Transfer Your Nursing License to Maine: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Maine State Board of Nursing ↗
Maine honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses need no Maine application at all. From a non-compact state such as California or New York, the path is licensure by endorsement through the Maine State Board of Nursing, without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to Maine from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Maine requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Maine, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Maine State Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without a Maine application; Maine must be your primary state of residence to be issued a Maine multistate license.
Maine requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $75 (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee) |
| Processing time | applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board |
Step by step
- Confirm Maine's current requirements on the Maine State Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maine State Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based criminal background check through IdentoGO ($52 fee; results valid only 90 days).
- Upload a recent, unedited, color full-face headshot photograph.
- Verification of your original state of licensure through Nursys ($30 fee).
- Provide a US Social Security Number before a license can be issued.
- Pay the fees ($75 (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee)) and allow applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Maine:
All 43 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my nursing license transfer to Maine?
Maine honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses need no Maine application at all. From a non-compact state such as California or New York, the path is licensure by endorsement through the Maine State Board of Nursing, without retaking the NCLEX.
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Maine?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
How much does it cost to transfer an RN license to Maine?
$75 (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee) (endorsement application, non-refundable; + $52 criminal background check and $30 Nursys verification fee).
How long does Maine take to process an endorsement application?
applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board — applications processed in the order received; no timeframe published by the board.
Is Maine in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Maine is an NLC member as of 2026-07-21. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Maine without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Maine State Board of Nursing — Licensing by Endorsement/Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maine State Board of Nursing — RN Endorsement Licensure Requirements (rev 7/2025, PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]