NCLEX and License Costs

Reviewed by Winona Suzanne Ball, RN, MHS• Updated: August 31st, 2024

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:

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
Pass your NCLEX and obtain results.
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.
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.
+ 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

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

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.