New York Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so its licenses are single-state. RNs renew every 3 years, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a New York 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.
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Nursing) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in New York
New York nurses renew their RN registration every 3 years. The board's pages do not specify a renewal month, so nurses should confirm their personal renewal date through their NYSED account. Renewal does not carry a general continuing education hour requirement on the pages reviewed; the only mandated coursework is infection control training through a NYSED-approved course every 4 years. The board does not state what happens to a license that lapses.
Renewing an RN registration costs $73, well below the $143 fee that first-time applicants pay for initial licensure. This renewal fee covers registration alone; NCLEX-RN exam fees, paid separately to Pearson VUE, apply only to first-time licensure, not renewal. The board's materials do not describe a fingerprinting or criminal background check requirement for renewal.
Required CE topics
- 1Infection control coursework (NYSED-approved) every 4 years or exemption
- 2Child abuse identification and reporting coursework (one-time, before initial licensure)
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Nursing) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-02
How much does a New York RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · New York board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to New York: endorsement and temporary permits
New York is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license issued by another compact state does not allow a nurse to practice in New York. Registered nurses moving from another U.S. state or territory must apply for a New York license by endorsement through the State Education Department rather than relying on compact reciprocity.
Nurses relocating from another state apply under RN Pathway #3, endorsement, using NYSED's instructional checklist and paying the $143 licensure and first-registration fee. A separate state jurisprudence exam is not required; applicants instead disclose any convictions for NYSED to review case by case, with no fingerprint check described. A limited permit, valid for up to 1 year and costing $35, applies only to applicants who have never taken the NCLEX-RN, so it does not cover most nurses moving with an existing out-of-state license.
Education and exam for an RN license in New York
New York accepts nursing education from a NYSED-registered associate's, bachelor's, master's, or diploma program, an approved program in another state, or a foreign general nursing program of at least two academic years. After completing an accepted program, candidates apply to NYSED and pay the required fees before registering for the NCLEX-RN exam through Pearson VUE. New York does not add a separate state jurisprudence exam. Before initial licensure, candidates must also complete one-time, NYSED-approved coursework in child abuse identification and reporting.
What do RNs earn in New York?
BLS OES May 2025 · 205,810 RNs employed in New York · RN salary in New York by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | No | Every 3 years | — | $143 | Verify |
| Connecticut | Yes | Every year | 2 hours | $180 | Verify |
| Massachusetts | Pending | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $230 | Verify |
| New Jersey | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $200 | Verify |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $95 | Verify |
| Vermont | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $75 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Nursing) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee rulesmedium confidence
- op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/license-requi…
- op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/frequently-as…
- op.nysed.gov/about/fees
- op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/contact-infor…
- op.nysed.gov/registration-renewal/online-registration-renewal
- op.nysed.gov/registered-nursing-mandated-training
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 New York RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.