Registered Nurse · Licensing Roadmap
Colorado RN to North Carolina RN License Requirements
Explore licensing pathways, application requirements, fees, fingerprinting, license verification, and compact considerations.
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Source-linked, AI-organized research. Confirm your requirements with the licensing board. This guide does not verify your license or determine eligibility.
Likely pathway †
Pathway conditions to check
- RN endorsement
License active within past 5 years
To determine which option applies: Whether the current RN license has been active or inactive/lapsed for five or more years
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
Approved nursing education
To determine which option applies: Whether the basic nursing program was approved by the jurisdiction of original licensure
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
NCLEX or SBTPE passed
To determine which option applies: Which qualifying exam was passed
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
Unencumbered license history
To determine which option applies: Whether any current or prior licenses are encumbered
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
Fingerprint-based background check
To determine which option applies: None beyond applying
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
Court records if convictions
To determine which option applies: Whether there are prior convictions
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
Court conditions completed
To determine which option applies: Whether any misdemeanor or felony court conditions remain
Source 1 ↗ - RN endorsement
Discipline or Nurse Aide findings
To determine which option applies: The evidence for this pathway condition needs confirmation.
- RN endorsement
Verification from licensing boards
To determine which option applies: Whether original/current/last-practiced states participate in Nursys
Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗ - RN endorsement
Refresher course if inactive/lapsed 5+ years
To determine which option applies: Whether the license has been inactive or lapsed for five or more years
Source 1 ↗ - Compact privilege in NC
Active multistate license and PSOR in a compact state
To determine which option applies: Whether the applicant has an active multistate license and compact-state primary residence
Source 1 ↗
Government fees †
Could not confirm the NC RN endorsement fee from the available official evidence. The official snippets support a $150 endorsement application fee and a $30 verification fee per license type, but the verification fee wording is not clearly tied to this exact pathway in the supplied evidence.
Fee breakdown
- RN endorsement application fee — $150.00
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - License verification fee — $30.00
if verification is needed through NC verification workflow
Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗
Processing time †
Could not confirm a processing or issuance time from the available official evidence. The supplied snippets mention application steps and that the ATT is released within 5 business days for exam applicants, but not RN endorsement license issuance timing.
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Compact considerations †
If you hold an active multistate RN license, keep your primary residence in its issuing compact state, and retain valid practice privileges. The available evidence did not confirm current NLC participation for North Carolina. Do not assume that a multistate license authorizes practice there; confirm with the board.
Application requirements †
RN endorsement application requires the NC Portal endorsement application, plus the listed identity, education, licensure, employer history, SSN, verification, and background-check items. Evidence also mentions a Declaration of Primary State of Residence form when changing compact-state residence. Could not confirm the full form sequence from unread official pages.
Requirements checklist
- NC endorsement application via Nurse Portal — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗ - Basic nursing school graduation details — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Original license by exam details — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Current license details — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Last two employers — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Member boards ever licensed — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Social Security number — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Verification from original and last practiced state — Required
RN endorsement if different last practiced state
Source 1 ↗ - Criminal background check — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Fingerprint-based SBI/FBI check — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Court records for convictions — May apply
if prior convictions
Source 1 ↗ - Court conditions completed — May apply
if misdemeanor or felony convictions
Source 1 ↗ - Discipline or Nurse Aide finding explanation — Needs confirmation
if disciplined or Nurse Aide with findings
- Approved RN education program — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - NCLEX or SBTPE — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Active license within past 5 years — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Refresher course — May apply
if inactive or lapsed five or more years
Source 1 ↗ - Unencumbered license history — Required
RN endorsement
Source 1 ↗ - Declaration of Primary State of Residence — Needs confirmation
if changing compact-state residence to NC
- Apply within 60 days of moving — May apply
if permanently relocating to NC from another compact state
Source 1 ↗
View source
License verification †
NC requires verification from the original state of license and, if different, the last state practiced. If a board does not use Nursys, the applicant must ask that board to send verification directly to NC.
View source
Fingerprinting and background checks †
NC requires a criminal background check for endorsement applicants, including fingerprint-based SBI and FBI history checks. If applicable, court records for prior convictions and completion of all court conditions are required. A written explanation and related documents are required if disciplined in any state or listed as a Nurse Aide with findings.
View source
Education and transcripts †
For RN endorsement, NC requires completion of a nursing education program approved by the jurisdiction of original licensure and successful completion of NCLEX or SBTPE. If the license has been inactive or lapsed for five or more years, a board-approved RN refresher course is required.
View source
Documents to prepare †
Required items shown in the evidence include school name, location and graduation year; original license by exam state, year and number; current license state and number; last two nursing employers’ dates and positions; SSN; verification from original and last practiced state if different; background check/fingerprinting; court records if applicable; discipline or Nurse Aide-finding explanation if applicable; and the residence declaration form when changing compact-state residence. Could not confirm whether additional forms or transcripts are required.
View source
Responsible agency †
The North Carolina Board of Nursing handles RN licensure by endorsement, verification, background checks, and compact-related residence changes through the Nurse Portal.
View source
Some details in marked sections could not be confirmed. The text explains what remains uncertain; confirm those details with the licensing board before applying.
Details still to confirm
- Application requirements
Full online sequence and any unread linked forms not fully confirmed.
- Government fees
Endorsement fee amount is shown in snippets, but the supplied evidence is not fully clear on whether the fee applies to this exact RN endorsement pathway without ambiguity.
- Processing time
No official RN endorsement processing or issuance timeframe was confirmed.
- Compact considerations
Current destination-state compact participation was not confirmed by the validated evidence. Confirm participation, your license type and primary residence before relying on multistate privileges.
- Documents to prepare
Unread pages may contain additional required documents or forms.