Transfer Your Nursing License to Montana: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) ↗
Montana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state: a multistate license from another compact state works in Montana immediately, with no new application. Nurses from non-compact states (California, New York, and the other non-members) apply to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) for licensure by endorsement — the NCLEX is not retaken.
Moving to Montana 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 — Montana requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Montana, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member since 2015 — an RN holding a multistate license from another compact state does not need a Montana license to practice; nurses making Montana their primary state of residence must apply within 60 days.
Montana requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $200 (endorsement fee per the board's endorsement application form (nur_end_app); the current fee is also displayed in the eBiz portal at application — re-verify if it differs) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe |
Step by step
- Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold the same license in good standing in another state, territory, or country.
- Apply online through the Montana eBiz licensing portal (ebiz.mt.gov).
- If Montana becomes your primary state of residence, apply for a Montana license within 60 days of the move.
- Pay the fees ($200 (endorsement fee per the board's endorsement application form (nur_end_app); the current fee is also displayed in the eBiz portal at application — re-verify if it differs)) and allow board does not publish a processing timeframe.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Montana:
All 43 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my nursing license transfer to Montana?
Montana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state: a multistate license from another compact state works in Montana immediately, with no new application. Nurses from non-compact states (California, New York, and the other non-members) apply to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) for licensure by endorsement — the NCLEX is not retaken.
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Montana?
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 Montana?
$200 (endorsement fee per the board's endorsement application form (nur_end_app); the current fee is also displayed in the eBiz portal at application — re-verify if it differs) (endorsement fee per the board's endorsement application form (nur_end_app); the current fee is also displayed in the eBiz portal at application — re-verify if it differs).
How long does Montana take to process an endorsement application?
board does not publish a processing timeframe — board does not publish a processing timeframe.
Is Montana in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Montana is an NLC member as of 2026-07-21. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Montana 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.
- Montana Board of Nursing — License Information (endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana Board of Nursing — Endorsement Application (nur_end_app, 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]