How to get a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license in New Hampshire

New Hampshire registered nurse licenses

New Hampshire issues 2 registered nurse credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every New Hampshire registered nurse license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

What it covers

Comprehensive nursing assessment, care planning, nursing diagnoses and interventions, delegation, health teaching, advocacy, evaluation, and managing, supervising and teaching nursing practice (RSA 326-B:12).³

Requirements

Education or training

Graduate (or verified eligible to graduate) from a board-approved nursing education program, or one meeting comparable criteria; official transcript with graduation date sent by the school.³
Who may teach it: Board-approved nursing education program in the US or Canada meeting Nur 600, including NCLEX-RN course requirements.²
Alternative: Foreign-educated (and Quebec) applicants: NCSBN-recognized credentials review, a passing certificate from an NCSBN-endorsed exam issued within 2 years, English proficiency, and verification of any existing license.²
Alternative: NH nursing students and military personnel may qualify through comparable education (official stamped transcript).²

Exam

NCLEX-RN²
Given by: Pearson VUE⁴
When you can take it: US/Canadian graduates must take NCLEX within 6 months of graduating from an approved school (exceptions for foreign/Canadian-educated nurses with 400 practice hours in the past 4 years).²
Retakes: Three attempts without Board intervention; a Board-approved written remediation plan (completed within one year before testing) is required before the 4th and again before the 5th and final attempt.²
Time limit: Lifetime total of 5 opportunities within a consecutive 3-year period.²

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required³
Applicants report pending charges, convictions and plea arrangements; no license for murder/manslaughter, robbery, felonious theft or assault, sexual crimes involving a child, kidnapping or child/incompetent endangerment unless annulled.³

Also required

Must be able to read and write English (instruction, textbooks and most clinicals in English, or a passing English proficiency exam).³

Also required

Copy of a state-issued driver's license is uploaded with the online application.⁴

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE⁴, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Pre-register with Pearson VUE for NCLEX-RN.⁷
2. Have your school email your official transcript (with graduation date) to [email protected].⁴
3. Optional: mail the paper RN-LPN Temporary by Exam application to practice under RN supervision while awaiting NCLEX (once only).⁸
4. Allow 14 business days for the first review; OPLC communicates by email only.⁷

Apply online

forms.nh.gov⁹

Temporary or provisional license

Exam candidates: one-time temporary license on the paper form, valid 120 days or while the exam application is valid, practicing only under RN supervision; not available when reapplying after a failed exam.¹

Processing time

OPLC asks for 10-14 business days for the initial review and first email; no status updates before then.⁸

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years³

Renewal fee

$88¹⁰ (Biennial renewal (plus $28 PHP fee))

Continuing education

30 hours each renewal period³

Required topics

No mandatory subject. Current national certification may satisfy the requirement.²

Approved courses

Track CE in CE Broker (certificates are no longer uploaded with the renewal); OPLC checks CE Broker if you are audited. One academic credit = 15 contact hours.⁸

Exemptions

Licensees may request inactive status instead of meeting the CE requirement.²

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $88⁶ (renewal filed after expiry but within one year (paper reinstatement application; plus $28 PHP fee))

If it expires

Expired less than one year: file the paper RN reinstatement application with the reinstatement fee (cannot renew an expired license in the portal). Expired one year or more: file a new initial application, pay, and redo the criminal background check.⁹
Reinstatement requires 400 working hours within 4 years and 30 CE hours within 2 years, or completion of a re-entry program.¹¹
No active RN license in any US jurisdiction for 5+ years: complete a re-entry program (structured refresher of at least 120 hours, or an approved individualized program) under a temporary license and RN supervision.²
Practising on a lapsed license can draw a fine of up to $50 per month.²

Renew online

forms.nh.gov⁹

From another state

Who needs a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

Work that does not need this license:

• Out-of-state VA nurses serving Manchester VAMC patients at outside facilities are exempt from NH licensure laws.³

Requirements for a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Residency or citizenship

Single-state (NH-only) license for nurses whose permanent residence is in a non-compact state, or who work exclusively for the US military/federal government and request one.¹²

Social Security number

The OPLC nursing forms require a Social Security number.¹

How to apply

1. Submit the online license application on forms.nh.gov with the fee and a copy of your state driver's license.⁷ forms.nh.gov⁷

Renewal and continuing education

Moving to New Hampshire with a license from another state

These are the routes the New Hampshire Board of Nursing publishes for the single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license. The other registered nurse licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Multistate Registered Nurse (RN) license

Requirements

Residency or citizenship

Multistate license only for nurses whose primary state of residence is New Hampshire: file the Declaration of Primary State of Residency with a copy of the NH driver's license; residents of another compact state cannot get an NH license to test.⁹

Social Security number

A valid US Social Security number is a uniform licensure requirement for a multistate license.³

Also required

Must meet the NLC uniform licensure requirements, including NCLEX, FBI/state fingerprint check, no felony convictions, and not currently enrolled in an alternative program.³

How to apply

1. Submit the online license application on forms.nh.gov with the fee and a copy of your state driver's license plus the Declaration of Primary State of Residency (NH as home state).⁹ forms.nh.gov⁷

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a registered nurse in New Hampshire, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in New Hampshire is on the New Hampshire license lookup page.

Look up a license

forms.nh.gov¹⁵

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• RSA 326-B:12, 326-B:15-17 (RN scope; criminal history record checks; licensure; examination)
• RSA 326-B:22, 326-B:24, 326-B:31 (renewal; temporary licenses; continuing education)
• RSA 326-B:46 (Nurse Licensure Compact)
• N.H. Admin. Rules Nur 301-304, 401, 403 (application, qualifications, examination, endorsement, renewal, CE)
• N.H. Admin. Rules Plc 1001.07-1001.15, Plc 1002.33

Rule changes since January 2024

• August 25, 2025: Nur 303 examination rules readopted (5 NCLEX attempts within 3 years; remediation plans before 4th and 5th attempts).²
• July 1, 2025: OPLC fee rules readopted: RN application/renewal/reinstatement processing fee $88 plus separate $28 PHP fee; temporary license on a separate form $40.⁶

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

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