Minnesota Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Minnesota is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so its licenses are single-state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 24 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Minnesota 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.
Minnesota Board of Nursing · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Minnesota
Minnesota renews RN licenses every two years, but the exact renewal date is not the same for everyone. Registration expires on the last day of the license holder's birth month, in an even-numbered year for those born in an even year and an odd-numbered year for those born in an odd year, so a first renewal period can run from 6 to 29 months before settling into the standard 24-month cycle. Renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education; the board does not state mandatory topics.
Renewing a Minnesota RN license costs $85, compared with $105 for the initial license application. These renewal figures do not include the NCLEX-RN exam or the fingerprint-based criminal background check, which the board treats as separate requirements tied to initial licensure rather than each renewal.
How much does a Minnesota RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Minnesota board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Minnesota: endorsement and temporary permits
Minnesota is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license from another compact state does not authorize practice in Minnesota. A registered nurse relocating to Minnesota must instead apply for licensure by endorsement through the Minnesota Board of Nursing, which reviews the nurse's existing license and credentials rather than recognizing compact privileges.
Endorsement applicants pay $105 for the application plus $32 for the required fingerprint-based criminal background check. The board verifies the nurse's original license through Nursys and asks the applicant to report recent nursing practice, which determines whether continuing education records must also be submitted. Minnesota does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam, and applicants may request a temporary permit valid for 60 days while the full application is under review.
Education and exam for an RN license in Minnesota
To become licensed as an RN in Minnesota, a candidate must complete a nursing education program approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing, another U.S. board, or a Canadian province; associate, bachelor's, and diploma programs are not distinguished. Candidates must also pass the NCLEX-RN, the national licensure exam; Minnesota does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam. Foreign-educated nurses must have credentials evaluated and pass an English proficiency exam unless their program was taught in English in an English-speaking country.
What do RNs earn in Minnesota?
BLS OES May 2025 · 70,110 RNs employed in Minnesota · RN salary in Minnesota by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | No | Every 2 years | 24 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 2026-09-02
Sources
- Minnesota Board of Nursing ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee rulesmedium confidence
- mn.gov/boards/nursing/verify-a-license
- mn.gov/boards/assets/Endorsement_RN_Packet_tcm21-37442.pdf
- mn.gov/boards/assets/Renewal_Licensure_FAQ_tcm21-356028.pdf
- revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.243
- revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.211
- revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.231
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Minnesota RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.