How to Become a Registered Nurse in North Carolina
In North Carolina, a RN license typically requires a state exam, and a $200 exam fee.
Provides direct patient care and coordinates care plans. Requires an ADN or BSN and the NCLEX-RN; licensing is via state boards of nursing. Requirements change — always confirm with North Carolina Board of Nursing before paying.
Licensing steps in North Carolina
- 1Meet the basic requirements
Age and background check rules vary — confirm with the state board.
- 2Complete pre-license education
Required training hours are not published here — check with the state board for the current figure.
- 3Register and pass the exam
The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.
- 4Pay fees and get licensed
Exam fee $200 · application $75 · license $75
- 5Stay current
License renews every 2 years with 15 hours of continuing education.
RN requirements — North Carolina at a glance
| Education hours | — |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Questions (national/state) | — / — |
| Passing score | — |
| Exam fee | $200 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| License fee | $75 |
| First-attempt pass rate | not published |
| Retake rule | — |
| Renewal | every 2 years · 15 CE |
| Reciprocity | Yes — NLC member; multistate license available |
Official source: North Carolina Board of Nursing ↗
Transferring a RN license between states
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Registered nurses transfer through the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state you can hold one multistate licence and practise in every other implemented compact state without a separate endorsement application.
41 jurisdictions currently use it. North Carolina is one of them.
Confirm your home state is currently issuing multistate licences on the NCSBN compact map before you count on the compact. Mechanism data retrieved 2026-09-13.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a RN license in North Carolina?
After completing the required education, most candidates need 4-12 weeks of study before the exam. Total timeline depends on scheduling.
How hard is the RN exam in North Carolina?
Official first-attempt pass rates are not published by North Carolina; check the state board.
What does the RN license cost in North Carolina?
The exam fee is $200, the application fee is $75, and the license fee is $75
Can I transfer my RN license to North Carolina?
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC): Registered nurses transfer through the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state you can hold one multistate licence and practise in every other implemented compact state without a separate endorsement application. For North Carolina specifically, our dataset notes: Yes — NLC member; multistate license available.
Plan your RN licensing in North Carolina
Work the road in order — check what North Carolina requires, price the prep, lock a study schedule, then keep the license current.
- 1. Confirm requirements — education hours, fees and the board that issues it.
- 2. Budget the prep — exam + application + license + course costs before you pay.
- 3. Study to the exam — the RN exam blueprint and a dated study plan.
- 4. Sit the exam — what to bring, where to test, and the retake rule if you miss.
- 5. Stay licensed — renewal cycle, CE hours, and North Carolina reciprocity.
RN tools for North Carolina
Every step of the North Carolina RN road has a free tool — from the first requirements check to renewal and reciprocity.
This guide is informational and not legal advice. Requirements change frequently — verify all figures with North Carolina Board of Nursing (retrieved 2026-08-20).