How to get a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license in New Hampshire
New Hampshire licenses nursing assistants statewide through the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.1 For the Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license you need a passing score on the Board-approved nursing assistant competency examination: written and clinical (skills) tests1 and a criminal background check1. The board lists $38 for the application2. You renew every 2 years1.
Who issues it
New Hampshire Board of Nursing
Training and experience
An approved education program; see the requirements
Exam
Board-approved nursing assistant competency examination: written and clinical (skills) tests1
Fees the board lists
Application fee: $382
Renewal
Every 2 years1
On this page
- New Hampshire nursing assistant licenses
- Rules shared by several license levels
- Who needs a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license
- Requirements for a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license
- How much a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to New Hampshire with a license from another state
- Certified Assisted Living Medication Aide (CALMA)
- Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA)
- City and county rules
- Laws and rules
- Common questions
- Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states
New Hampshire nursing assistant licenses
New Hampshire issues 3 nursing assistant credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Training or experience | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Assisted Living Medication Aide (CALMA) | – | Training 40 clock hours1 | Yes1 | – |
| Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) | LNAs practice under the supervision of an RN, APRN or LPN; they may give medication only with a certificate of medication administration (MNA) or by nurse delegation in home care, hospice, residential care, public school or adult day care settings; extra tasks need Board-approved training and proper delegation.1 | – | Yes1 | $382 |
| Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA) — Certificate of Medication Administration for a Licensed Nursing Assistant | An LNA holding a valid certificate of medication administration may administer medication.1 | Experience 1 year1 | Yes1 | $111 |
Rules shared by several license levels
These rules are the same for several of the New Hampshire nursing assistant licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.
Every license level except Certified Assisted Living Medication Aide (CALMA)
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| License verification to another state | $104 | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | The fee for providing a letter of good standing or other verification of licensure status shall be |
The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.
Renewal
- How often
- Every 2 years1
Who needs a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license
LNAs practice under the supervision of an RN, APRN or LPN; they may give medication only with a certificate of medication administration (MNA) or by nurse delegation in home care, hospice, residential care, public school or adult day care settings; extra tasks need Board-approved training and proper delegation.1
Requirements for a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.
- Education or training
- Complete a Board-approved nursing assistant education program (certificate required), or a fundamentals of nursing curriculum (or equivalent) in a Board-approved nursing education program.1
Who may teach it: Programs must be approved by the NH Department of Education (Division of Educator Support and Higher Education) before Board approval; OPLC lists approved LNA programs (hospitals, nursing homes, community colleges, private schools) and RN/LPN programs with an approved LNA pathway.1
Alternative: Military medics (Army 68W, Air Force 4N0X1, Navy HM, Coast Guard HS) who used those skills in the last 3 years are deemed to have taken a Board-approved course (licensure by alternate experience).1
Alternative: EMT-basic, EMT-advanced or paramedic licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction with current NREMT certification is deemed to have taken a Board-approved course (licensure by alternate experience).1 - Exam
- Board-approved nursing assistant competency examination: written and clinical (skills) tests1
When you can take it: After completing the approved education program (the application needs the program certificate and the testing final report).2
Written competency test2
Clinical (skills) competency test2 - Background check
- Background check required1
Fingerprints required1
NH State Police and FBI records check; applicants report pending charges, convictions and plea arrangements; the Board may license despite grounds for discipline if it finds sufficient restitution. After two invalid fingerprint sets, police clearances from every place lived in the past 5 years may be accepted.1 - Also required
- Sufficient aptitude in the English language (as defined in Board rules).1
How much a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $382 | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | LNA license application processing and licensing: Initial, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of license — 2 years. Not refundable. Effective July 1, 2025 |
| Professionals’ health program fee | $284 | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | Initial, renewal and reinstatement applications |
| Temporary license or permit | $404 | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | The fee for applying for a temporary license in conjunction with an application for a regular license, but using a separate application form, shall be. Separate temporary-license application (e.g. endorsement applicants using the Temporary/Emergency application) |
| Duplicate or replacement license | up to $204 | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | Optional wall certificate (original or replacement); electronic replacement licenses are free |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
How to apply
- Complete a Board-approved nursing assistant education program (OPLC list) and get the program certificate.5
- Pass the written and clinical competency tests; keep the testing agency's final report.2
- Complete the criminal history record check (State Police release form plus fingerprints).1
- Apply online to OPLC (Checklist for LNA License by Competency Examination) and pay the non-refundable fee; do not submit duplicate applications.2
- Once licensed you are placed on the NH nursing assistant registry (42 CFR 483.156).1
- Temporary or provisional license
- Temporary LNA license for applicants who have passed the exam and are awaiting the criminal records check, if they passed a criminal check in an approved education program within the prior 12 months; valid until the Board decides or 180 days, practicing under NH RN supervision.1
Renewal and continuing education
- When it expires
- Renew online every 2 years: report pending charges/convictions, meet continuing competence rules; the registration code is emailed 60 days before expiry and renewal opens up to 90 days before expiry.6
- Renewal fee
- $386
- Approved courses
- Track CE in CE Broker; certificates are no longer uploaded with the renewal.6
- Late renewal
- Reinstatement fee: $384 (expired less than 1 year (mail the paper reinstatement application))
- If it expires
- Expired under 1 year: mail the LNA Reinstatement Application with the reinstatement fee (expired licenses cannot be renewed in the portal). Expired over 1 year: file a new initial application online.7
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your New Hampshire Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to New Hampshire with a license from another state
These are the routes the New Hampshire Board of Nursing publishes for the Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license. The other nursing assistant licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- License by endorsement
- What the board says
- LNA license by endorsement for holders of an active nursing assistant license/certificate from any U.S. state or DC (Plc 313.41): online application, non-refundable fee, criminal background check and verification of the out-of-state license; a separate temporary license may be requested.3
- States on New Hampshire's list
- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming8
This is the list of states whose licenses New Hampshire accepts for this route. It does not say those states accept a New Hampshire license. - Conditions
- Current license in good standing; verification may be a screenshot of the other board's lookup.8
FBI/criminal history records check (LNA is on OPLC's list).8 - Fee
- $383
Military service members, veterans and spouses: Military medics (68W, 4N0X1, HM, HS) with use of those skills in the last 3 years qualify for licensure by alternate experience.1
Certified Assisted Living Medication Aide (CALMA)
Requirements
- Minimum age
- 18 years old1
- Education or training
- At least 40 clock hours1
Board-approved CALMA program of at least 40 hours of classroom and clinical education.1 - Exam
- Board-approved CALMA examination1
- Also required
- Must be employed by a residential care facility or supported residential care facility.1
How to apply
- Work for a residential care or supported residential care facility, complete a Board-approved CALMA program (40+ hours), pass the Board-approved exam and pay the certification fee.1
Renewal
- When it expires
- Renewed as required by RSA 310:8.1
Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA)
An LNA holding a valid certificate of medication administration may administer medication.1
Requirements
- Education or training
- Complete a Board-approved medication administration education program.9
Who may teach it: Board-approved MNA programs, each with a medication nurse reviewer (OPLC list: e.g. LNA Health Careers and WDC at Manchester Community College in Manchester, River Valley and White Mountains Community Colleges).9 - Exam
- Board-approved medication administration examination1
- Background check
- Background check required8
- Also required
- Must hold a current NH LNA license.1
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $111 | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | MNA certification application processing and licensing: Initial, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of certification — 2 years. Not refundable. Effective July 1, 2025 |
How to apply
- Hold a current NH LNA license and work one full year as an LNA.1
- Complete a Board-approved MNA program.1
- Pass the Board-approved examination and pay the certification fee through OPLC (Applications for MNA page).1
Renewal
- When it expires
- Biennial renewal, online, with CE tracked in CE Broker.1
- Renewal fee
- $114
- Approved courses
- Track CE in CE Broker.6
- Late renewal
- Reinstatement fee: $114
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- No endorsement route published yet: OPLC lists MNA qualifying jurisdictions as "TBD" under Plc 313.41.8
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.
City and county rules
Certified Assisted Living Medication Aide (CALMA)No local license.1
Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)No local license: the LNA is a statewide Board of Nursing license.1
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
- RSA 326-B (Nurse Practice Act), incl. 326-B:14, :15, :16 II, :19, :21-a, :22, :24, :26, :27, :41-a
- N.H. Admin. Rules Plc 1001.07, 1001.08, 1001.13, 1001.15 and Table 1002.33
- 42 CFR 483.150-483.158 (nurse aide training, competency evaluation and registry)
- RSA 326-B:27-a
- RSA 326-B:2 VI, 326-B:14 II-a, 326-B:27
Common questions
Can I transfer my nursing assistant license to New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Board of Nursing publishes this route for the Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license: license by endorsement3. Conditions and forms.
Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- RSA chapter 326-B Nurse Practice Act (merged)New Hampshire General CourtChecked November 8, 2026
- Checklist for LNA License by Competency ExaminationNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (Board of Nursing)Checked November 7, 2026
- Checklist for LNA License by Endorsement (Reciprocity)New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (Board of Nursing)Checked November 7, 2026
- N.H. Admin. Rules Plc 1000 (OPLC license fees)New Hampshire General Court (Office of Legislative Services, Administrative Rules)Dated July 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Nursing Assistant Educational ProgramsNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (Board of Nursing)Checked November 7, 2026
- Renewal Checklist (all Board of Nursing license types)New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (Board of Nursing)Checked November 7, 2026
- Applications for Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (Board of Nursing)Checked November 7, 2026
- New Changes to Reciprocity in New HampshireNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and CertificationChecked November 7, 2026
- Medication Nursing Assistant ProgramsNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (Board of Nursing)Checked November 7, 2026