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The cheapest state to get a registered nurse license is West Virginia at $35. The most expensive is Alaska at $200. The national average is $104.
Lowest
$35
West Virginia
Average
$104
across 50 states
Median
$100
30 states at or below
Range
$165
spread across states
| # | State | Renewal Fee | Initial Fees | Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Virginia | $35 | $270 | 1 year |
| #2 | Indiana | $50.00 | $280 | 2 years (licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years) |
| #3 | Utah | $58 | $290 | 2 years |
| #4 | Georgia | $65 | $290 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #4 | Kentucky | $65 | $394 | Annual (November 1 through October 31) |
| #4 | Ohio | $65 | $322.25 | 2 years |
| #4 | Rhode Island | $65 | $365 | 2 years (biennial); licenses expire March 1 every other year |
| #8 | Texas | $67 | $314 | 2 years |
| #9 | Idaho | $70 | $318.25 | 2 years |
| #10 | New York | $74 | $343 | 3 years |
| #11 | Florida | $75 | $360-$390 | 2 years (biennium) |
| #11 | Maine | $75 | $~$325 | 2 years (biennial, tied to licensee's birthday) |
| #11 | Oklahoma | $75 | $335 | 2 years |
| #14 | Illinois | $80 | $317 | 2 years (May 31 of even-numbered years) |
| #14 | South Carolina | $80 | $331 | 2 years (biennial); licenses expire April 30 of even-numbered years |
| #16 | Wisconsin | $82 | $311 | 2 years (license expires 02/28 or 02/29 of even-numbered years) |
| #17 | Kansas | $85 | $348-$373 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #17 | Minnesota | $85.00 | $337 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #17 | Missouri | $85 | $244.80 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #20 | North Dakota | $90 | $365 | 2 years |
| #21 | Washington | $91 | $372-$386 | 1 year (annually on the licensee's birthday) |
| #22 | New Mexico | $93 | $354 | 2 years |
| #23 | Iowa | $99 every three years | $343 ($143 examination/application fee + $200 NCLEX fee paid to NCSBN) | 3 years (license renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle; first renewal may be 24–36 months) |
| #24 | Arkansas | $100 | $336.25 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #24 | Louisiana | $100 | $~$350 | 2 years |
| #24 | Mississippi | $100 | $375 | 2 years |
| #24 | Montana | $100 | $345 | 2 years |
| #24 | Nevada | $100 | $350 | 2 years (expires on nurse's birthday) |
| #24 | North Carolina | $100 | $313 | 2 years |
| #24 | Tennessee | $100 | $338 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #31 | Alabama | $103 (SSL) / $203 (MSL) | $372.50-$472.50 | 2 years |
| #32 | Colorado | $108 | $444.50 | 2 years |
| #32 | New Hampshire | $108 | $398 | 2 years |
| #34 | Pennsylvania | $109 | $317-$335 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #35 | Connecticut | $110 | $430 | Annual (1 year), renewed during birth month |
| #35 | Wyoming | $110 | $395 | 2 years — licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years; renewal via Nurse Portal |
| #37 | South Dakota | $115 | $343 | 2 years |
| #38 | Massachusetts | $120 | $430 | 2 years (expires on licensee's birthday in even-numbered years) |
| #38 | New Jersey | $120 | $459 | 2 years |
| #40 | Nebraska | $123 | $368 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #41 | Vermont | $125 | $420 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #42 | Michigan | $131 | $~$475 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #43 | Virginia | $140 | $426-$429 | 2 years |
| #44 | Oregon | $145 | $369+ | 2 years (biennial, tied to licensee's birthday) |
| #45 | Arizona | $160 | $550 | 4 years |
| #46 | California | $190 | $549-$999 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #47 | Maryland | $191 | $~$437 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #48 | District of Columbia | $195 | $437 | 2 years |
| #49 | Hawaii | $196.00 | $544-$559 | 2 years (biennial; renew by June 30 of every odd-numbered year) |
| #50 | Alaska | $200 | $575 | 2 years |
| — | Delaware | $Not specified | $381+ | 2 years |
Renewal fees are per renewal cycle as reported by state licensing boards. Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full renewal details.
West Virginia has the lowest renewal fee at $35. The national average renewal fee is $104.
There is significant variation across the 50 states with data. Values range from $35 to $200, with a median of $100.
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