Rhode Island Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Rhode Island is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 10 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Rhode Island nursing license
Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) sends license verification to Nursys, the national database run by NCSBN. Quick Confirm is free and shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline.
Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Rhode Island
Rhode Island RN licenses renew every two years, expiring on March 1 of the renewal year based on the original issuance date; the renewal application is due by February 15, and the board sends renewal notices 60 days before expiration. Renewal requires 10 hours of continuing education, including 2 hours on substance abuse per two-year cycle and a one-time Alzheimer's disease and dementia training whose hour count the board does not state. The board does not state what happens to a lapsed license.
The renewal fee is $135, the same amount charged for an initial license. This fee covers the renewal itself; NCLEX examination costs and the fingerprint-based national criminal background check required of applicants for licensure are separate charges and are not included in the renewal fee the board states.
Required CE topics
- 1substance abuse 2 hr per 2-year cycle
- 2Alzheimer's disease/dementia training (one-time requirement stated on the board page; hours not stated there)
Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-02
How much does a Rhode Island RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Rhode Island board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Rhode Island: endorsement and temporary permits
Rhode Island is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, effective January 1, 2024. This means a registered nurse who holds a multistate license from another compact state may practice in Rhode Island under that license without applying separately. A nurse whose current license is not a multistate compact license must apply for licensure by endorsement to practice in Rhode Island.
To apply by endorsement, a nurse submits an online application with a $135 fee, along with Nursys verification from every state of licensure (Pennsylvania verifications go through PALS) and a fingerprint-based national criminal background check. Rhode Island does not require a separate jurisprudence or law exam, and the board offers a temporary permit. Rhode Island residents eligible for a multistate license must apply for one. Nurses educated outside the United States must also meet TruMerit credential evaluation and English proficiency exam requirements.
Education and exam for an RN license in Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires graduation from a Board-approved nursing education program, whether a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree program, documented by an official transcript from the school of nursing showing the degree conferred. Candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN examination; Rhode Island does not require a separate state jurisprudence or law exam. Nurses educated outside the United States must also complete TruMerit credential evaluation and pass a Board-approved English language proficiency examination.
What do RNs earn in Rhode Island?
BLS OES May 2025 · 10,090 RNs employed in Rhode Island · RN salary in Rhode Island by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Yes | Every 2 years | 10 hours | $135 | Verify |
| Connecticut | Yes | Every year | 2 hours | $180 | Verify |
| Massachusetts | Pending | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $230 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Professionals Regulation) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- health.ri.gov/licensing/nursing/nurse-licensure-compact-information
- health.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur1006/files/publications/requirements…
- rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-3
- rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-10-05-2
- healthri.mylicense.com/Verification
- ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Rhode Island RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.