Nebraska RN and LPN licenses are issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, with credentialing review by the Board of Nursing. Applications run through the Licensure Gateway at nebraska.mylicense.com. Nebraska was one of the original Nurse Licensure Compact states when the compact took effect in 2000 and transitioned to the enhanced NLC (eNLC) on July 20, 2017, so an RN or LPN whose primary state of residence is Nebraska may hold a multistate compact license. Every applicant must complete fingerprint-based background checks through the Nebraska State Patrol and FBI before a license is issued, and renewal runs on a split biennial schedule — RN licenses expire October 31 of even-numbered years and LPN licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years.
Nebraska Nursing License Requirements
Graduation from a Board-approved RN program (for RN applicants) or a Board-approved practical nursing program (for LPN applicants). Out-of-country graduates have additional credential evaluation requirements (typically CGFNS).
Pass the NCLEX-RN (RNs) or NCLEX-PN (LPNs). Endorsement applicants already licensed in another US jurisdiction do not retake the NCLEX.
Complete fingerprint-based criminal background check through the <strong>Nebraska State Patrol</strong> and FBI. A new set of fingerprints must accompany each application — old prints on file cannot be reused.
Pay the $55 fingerprint processing fee directly to the Nebraska State Patrol (separate from the $123 application fee paid to DHHS). Mark the "Reason Fingerprinted" box <strong>"Nursing 38-131"</strong> on the fingerprint card.
For endorsement applicants: purchase a Nurse License Verification through Nursys (nursys.com) for every state license you have ever held that participates in Nursys. Non-Nursys states must send verification directly to DHHS.
For NLC multistate licensure: declare Nebraska as your <strong>Primary State of Residence (PSOR)</strong> and provide qualifying proof (driver's license, voter registration, federal tax return, or military Form 2058).
Apply through the Nebraska Licensure Gateway at nebraska.mylicense.com and pay the $123 application fee. The same fee applies to both examination and endorsement, and to both RN and LPN.
How Much Does an Nebraska Nursing License Cost?
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RN License by Examination | $123 | DHHS application fee. Separate $200 NCLEX-RN fee is paid to Pearson VUE. Per the Nebraska DHHS application packet revised July 2025. |
| RN License by Endorsement | $123 | DHHS application fee for nurses licensed in another US jurisdiction. Same fee for examination and endorsement. |
| LPN License by Examination | $123 | DHHS application fee. Separate $200 NCLEX-PN fee is paid to Pearson VUE. Same fee structure as RN. |
| LPN License by Endorsement | $123 | DHHS application fee. Same as RN endorsement. |
| Biennial Renewal (RN and LPN) | $123 | Online renewal through the Licensure Gateway. RN licenses expire October 31 of even years; LPN licenses expire October 31 of odd years. |
| Nebraska State Patrol Fingerprint Fee | $55 | Paid directly to the Nebraska State Patrol with each application. $45.25 prior to August 1, 2025; raised to $55.00 thereafter. The vendor that captures fingerprints (LiveScan or card) may charge an additional fee. |
| NCLEX Examination Fee | $200 | Paid directly to Pearson VUE / NCSBN, not to DHHS. Required for both NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. |
| Nursys License Verification | $30 | Approximate per-state cost for endorsement applicants. Verifications must be ordered through nursys.com for each Nursys-participating state license you have ever held. |
| Late / Reinstatement Fee | $75 | Approximate; varies by length of delinquency. Lapsed or expired licenses require a separate Reinstatement application and additional documentation. Verify current amounts with DHHS. |
Fees above are paid to Nebraska and the FSMB. Our service fee is separate — see pricing.
We handle the Nebraska application end-to-end.
Eligibility screening, document prep, board follow-ups, and tracking — so you don't lose a Board meeting cycle to a missing form.
View full pricingHow Long Does It Take to Get an Nebraska Nursing License?
Typical Processing
8-10 weeks from receipt of a complete application to license issuance
Recommended Lead Time
Submit at least 10-12 weeks before intended start of practice
DHHS publishes a guideline of 4-6 weeks for the State Patrol fingerprint check to return after submission, with a license decision typically issued 8-10 weeks from receipt of a complete application. Applications are processed in the order they are received, and a license is issued within 5 business days after the last required document is received. Out-of-country graduates and applicants with criminal history or prior board action should plan for additional time.
Where Nebraska Applications Get Delayed
Nebraska requires <strong>both</strong> 20 CE contact hours and at least 500 practice hours over the past five years to satisfy continuing competency — CE alone is not enough. Nurses returning to practice after time away who do not hit the 500-hour threshold must use the refresher course, specialty certification, or portfolio pathway instead.
The renewal cycle is split: <strong>RN licenses expire October 31 of even years; LPN licenses expire October 31 of odd years</strong>. A nurse who holds both an RN and an LPN license has two renewal deadlines on different cycles. Calendar both.
Fingerprints must be processed through the <strong>Nebraska State Patrol</strong>, with the fee ($55 since August 1, 2025) paid separately to NSP — not bundled with the $123 DHHS application fee. Fingerprint cards must be marked "Nursing 38-131" in the Reason Fingerprinted box, or NSP will reject the submission.
A new set of fingerprints is required for <strong>every</strong> application — DHHS does not reuse prints from a prior application or another Nebraska agency. Applicants who try to reuse old prints lose 4-6 weeks.
Endorsement applicants must order Nursys verification for <strong>every</strong> state license ever held that participates in Nursys, not just the current active license. Non-Nursys states must send paper verification directly to DHHS — applicant-uploaded copies are not accepted.
NLC multistate licensure requires Nebraska to be your <strong>Primary State of Residence (PSOR)</strong>. Nurses moving to Nebraska from another compact state must apply for a Nebraska multistate license within 60 days of changing residence; the prior state's multistate license deactivates upon Nebraska issuance.
LiveScan electronic fingerprinting is only available if the prints are captured <strong>inside Nebraska</strong> at a State Patrol office or authorized site. Applicants outside Nebraska must use ink fingerprint cards mailed to NSP, which adds about a week to the timeline.
Renewing Your Nebraska Nursing License
Renewal Cycle
Biennial; RN licenses expire October 31 of even-numbered years (next: October 31, 2026), LPN licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years (next: October 31, 2027)
CME Requirement
20 contact hours of Board-approved continuing education in the past two years <strong>plus</strong> at least 500 hours of nursing practice in the past five years (the standard competency option). Alternatives include: graduation from a nursing program within the past two years (no CE required for first renewal), graduation within 2-5 years plus 20 CE hours, completion of a Board-approved refresher course within five years, current national specialty certification, or a Board-approved competency portfolio. CPR/BLS hours are capped at a combined 4 contact hours; ACLS/PALS/NALS are unlimited.
Late Grace Period
Practicing on a delinquent license is illegal. Late renewal fees apply for filings past October 31 of the renewal year; licenses lapsed beyond a short window require a Reinstatement application rather than a standard renewal, with additional documentation and higher fees.
How Nebraska Issues Nursing Licenses
Nebraska RN and LPN licensing sits inside the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health. The Board of Nursing reviews applications and credentials; the DHHS Licensure Unit issues and maintains the license. Applications are filed through the Licensure Gateway at nebraska.mylicense.com. The application fee is $123 for both examination and endorsement, RN or LPN. NCLEX itself costs an additional $200 paid directly to Pearson VUE (examination applicants only). Every applicant must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Nebraska State Patrol and FBI before a license is issued, with the $55 State Patrol fingerprint fee paid separately from the DHHS application fee.
Nebraska and the NLC
Nebraska was one of the original Nurse Licensure Compact states when the compact took effect in 2000 and transitioned to the enhanced NLC (eNLC) on July 20, 2017, with new multistate licenses issued in January 2018. RNs and LPNs whose Primary State of Residence (PSOR) is Nebraska are eligible for a multistate license that authorizes practice in every other NLC state without separate licensure. PSOR is established by Nebraska driver's license, voter registration, federal tax return, or military Form 2058. Nurses moving to Nebraska from another compact state must apply for a Nebraska multistate license within 60 days of changing residence; the prior state's multistate license deactivates upon Nebraska issuance — holding two compact licenses simultaneously is not permitted.
Where Most Nebraska Applications Get Stuck
Three Nebraska-specific issues drive most delays:
- Fingerprint routing. Fingerprints must go through the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), not a third-party vendor or another state. NSP requires the "Reason Fingerprinted" box to read "Nursing 38-131" — a wrong code or blank box gets the card rejected. LiveScan is only available inside Nebraska; out-of-state applicants must use ink cards mailed to NSP, which adds about a week.
- Nursys verification routing. Endorsement applicants must order verification through Nursys for every Nursys-participating state license they have ever held — not just the current one. Non-Nursys states must send paper verification directly to DHHS. Applicant-uploaded copies are routinely rejected.
- The 500-practice-hour competency requirement. Nebraska requires 500 practice hours in the past five years plus 20 CE contact hours for the standard renewal pathway. Nurses returning from a career break who do not meet 500 hours must move to the refresher course, specialty certification, or portfolio pathway — and discovering that mismatch at renewal rather than months earlier is a common late-stage problem.
What You'll Pay
Nebraska application fees are modest by national standards. Examination applicants pay $123 to DHHS plus $200 to Pearson VUE for NCLEX, for a $323 application-side total. Endorsement applicants pay $123 to DHHS. Add $55 to the Nebraska State Patrol for the fingerprint background check (raised from $45.25 on August 1, 2025), plus whatever the fingerprint vendor charges to capture prints. Endorsement applicants should also budget roughly $30 per Nursys verification for every state license they have ever held. Biennial renewal is $123 for both RNs and LPNs, paid online through the Licensure Gateway.
Realistic Timeline
DHHS guidelines call for the State Patrol fingerprint check to take 4-6 weeks after submission, with a license decision typically issued 8-10 weeks from receipt of a complete application. Once the last required document is on file, the license itself issues within 5 business days. Applications are processed in the order received. Examination applicants are eligible to schedule the NCLEX once DHHS confirms eligibility. Plan to submit at least 10-12 weeks before you need to practice; longer if you have any criminal history, out-of-country training, or older licenses from non-Nursys states that require paper verification.
Renewal and CE
Nebraska runs a split biennial renewal cycle: RN licenses expire October 31 of every even-numbered year, and LPN licenses expire October 31 of every odd-numbered year. A nurse who holds both an RN and an LPN license has two separate renewal deadlines on alternating cycles. The renewal fee is $123 for both, paid online through the Licensure Gateway. The continuing competency requirement is 20 contact hours of Board-approved continuing education in the past two years PLUS at least 500 hours of nursing practice in the past five years. Alternative pathways for nurses who do not meet the 500-hour threshold:
- Graduation from a nursing program within the past two years (no CE required for first renewal).
- Graduation within 2-5 years plus 20 CE contact hours.
- Completion of a Board-approved refresher course within five years.
- Current national specialty certification from a recognized certifying body.
- Board-approved continuing competency portfolio.
CPR/BLS hours are capped at a combined 4 contact hours per renewal; ACLS, PALS, and NALS hours are unlimited. CE certificates must be retained for at least four years for audit purposes.
Single State Versus NLC
If Nebraska is your Primary State of Residence, your Nebraska RN or LPN license can be issued as a multistate license at no extra fee, authorizing practice in every other NLC state. If your PSOR is a non-compact state (California, New York, Oregon, etc.), the Nebraska license must be issued as a single-state license — same $123 fee, same fingerprint and Nursys requirements, but it only authorizes practice in Nebraska. PSOR rules are strict: you cannot hold two multistate licenses simultaneously, and a move from one compact state to another deactivates the prior state's multistate privilege.
How White Glove Helps
We manage Nebraska RN and LPN applications end-to-end with particular focus on getting all three prerequisites — State Patrol fingerprinting with the correct "Nursing 38-131" code, complete Nursys verification routing for every state ever licensed, and DHHS application submission through the Licensure Gateway — running in parallel rather than in series, which is the usual cause of stalled files. We pre-screen for the 500-practice-hour competency rule months ahead of renewal so nurses who do not meet the threshold can pivot to a refresher course, specialty certification, or portfolio pathway in time. For nurses establishing Nebraska as their Primary State of Residence after a move from another compact state, we coordinate the 60-day PSOR transition and the deactivation of the prior state's multistate license so the Nebraska multistate is clean from issuance. At renewal we surface the split RN-even / LPN-odd October 31 deadlines, including for nurses who hold both credentials.
Nebraska Nursing License FAQ
How much does a Nebraska nursing license cost?
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How long does it take to get a Nebraska nursing license?
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Is Nebraska a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
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When does my Nebraska nursing license expire?
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What CE is required to renew a Nebraska nursing license?
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How does Nebraska fingerprinting work?
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Why do most Nebraska nursing license applications get delayed?
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What Working with Us Costs
Transparent, a la carte service fees. The state and FSMB fees listed above are paid directly to those agencies. Our concierge service is separate.
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