Louisiana Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 30 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Louisiana nursing 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.
Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Louisiana
Louisiana RN licenses renew every two years, expiring at midnight Central Standard Time on January 31, with the renewal season running from October 1 through December 31. Renewal requires completing 30 hours of continuing education; the profile does not specify particular mandatory CE topics, and it does not state what happens to a license that lapses beyond the renewal window, aside from the late fee described below.
The board does not state the base renewal fee itself, only a $50 late fee that applies to renewals submitted after December 31. For comparison, the initial license fee is $100. NCLEX-RN registration ($200 through Pearson VUE) and IdentoGO fingerprinting for the criminal background check are separate, one-time costs tied to initial licensure rather than renewal.
How much does a Louisiana RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Louisiana board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Louisiana: endorsement and temporary permits
Louisiana is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, effective July 1, 2019. A registered nurse holding a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Louisiana under that license without applying for a separate Louisiana license. A nurse coming from a non-compact state, or holding a single-state license, must apply for licensure by endorsement instead.
Endorsement applicants apply through the Louisiana Nurse Portal for a $100 fee, and licensure is verified through Nursys.com, or directly from the applicant's licensing board if it does not use Nursys. Applicants must submit IdentoGO fingerprints for a state and federal criminal background check, and may purchase a 90-day temporary endorsement permit for $100 while the application is pending. Foreign-trained applicants must show evidence of English proficiency and a credentials evaluation. The profile does not mention a separate state law or jurisprudence exam for endorsement.
Education and exam for an RN license in Louisiana
Louisiana requires RN applicants to complete a nursing program that meets the board's standards; the packet does not specify which degree tracks, such as associate, bachelor's, or diploma programs, qualify, though online programs lacking adequate faculty oversight have been excluded since July 1, 2018. Candidates must then pass the NCLEX-RN, registered through Pearson VUE for $200. The board does not mention a separate state law or jurisprudence exam.
What do RNs earn in Louisiana?
BLS OES May 2025 · 48,970 RNs employed in Louisiana · RN salary in Louisiana by city →
Nearby states
Sources
- Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee rulesmedium confidence
- lsbn.state.la.us/applications
- lsbn.state.la.us/wp-content/uploads/credentialing/RNExamApplication.pd…
- lsbn.state.la.us/wp-content/uploads/credentialing/RNEndorsementApplica…
- lsbn.state.la.us/wp-content/uploads/credentialing/fingerprintinstructi…
- lsbn.state.la.us/education-and-exam
- lsbn.state.la.us/renewal-faqs
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Louisiana RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.