Montana Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

Montana is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a registered nurse who already holds a multistate license issued by another compact state can practice in Montana without applying for a separate Montana license. Nurses whose home-state license is not multistate, or whose home state is not part of the compact, need to apply for licensure by endorsement to work in Montana.

An out-of-state RN applying by endorsement submits an online application through Montana's ebiz.mt.gov portal, along with a Nursys verification confirming education, NCLEX-RN passage, and an active license in good standing; if the prior state does not participate in Nursys, verification must come directly from that state's board. Applicants also complete a fingerprint-based background check through the Montana Department of Justice, and pay the $100 initial licensure fee. The board does not mention a temporary permit, state law exam, or English proficiency test for endorsement applicants.

To become licensed as an RN in Montana, a candidate must complete an approved professional nursing program and hold an official transcript showing that education; the board's checklist does not distinguish between associate, bachelor's, or diploma programs. Candidates must then pass the NCLEX-RN examination. The board does not mention a separate state jurisprudence exam. Internationally educated applicants must also submit a credential evaluation report, though the checklist does not name a required English proficiency test.