NCLEX and License Costs

How much does it cost to take your NCLEX and get your nursing license?

There are a few expenses that are required before you can obtain your state license to practice as a professional nurse:

  1. NCLEX registration fee (paid to Pearson VUE) for initial examination:
    1. U.S. Candidates: $200 USD
    2. Canadian Candidates: $360 CAD (excludes local taxes)
    3. Australian Candidates: $200 USD
  2. Pass your NCLEX and obtain results.
  3. Application to State Board of Nursing (SBN)/Board of Nursing (BON). Click on the state’s link below to be directed to its SBN/BON for more details. 
  4. NOTE: Check the state’s SBN website for details.
    * A Social Security Number (SSN) is required for licensing.
    * Some state fees include mandatory fingerprinting and background check, while 
    other states list it as a separate expense.
    * Some states charge for a temporary license until a permanent license is issued. 
    * Some states do not offer a temporary license; you are unable to work as a licensed
    nurse until you have been given a license number.
    * Additional fees may be charged for NCLEX retest, rescheduling, changing information, or missing deadlines.
    * International nurses may be charged additional fees for licensure processing.
    * Application fees are non-refundable.
  5. + Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) states may require an additional fee to be able to hold a license in multiple states. Fees below are for a single state license.  

     

2024 Fees by State: Initial Application by Examination

StateNCLEXRN/PN LicenseTotal+NLC State
Alabama$200$128.50$328.50X
Alaska$200$375$575 
Arizona$200$100$300X
Arkansas$200$100$300X
California$200$300-350$500-550Pending
Colorado$200$135$335X
Connecticut$200$180$380Pending
Delaware$200$181$381X
District of Columbia$200$230$430Pending
Florida$200$110$310X
Georgia$200$40$240X
Hawaii$200$40$240 
Idaho$200$103-118$303-318X
Illinois$200$107$307Pending
Indiana$200$50$250X
Iowa$200$143$343X
Kansas$200$75-125$275-325X
Kentucky$200$125$325X
Louisiana$200$100$300X
Maine$200$50-100$250-300X
Maryland$200$100$300X
Massachusetts$200$230$430Pending
Michigan$200$213$413Pending
Minnesota$200$105$305Pending
Mississippi$200$60-100$260-300X
Missouri$200$0$200X
Montana$200$100$300X
Nebraska$200$123$323X
Nevada$200$90-100$290-300 
New Hampshire$200$148$348X
New Jersey$200$195$395X
New Mexico$200$150$350X
New York$200$143$343Pending
North Carolina$200$375-450$575-650X
North Dakota$200$145$345X
Ohio$200$75$275X
Oklahoma$200$85$285X
Oregon$200$160$360 
Pennsylvania$200$165$365Partial
Rhode Island$200$45-135$245-335X
South Carolina$200$70-90$270-290X
South Dakota$200$100$300X
Tennessee$200$100$300X
Texas$200$75$275X
Utah$200$90$290X
Vermont$200$200-220$400-420X
Virginia$200$170-190$370-390X
Washington$200$93-138$293-338X
West Virginia$200$90$290X
Wisconsin$200$72$272X
Wyoming$200$250$450X

More resources on NCLEX and getting your nursing license

Next Generation NCLEX (National Council of State Boards of Nursing): This important website provides all the information you need for your NCLEX, from registration to what to expect on examination day.

From Nurse Plus:

Resources for NCLEX-NGN

NCLEX Study Guide

How to Develop Your Personal NCLEX Study Plan

How to Study for Your NCLEX-PN

NCLEX Tips and Tricks: Hacks and Must-Knows

Help! I Failed My NCLEX

Using YouTube to Study for NCLEX

NCLEX Pass Rates and Resources

Suzanne Ball

About the Author

Winona Suzanne Ball

Nursing Adviser, RN | MHS, Governors State University, IL
Full member of the American Nurses Association. Learn more

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The Nurse Plus Academy is designed to help you pass your NCLEX Exam. The site provides NCLEX practice questions that are based on the materials developed by 2024 National Council of State Boards of Nursing and are similar to those you’ll find on the official exam. Nurse Plus is not affiliated with NCSBN®. NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of NCSBN®. Visit our sister site CNA Plus for CNA practice test resources.
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