Working in North Carolina on an out-of-state nursing license
Last verified against North Carolina Board of Nursing.
The five facts
- Compact status
- Member (implemented), January 19, 2018
- Endorsement fee
- $150
- Temporary permit
- Up to 6 months or until the permanent license issues, issued after hard-copy fingerprints, forms and fee are received.
- Processing
- No timeline stated; track status in the Nurse Portal checklist. (not a board figure)
- Portal
- NCBON Nurse Portal
Check your own licence against North Carolina
Your Texas multistate license already authorizes practice in North Carolina.
- No North Carolina application, fee, or verification is required.
- You practice under North Carolina's nurse practice act while your patient is located there.
- Keep your Texas license active and unencumbered; a restriction in any state suspends the multistate privilege everywhere.
- Earliest start
- Today
- Fee
- $0
Data as of September 2, 2026.
Nothing you enter here is stored. Trust keeps credentials on your phone, not on our servers.
If you hold a multistate license
North Carolina honors it. You can work in North Carolina today, in person or by telehealth, with no North Carolina application, fee, or verification. You follow the North Carolina nurse practice act while your patient is located in North Carolina.
If you move your primary residence to North Carolina you have 60 days after the move to apply for a North Carolina license by endorsement (NLC Rule 402(2), effective January 2, 2024). Your former multistate license is deactivated when the North Carolina license issues — you do not hold two.
Licensure by endorsement in North Carolina
- 01
Open a NCBON Nurse Portal account
Create your NCBON Nurse Portal account and start the RN licensure-by-endorsement application with the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
- 02
Request Nursys verification
Request license verification through Nursys for every state that applies to you. North Carolina accepts Nursys verification.
- 03
Complete fingerprints and the background check
North Carolina requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check: Fingerprint-based SBI and FBI check; Live Scan for NC residents, mailed fingerprint card from out of state.
- 04
Clear the course requirements
Refresher course only if the license has been inactive or lapsed 5+ years
- 05
Pay the application fee
The endorsement fee is $150. Confirm the amount on the board's fee page before you pay.
- 06
Request the temporary permit
Request the temporary permit: Up to 6 months or until the permanent license issues, issued after hard-copy fingerprints, forms and fee are received.
- 07
Wait for the permanent license
No timeline stated; track status in the Nurse Portal checklist. (not a board figure) Verify the license on the board's public lookup, then store the expiration in Trust.
North Carolina requires a valid U.S. Social Security number on the endorsement application.
If you are eligible for a multistate license in your home compact state, NCBON expects you to get it there rather than endorse into North Carolina.
What it costs, all in
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Endorsement application | $150 |
| Criminal background check | $38 |
| Nursys verification | $30 |
How long it takes
No timeline stated; track status in the Nurse Portal checklist. (not a board figure)
The temporary permit is the difference between waiting and working: Up to 6 months or until the permanent license issues, issued after hard-copy fingerprints, forms and fee are received. Once per lifetime, non-renewable, only within the first 6 months of the application. Not issued to anyone holding a multistate license in another compact state.
The North Carolina Board of Nursing publishes no processing commitment, so treat any timeline you read — including this one — as an estimate.
EMTs and paramedics
North Carolina — EMS Compact: Not a member.
North Carolina is not an EMS Compact member, so there is no privilege to practice. Apply for reciprocity through the North Carolina state EMS office; most states ask for current NREMT certification and a background check.
After you’re licensed
A new license starts a new renewal clock. The North Carolina RN renewal guide covers the cycle length, the CE the board counts, and the fee — read it once, then let Trust hold the date.
Questions people ask
Is North Carolina a compact state?
Yes. North Carolina is an implemented member of the Nurse Licensure Compact as of January 19, 2018, so a multistate license from another implemented member state authorizes practice there.
Can I work in North Carolina with a multistate license from another state?
Yes, if your primary state of residence issued the multistate license and it is active and unencumbered. No North Carolina application or fee is required, and you practice under North Carolina's nurse practice act while your patient is there. Moving your residence to North Carolina starts a 60-day clock to apply by endorsement.
How much does it cost to transfer an RN license to North Carolina?
The North Carolina Board of Nursing endorsement fee is $150. Budget for the extras too: Criminal background check $38, Nursys verification $30.
Does North Carolina offer a temporary permit while my endorsement is pending?
Yes. Up to 6 months or until the permanent license issues, issued after hard-copy fingerprints, forms and fee are received. Once per lifetime, non-renewable, only within the first 6 months of the application. Not issued to anyone holding a multistate license in another compact state.
How long does North Carolina RN endorsement take?
No timeline stated; track status in the Nurse Portal checklist. (not a board figure) Treat it as an estimate, not a board commitment.
Do I need fingerprints for a North Carolina nursing license?
Yes. Fingerprint-based SBI and FBI check; Live Scan for NC residents, mailed fingerprint card from out of state
What courses does North Carolina require before it issues an endorsement license?
Refresher course only if the license has been inactive or lapsed 5+ years