Rhode Island LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Rhode Island is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. LPNs renew every 2 years, complete 10 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Rhode Island LPN license
Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) 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.
Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Licensed Practical Nurses renew every two years, with licenses expiring March 1 of the renewal year based on the original issue date. The board sends renewal notices 60 days before expiration, and renewal is completed online at healthri.mylicense.com. Renewal requires 10 hours of continuing education, including 2 hours on substance abuse each two-year cycle and, one time only, 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The board does not state what happens if a license lapses.
The renewal fee is $45, the same as the $45 fee for an initial Rhode Island LPN license. These fees cover the license itself; the NCLEX-PN exam and the fingerprint-based national criminal background check required for licensure are handled and paid for separately from the renewal or initial license fee.
Required CE topics
- 1substance abuse 2 hr per 2-year cycle
- 2Alzheimer's disease/dementia 1 hr, one time (effective 2019-08-01)
Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-03
How much does a Rhode Island LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Rhode Island board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Rhode Island: endorsement and temporary permits
Rhode Island is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, effective since January 8, 2024. An LPN who holds a multistate license from another compact state may practice in Rhode Island under that license without applying for a separate Rhode Island license. An LPN moving to Rhode Island and making it their primary state of residence, or one licensed in a non-compact state, must apply for a Rhode Island license by endorsement.
To apply by endorsement, an LPN applies online for $45 and Nursys verifies licensure history from every state where the applicant has held a license. Rhode Island also requires a fingerprint-based national criminal background check through the Rhode Island Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Identification. Rhode Island does not require a separate state jurisprudence or law exam. A temporary permit is available. Rhode Island residents who qualify for a multistate license must apply for one rather than a single-state license.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Rhode Island
To become an LPN in Rhode Island, a candidate must complete an approved high school course of study or its equivalent, then finish the prescribed curriculum at a board-approved practical nursing program and submit an official transcript. The board does not state a required program length in months. Candidates then take the NCLEX-PN exam; Rhode Island does not require a separate state jurisprudence or law exam.
What do LPNs earn in Rhode Island?
BLS OES May 2025 · 1,290 LPNs employed in Rhode Island · LPN salary in Rhode Island by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Yes | Every 2 years | 10 hours | $45 | Verify |
| Connecticut | Yes | Every year | 2 hours | $150 | Verify |
| Massachusetts | Pending | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $230 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- health.ri.gov/licensing/nursing/nurse-licensure-compact-information
- health.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur1006/files/publications/requirements…
- rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-3
- rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-10-05-2
- healthri.mylicense.com/Verification
- ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Rhode Island LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.