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How to become a nurse in North Carolina

North Carolina licenses nurses through the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The route is the same for every state: finish an approved program, apply to the board, pass the NCLEX, then renew on schedule. This page covers what is specific to North Carolina.

Rules checked November 14, 2026

The steps

  1. Finish a board-approved nursing program

    Choose the level you want to start at: a practical nursing certificate (about a year), an associate degree (about two years) or a bachelor's degree (about four). North Carolina has 35 bachelor's, 62 associate degree and 49 practical nursing programs in our data. Compare BSN programs in North Carolina.

  2. Apply to the board for a license by examination

    You apply to the North Carolina Board of Nursing before you can test. The board's fee for registered nurses is $75. Expect a fingerprint background check.

  3. Register for and pass the NCLEX

    The NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nursing) is the national licensing exam. Registration costs $200 through Pearson VUE, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027. The exam asks between 85 and 150 questions and allows 5 hours. 89.7% of North Carolina graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try in 2025, against 86.7% nationally in 2025. NCLEX pass rates in North Carolina.

  4. Receive your license, then keep it current

    Licenses renew every 2 years, with continuing education required (details in the table below).

Working in more than one state

North Carolina is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, in effect since January 19, 2018. A nurse whose home state is North Carolina can hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states.

Source: Nurse Licensure Compact

North Carolina licensing at a glance

Licensing boardNorth Carolina Board of NursingSource
Board application fee, RN by exam$75Non-refundable initial examination application fee (RN and LPN), paid through the Nurse Portal. The required $38 criminal background check fee is charged separately, and the $200 NCLEX registration fee goes to Pearson VUE.Source
Board application fee, LPN by exam$75Same $75 initial examination application fee as RNs, plus the separate $38 criminal background check fee.Source
Fingerprint background checkYesExam applicants must complete a fingerprint-based SBI and FBI criminal history check ($38 board fee). Applicants in North Carolina use Live Scan at a sheriff's office; out-of-state applicants mail a fingerprint card. The check is needed before a license is issued but does not affect eligibility to test.Source
State law exam (jurisprudence)Not requiredThe board's RN/LPN Licensure by Examination requirements (application, school verification or transcript, Pearson VUE registration, background check) do not include a jurisprudence exam.Source
Temporary permit while you wait for the examNoBoard rule 21 NCAC 36 .0219 provides a non-renewable temporary license only to applicants for licensure by endorsement who hold an active license in another jurisdiction. Nothing in the rule covers new graduates awaiting the NCLEX.Source
License renewalEvery 2 yearsComplete one of eight continuing-competence options each two-year cycle, for example 30 contact hours of CE, or 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of active practice, or national certification (21 NCAC 36 .0232). Licenses expire on the last day of the birth month, and the first license may run 13 to 24 months.Source

Board fees are separate from the NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Fees and rules change; confirm with the board before you apply.

Good to know in North Carolina

  • The Authorization to Test is valid for 180 days from the date of eligibility, and the exam application and background check stay active for one year (source: https://www.ncbon.com/rnlpn-examination).
  • North Carolina does not limit the number of NCLEX attempts, but there is a 45-day wait between attempts (source: https://www.ncbon.com/rnlpn-examination).
  • North Carolina graduates do not need to send transcripts; the program director verifies completion to the board within 30 days (source: https://www.ncbon.com/rnlpn-examination).
  • If you declare another compact state as your primary residence, you receive only a single-state North Carolina license until you prove North Carolina residency (source: https://www.ncbon.com/nurse-licensure-compact).
  • Residency is not required to test in North Carolina (source: https://www.ncbon.com/faq-nclex).
  • Board rule 21 NCAC 36 .0320(c) requires each program's first-time NCLEX pass rate to be at least 90% of the national rate for its licensure level, measured by calendar year (source: https://www.ncbon.com/nclex-pass-rates).

What nurses earn in North Carolina

RoleMedian yearly payEmployed in North Carolina
Registered nurse$84,350111,120
LPN or LVN$63,27018,010
Nurse practitioner$128,9909,800

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The median registered nurse in North Carolina earns $13,200 less than the national median of $97,550.