Nursing License from New Hampshire to North Dakota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: North Dakota Board of Nursing ↗
Yes — both New Hampshire and North Dakota are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If New Hampshire is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in North Dakota now; if you are moving your residence to North Dakota, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare North Dakota your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
This is the move the compact was built for. Both New Hampshire and North Dakota are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in North Dakota while living in New Hampshire — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to North Dakota means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into North Dakota and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What changes, New Hampshire → North Dakota
| New Hampshire (current) | North Dakota (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $120 (RN endorsement license fee (non-refundable) per the OPLC Board of Nursing license fees page; optional temporary license available while pending) | $150 (nonrefundable endorsement fee set by NDAC 54-02-06-01; + $40 Criminal History Record Check fee payable to the ND Attorney General, plus local fingerprinting agency charges) |
| Processing time | no timeframe published; applicants have up to 180 days to complete the application | 1–2 weeks (board asks 5-10 business days once all items are received; the CHRC itself takes 10-14 business days; a 90-day temporary permit is issued automatically at no extra fee while the CHRC pends) |
| Licensing authority | New Hampshire Board of Nursing (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) | North Dakota Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — North Dakota sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
- If you are moving your primary residence to North Dakota: apply for licensure by endorsement with the North Dakota Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare North Dakota as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete North Dakota's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does North Dakota accept a New Hampshire nursing license?
Yes — both New Hampshire and North Dakota are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If New Hampshire is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in North Dakota now; if you are moving your residence to North Dakota, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare North Dakota your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from New Hampshire to North Dakota?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to North Dakota: $150 (nonrefundable endorsement fee set by NDAC 54-02-06-01; + $40 Criminal History Record Check fee payable to the ND Attorney General, plus local fingerprinting agency charges) (nonrefundable endorsement fee set by NDAC 54-02-06-01; + $40 Criminal History Record Check fee payable to the ND Attorney General, plus local fingerprinting agency charges).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (1–2 weeks (board asks 5-10 business days once all items are received; the CHRC itself takes 10-14 business days; a 90-day temporary permit is issued automatically at no extra fee while the CHRC pends)).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- ND Board of Nursing — Endorsement, US Educated ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ND Board of Nursing — Criminal History Record Check (CHRC) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ND Administrative Code 54-02-06 — License by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — Board of Nursing License Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — Board of Nursing ↗ (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]