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

Wyoming registered nurse licenses

Wyoming issues 3 registered nurse credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Rules shared by several license levels

These rules are the same for several of the Wyoming registered nurse 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 Nurse volunteer's license

What it covers

Professional nursing requires substantial knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing theory. It applies the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Graduate from a board-approved RN pre-licensure nursing education program. Wyoming programs include the University of Wyoming (BSN) and community-college ADN programs. Your school must send transcripts directly to the Board.⁵
Who may teach it: A program approved by a state board of nursing (Wyoming programs are approved by WSBN under W.S. 33-21-138).¹
Alternative: Foreign education: credential review agency verification of comparability.²

Exam

NCLEX-RN²
Given by: Pearson VUE (the Board licensing page links "Pearson Vue" for NCLEX registration).⁵
When you can take it: Apply to the Board first (application and fees are the first step) and graduate from a board-approved program. You can be made eligible to take the NCLEX while your background check is still pending.⁴
Retakes: To retake after a fail, submit an application for licensure by re-examination with fees, and new fingerprint cards if needed. You must pass within 5 attempts. After 5 failed attempts you must complete a Board-approved NCLEX prep course, which gives 2 more attempts counted from the course completion date.²
Time limit: No time limit from graduation since October 1, 2026; only the 5-attempt limit applies (previously 5 attempts within 5 years of graduation).²

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required⁵
Send two blue FBI fingerprint cards to the Board (by mail or drop-off). DCI usually takes 15-30 days once the Board receives them. Disclose all offenses other than traffic violations, and upload court documents with a personal statement for each one. There are no automatic disqualifiers: each case is decided individually. Renewal does not require a new check.⁵
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply³

Also required

Applications stay open for 12 months while awaiting documents. After that they expire and you must reapply with new fees.²

Also required

Foreign-educated RNs apply on the Foreign Educated Application. They need a credentials evaluation from an approved agency (e.g. TruMerit/CGFNS, ECE, ERES, IERF, IEE, Josef Silny, SPANTRAN, Trential), English proficiency where applicable (e.g. IELTS Academic 6.5 overall), and the NCLEX-RN. They must also have graduated within 5 years of applying.²

Also required

Card payment is the only form of payment, and paper applications are no longer accepted.⁵

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.

How to apply

1. Create a Nurse Portal account and submit the application and fees by card (2.4% processing fee). Do this before anything else.⁵ wybn.boardsofnursing.org⁵
2. Have your nursing school send transcripts directly to the Board (e-mail from the school to [email protected] is accepted).⁵
3. Get two FBI fingerprint cards rolled (most local law-enforcement agencies can do this) and mail them to (or drop them off at) WSBN, 130 Hobbs Ave, Suite B, Cheyenne, WY 82002. They cannot be uploaded to the portal. Upload court documents and a personal statement for any criminal history.⁵
4. Exam applicants: register for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson VUE and test once the Board makes you eligible. Endorsement applicants: verify your license through Nursys and upload evidence of competency.⁵
5. Watch the Nurse Portal message center for missing items. Licensure generally takes 45-60 days once all documents are in. Wyoming does not issue paper licenses; your status shows on Nursys.⁵

Apply online

wybn.boardsofnursing.org⁶

Temporary or provisional license

One-time temporary permit, $25, up to 90 days. For exam applicants it is held as Graduate Nurse (G.N.) under RN supervision; endorsement applicants can also get one. Select it on the initial application. It gives no multistate privilege.⁵

Processing time

45-60 days from receipt of a complete application on average. DCI fingerprint processing takes 15-30 days after WSBN receives the cards; application processing takes 3-5 days (longer with discipline or criminal history).⁵

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years²

When it expires

Every Wyoming license expires on 31 December of an even-numbered year. Renewal opens in the Nurse Portal on 1 October and closes 31 December of the renewal year. A license first issued in an even year (e.g. 2026) must still be renewed that year.²

Required topics

Competency for renewal (one of these in the past two years): 400 hours of active nursing practice; passing the NCLEX; a Board-accepted refresher course; a nursing degree beyond your basic nursing education; or 40 hours of continuing education. Paid, unpaid or volunteer work that uses nursing knowledge or clinical judgment counts as active practice. Caring for sick family members or neighbours does not count.²

Approved courses

No Board approval list for CE providers was found. If you use the CE option, upload certificates showing your name, the provider, the date and the credits to the Nurse Portal. The Board can audit competencies.⁷

Exemptions

An RN who also holds an APRN license meets only the APRN competency rules (national certification plus 3 hours of controlled-substance prescribing CE if they have prescriptive authority).²

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $135³ (relicensure after the license expired for failure to renew, or reinstatement after discipline)
Inactive/Retired Licensure/Certification (APRN/RN/LPN/CNA): $30¹ (placing a license on inactive or retired status (ch. 5 § 4(f)(v) also lists "Inactive/Retired $30" as a renewal fee))
Reactivation Licensure/Certification: (ii) RN: $110³ (reactivating an inactive license (plus fingerprint cards and DCI fee))
License verification to another state: $25⁸
Name Change: $20³

If it expires

No grace period. If you do not renew by 31 December, the license expires and you lose the right to practice in Wyoming until the Board reissues it. Practising on an expired license is subject to discipline. To come back, apply for relicensure ($135) with new fingerprint cards and fees and evidence of competency from the last two years.²
Inactive or retired status: you cannot practice until reactivated. Reactivation ($110) needs an application, new fingerprint cards and fees, and evidence of competency.²
If you have not practiced for a long time, a Board-approved nurse refresher course is the route back. The Board keeps a list of approved refresher courses (list dated 3.12.2026).⁵

Renew online

wybn.boardsofnursing.org⁷

From another state

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

Work that does not need this license:

• No Wyoming license is needed for: students in approved programs; emergencies; incidental care by family and friends; federal-employee nurses on duty; out-of-state nurses transporting patients (up to 48 hours per transport); out-of-state nurses teaching or consulting (up to 14 days a year); governor-declared disasters; and nurses practicing under the Nurse Licensure Compact.¹

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

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Residency or citizenship

A single-state license is valid only in Wyoming. It is the license for people who do not live in a compact state, and for Wyoming licensees who have not upgraded. People living in another NLC state normally practice in Wyoming on their home-state multistate license.¹

Social Security number

The board licensing page asks for a copy of your Social Security card and another proof of lawful presence (stated for foreign-educated applicants). Wyoming law requires licensing boards to record SSNs on applications.⁵

How to apply

1. Choose the right application in the Nurse Portal. Use Examination if this is your first license or you are not actively licensed elsewhere, and Endorsement if you hold an active RN license in another state.⁵

Renewal and continuing education

Nurse volunteer's license

Unpaid nursing services for low-income uninsured people, only on the premises of a nonprofit health care facility in Wyoming.¹

Requirements

Education or training

A copy of your nursing degree.¹

Prior licensure

At least 10 years¹
Retired (your license has expired) after at least 10 years of full licensure in good standing in a U.S. jurisdiction, or 10 years as a nurse in the U.S. armed services, immediately before retirement.¹

Also required

Notarised statement on the Board form: no pay of any kind, practice only for low-income uninsured people at a Wyoming nonprofit facility, and any other documents the Board requires.¹

How to apply

1. Apply to WSBN with your nursing degree, your most recent license, proof of 10 years' licensure or military nursing service, and the notarised statement on the Board form. Ch. 2 § 15 requires a completed application and fees.²

Renewal

How often

Every year¹

Required topics

To renew, certify completion of any continuing education the Act requires as if you were in active practice.¹

Multistate Registered Nurse (RN) license

Requirements

Residency or citizenship

You can get a Wyoming multistate license only if Wyoming is your primary state of residence and you meet the NLC uniform licensure requirements. Wyoming licensees upgrading to multistate submit new fingerprint cards and proof of lawful presence with the application.²

Social Security number

A valid U.S. Social Security number is required for a multistate license.¹

Also required

NLC uniform licensure requirements also apply: NCLEX passed; active, unencumbered license; fingerprint check; no felony conviction or agreed disposition; no nursing-related misdemeanour (judged case by case); not enrolled in an alternative program.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Choose the right application in the Nurse Portal. Use Examination if this is your first license or you are not actively licensed elsewhere, and Endorsement if you hold an active RN license in another state. To get a multistate license, Wyoming must be your primary state of residence.⁵
2. Already licensed in Wyoming (single-state) and want multistate? In the Nurse Portal, go to "other applications" and choose the multistate license. Submit new fingerprint cards; the multistate processing fee is $0 and the DCI check is $60.⁵

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

nursys.com⁵

File a complaint

wybn.boardsofnursing.org⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Wyo. Stat. §§ 33-21-119 to 33-21-158 (Nurse Practice Act), esp. 33-21-120, -127, -129 to -132, -134, -136, -145, -154, -157
• Wyo. Stat. §§ 33-21-201 to 33-21-202 (Nurse Licensure Compact)
• Wyo. Stat. §§ 33-1-117 (military expedited licenses), 33-1-120 (licensure for qualified individuals licensed in other jurisdictions)
• WSBN Rules ch. 2 (Licensure/Certification Requirements), effective 10/01/2026, ref. 054.0002.2.10012026
• WSBN Rules ch. 5, effective 05/26/2026, ref. 054.0002.5.05262026
• Wyo. Stat. § 33-21-157 (Nurses volunteer license)
• WSBN Rules ch. 2 § 15 (Nurse Volunteer License), eff. 10/01/2026

Rule changes since January 2024

• October 1, 2026: WSBN Rules ch. 2 amended: the NCLEX limit is now 5 attempts with no 5-years-from-graduation window. After 5 fails, a Board-approved NCLEX prep course gives 2 more attempts. Previously a refresher course was required after 5 years.²
• October 1, 2026: Renewal fees (ch. 5 § 4(f)) are waived for renewals from 1 October to December 31, 2026.³
• May 26, 2026: WSBN fee rule (ch. 5) effective 05/26/2026 sets RN exam $130, endorsement $135, renewal $110, DCI check $60.³

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

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