Iowa Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 3 years, complete 36 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Iowa nursing license
The lookup runs on Iowa's state licensing portal, which covers RNs alongside other licensed professions. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Iowa Board of Nursing (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, DIAL) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Iowa
Iowa nursing licenses renew every three years, expiring on the 15th day of the licensee's birth month; renewal should be completed at least 30 days before that date. Renewal requires 36 hours of continuing education, and nurses who care for children or dependent adults must also complete mandatory reporter courses on child and dependent adult abuse. A 30-day grace period follows expiration, during which practice is allowed but a $50 late fee applies.
Renewal costs $99, compared with $143 for an initial Iowa license. Those figures cover the license itself. The NCLEX-RN exam, which costs $200 and is registered separately through Pearson VUE, and the fingerprint-based criminal history background check required for exam and endorsement applicants are handled and paid separately from the renewal fee.
Required CE topics
- 1mandatory reporter of child abuse course (Iowa HHS/DHS course, certificate valid 3 years; counts 2 contact hours) - required if the nurse cares for children
- 2mandatory reporter of dependent adult abuse course (Iowa HHS/DHS course, certificate valid 3 years; counts 2 contact hours) - required if the nurse cares for dependent adults
Iowa Board of Nursing (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, DIAL) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-02
How much does a Iowa RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Iowa board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Iowa: endorsement and temporary permits
Iowa has been a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact since January 19, 2018. A registered nurse who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Iowa under that license without applying for a separate Iowa license. A nurse who does not hold a multistate license, or whose home state is not part of the compact, must apply for Iowa licensure by endorsement instead.
To apply by endorsement, a nurse submits an online application with a $169 fee, completes a Fieldprint fingerprint-based background check, and has the nursing program send official transcripts directly to the board, or a TruMerit report if educated abroad. The nurse also requests verification through Nursys from the original state of licensure. Iowa issues temporary permits, and a nurse holding an active multistate license may keep working in Iowa while the new application is pending. The board does not list a state jurisprudence exam.
Education and exam for an RN license in Iowa
Iowa does not restrict applicants to a particular type of nursing program; the board accepts degrees from associate, bachelor's, or diploma programs, as long as official transcripts showing the degree and conferral date come directly from the school. Candidates for licensure by exam must register separately for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE, at a cost of $200. The board does not list a separate state jurisprudence exam for Iowa applicants.
What do RNs earn in Iowa?
BLS OES May 2025 · 34,420 RNs employed in Iowa · RN salary in Iowa by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Yes | Every 3 years | 36 hours | $143 | Verify |
| Illinois | No | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $50 | Verify |
| Minnesota | No | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $105 | Verify |
| Missouri | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $0 | Verify |
| Nebraska | Yes | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $123 | Verify |
| South Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $57 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Iowa Board of Nursing (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, DIAL) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- dial.iowa.gov/licenses/medical/nursing-midwifery
- dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwife…
- dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwife…
- dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwife…
- dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwife…
- dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwife…
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Iowa RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.