Registered Nurse Resources
How long does it take to get a nursing license in each state?
Glossary
ENLC – Enhanced Nursing Licensure: The eNLC was launched on January 19th, 2018 to allow nurses with multi-state licenses to practice in any other eNLC state without obtaining additional licenses.
39 NLC Jurisdictions and Status
Click each state name below to go to the official state nursing website.
Alabama
Yes
No
Temp: 48 hours
Perm: No set time frame
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every year
Alaska
Pending
No
Temp: 10 business days
Perm: 10 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
| Every 2 years |
Arizona
Yes
Yes
Temp: 48h – Walk-In or 2w – Mail
Perm: 1-2 months
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 4 years
Arkansas
Yes
No
Temp: 3-5 business days
Perm 3-5 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
California
No
No
Temp: 8-10 weeks
Perm: 10-12 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years on your birthday
Colorado
Yes
No
Temp: 4-5 weeks
Perm: 6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every 2 years by September 30
Connecticut
No
No
Temp: 2-3 weeks
Perm: 5-7 business days once all documents received
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every year
Delaware
| Yes |
No
Temp: 4-6 weeks
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Florida
Yes
No
Temp: 30 days
Perm: 30 days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Georgia
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 15 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Hawaii
No
Yes
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 15-20 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years on June 30 of odd years
Idaho
Yes
No
Temp/Perm: No set timeline
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years on August 31
Illinois
Pending
No
Temp: 2 weeks
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years by May 31
Indiana
Yes
No
Temp: 2 weeks
Perm: 2-4 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every odd year on October 31
Iowa
Yes
No
Temp: 5-10 business days
Perm: 2 – 8 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every year
Kansas
Yes
No
Temp: 7-10 business days
Perm: 2 – 4 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Kentucky
Yes
No
Temp: No set timeline
Perm: 2 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every year – October 31
Louisiana
Yes (Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse)
Yes
Temp: No set timeline
Perm: 4 – 6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every year
Maine
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 1-2 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Maryland
Yes
No
Temp: 48-72 hours
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Massachusetts
Pending
No
Temp: 4-6 weeks (only for nurses registered in Canada)
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Michigan
Pending
No
Temp: 4-6 weeks (only for nurses registered in Canada)
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Minnesota
No
No
Temp: 1 business day
Perm: 2 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every 2 years
Mississippi
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 7-15 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Missouri
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 30-60 days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Montana
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 30-60 days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Nebraska
Yes
No
Temp: No set timeline
Perm: 4-5 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
On October 31st of odd-numbered years
Nevada
No
No
Temp: 7-10 business days
Perm: 2-4 months
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
New Hampshire
Yes
No
Temp: no set timeline
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every year
New Jersey
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 6 – 8 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
New Mexico
Yes
No
Temp: 2-3 weeks
Perm: No set timeline
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
New York
Pending
No
Temp: 6-8 weeks
Perm: No set timeline
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 4 years
North Carolina
Yes
No
Temp: 1-2 weeks
Perm: 6 – 8 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
North Dakota
Yes
No
Temp: 3-5 business days
Perm: 7-10 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every year
Ohio
Enacted, Awaiting Implementation
No
Temp: 4-6 weeks
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Oklahoma
Yes
No
Temp: Varies
Perm: 2-3 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Oregon
No
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 1 week
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Pennsylvania
Enacted, Awaiting Implementation
No
Temp: 48 hours
Perm: No set time frame
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every year
Rhode Island
Pending
No
Temp: 48 hours
Perm: No set time frame
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every year
South Carolina
Yes
Yes
Temp: 1 day
Perm: 10-14 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
South Dakota
Yes
No
Temp: 2-3 business days
Perm: 4-6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Tennessee
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Texas
Yes
No
Temp: 2 weeks
Perm: 2 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Utah
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 2-4 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Vermont
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 3-5 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every 2 years
Virginia
Yes
No
Temp: Unavailable
Perm: 4 – 6 weeks
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years
Washington
No
No
Temp: 7-10 business days
Perm: 7-10 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every year – October 31
West Virginia
Yes (Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse)
No
Temp: 48 hours
Perm: No set time frame
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every year
Wisconsin
Yes
No
Temp: 10-15 business days
Perm: 10-15 business days
Fingerprint / Background Check
No
Every 2 years
Wyoming
Yes
No
Temp: 10-14 business days
Perm: Up to 90 days
Fingerprint / Background Check
Yes
Every 2 years