Vermont Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Vermont is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Vermont 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.
Vermont Board of Nursing (Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Vermont
Vermont RN licenses run on a fixed two-year cycle, expiring March 31 of every odd-numbered year regardless of when the license was first issued. A license issued within 90 days before that expiration date carries forward through the next full two-year period rather than expiring right away, and renewal applications open 6 weeks before the deadline. The board does not state a continuing education requirement for RN renewal, nor does it specify what happens to a license that lapses.
Renewing a Vermont RN license costs $220, compared with $75 for the initial license application. These renewal and application fees are separate from the cost of taking the NCLEX-RN exam and the fingerprint-supported criminal background check, which are handled and paid through their own separate processes.
How much does a Vermont RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Vermont board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Vermont: endorsement and temporary permits
Vermont is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, which means a registered nurse who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Vermont without applying for a separate Vermont license, as long as Vermont is not their primary state of residence. A nurse who wants to make Vermont their home state, or who is moving from a non-compact state, needs to apply for licensure through the Vermont Board of Nursing instead.
A nurse moving to Vermont from outside the Nurse Licensure Compact applies online by endorsement, providing official verification of the current license, a fingerprint-supported criminal background check, and proof of English proficiency if the nursing program or exam was not in English. Applicants must also show recent practice: 400 hours in 2 years, 960 hours in 5 years, 20 continuing education hours in 2 years, or current national certification. Vermont offers a temporary permit, and the board does not describe a separate state law exam.
Education and exam for an RN license in Vermont
To become licensed as an RN in Vermont, a candidate must graduate from an approved nursing education program and submit official transcripts, unless the program was completed in Vermont. The board does not separately list which degree types, such as associate, bachelor's, or diploma programs, qualify. Candidates must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam, registered through Pearson VUE. The board's materials do not describe a separate state jurisprudence or nursing law exam.
What do RNs earn in Vermont?
BLS OES May 2025 · 7,410 RNs employed in Vermont · RN salary in Vermont by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $75 | Verify |
| Massachusetts | Pending | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $230 | Verify |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $116 | Verify |
| New York | No | Every 3 years | — | $143 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Vermont Board of Nursing (Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- sos.vermont.gov/nursing/apply-renew
- sos.vermont.gov/nursing/nursing-faqs
- sos.vermont.gov/nursing/statutes-rules-resources/nurse-licensure-compa…
- sos.vermont.gov/opr/find-a-professional
- outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/profession…
- outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/profession…
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Vermont RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.