from a state that is not part of the compact, or holding only a single-state license, must apply for licensure by endorsement instead.
Endorsement applicants apply online through ebiz.mt.gov and submit a Nursys license verification showing completed education, a passing NCLEX-PN score, and an active license in good standing; nurses from states not on Nursys, such as Pennsylvania or California vocational nurses, or those with an international license, submit verification directly from the source instead. A Montana Department of Justice fingerprint-based background check is also required, and the endorsement fee is $200. The board does not mention a temporary permit, state law exam, or English-language test.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Montana
To become licensed as an LPN in Montana, a candidate must complete an approved practical nursing education program authorized to prepare students for practical nurse licensure, with an official transcript sent directly from the school to the board. The board does not state a required program length. Candidates must also pass the NCLEX-PN exam; the board does not mention a separate state jurisprudence exam for LPN applicants.
What do LPNs earn in Montana?
BLS OES May 2025 · 1,620 LPNs employed in Montana · LPN salary in Montana by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Idaho | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $102 | Verify |
| North Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | 12 hours | $125 | Verify |
| South Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Wyoming | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $130 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Montana Board of Nursing (Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nursing/license-information/lpn
- boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/nur/lpn-app-exam-checklist.pdf
- boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/nur/lpn-app-checklist.pdf
- ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Montana LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.