Become a Nurse in Alabama – Licensure & Requirements

The Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) licenses registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and approves advanced practice nurses. New graduates apply for licensure by examination and take the NCLEX, while nurses licensed in another state apply by endorsement, under the ABN's licensure rules in Alabama Administrative Code chapter 610-X-4. Below you'll find each route, Alabama's compact status, prescriptive authority rules, and the education, fees and renewal rules for every license type.

Minimum degree requirements for advanced practice nurses are set in Alabama Administrative Code chapter 610-X-9, checked October 2026. The master’s requirement does not apply to CRNAs who graduated from an accredited nurse anesthesia school before December 31, 2003 (rule 610-X-9-.01). It also does not apply to CRNPs or CNMs who graduated before 1996 from a board-recognized post-baccalaureate program, or before 1984 from a non-baccalaureate program, in their specialty, and the board may waive it for CRNPs and CNMs (rules 610-X-9-.14 and 610-X-9-.21).

Alabama Nursing Salaries

The wages above are median annual wages for May 2025 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Alabama and the Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile metropolitan areas, for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (SOC 29-2061), registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171) and nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151). They cover nurses at all experience levels and are not starting pay. BLS did not publish a nurse anesthetist wage for the Montgomery or Mobile areas.

Is Alabama a Compact Nursing State?

Yes. Alabama is a Nursing Licensure Compact state. The ABN began issuing multistate licenses on January 1, 2020, according to its Nurse Licensure Compact page, and the NCSBN's list of NLC states shows Alabama implemented on January 1, 2020.

• If you hold a valid multistate license from another compact state, you do not need an Alabama RN or LPN license to practice in Alabama unless Alabama is your primary state of residence, per the ABN's compact page.
• The compact covers RN and LPN licenses only. Advanced practice nurses who hold a multistate RN license from another compact state must still apply to the ABN for approval to practice, per the same page.

How to Get an Alabama Nursing License

The ABN offers two routes to an RN or LPN license. Fees for each license type are listed in the RN and LPN sections below.

Licensure by Examination (New Graduates)

1. Graduate from an approved RN or practical nursing program in Alabama, or from an approved program in another jurisdiction that substantially meets Alabama's educational criteria (rule 610-X-4-.02).
2. Apply to the ABN for a single-state license, or for a multistate license if Alabama is your primary state of residence (ABN multistate licensure by examination checklist).
3. Register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE, which issues your Authorization to Test once the ABN approves your application (ABN licensing FAQs).
4. If you apply for a multistate license, complete a fingerprint criminal background check (ABN fingerprinting page).

First-time examination applicants may receive a nonrenewable temporary permit, valid for a period the board determines, under rule 610-X-4-.04.

Licensure by Endorsement (Transferring a License From Another State)

Nurses licensed in another state apply to the ABN by endorsement:

• Request verification of your license from your original state of licensure, which many boards send through Nursys (ABN endorsement application).
• Affirm that you earned 24 contact hours of continuing education in the past 24 months, under rule 610-X-4-.07.
• Complete a fingerprint criminal background check, which the ABN requires of all endorsement applicants, after your application is on file (ABN fingerprinting page).
• First-time endorsement applicants may receive a temporary permit that lasts 180 days, is issued one time only and cannot be renewed, according to the ABN's licensing FAQs.

Prescriptive Authority in Alabama

Under Alabama Board of Nursing Administrative Code rule 610-X-5-.12, certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) in collaborative practice with a physician may be granted prescriptive authority once they show completion of an academic course in pharmacology, or the integration of pharmacology theory and clinical application in their nurse practitioner curriculum. Rule 610-X-5-.23 sets the same standard for certified nurse midwives (CNMs). Legend (non-controlled) drugs they prescribe must be on the formulary recommended by the Joint Committee and adopted by the Board of Nursing and the State Board of Medical Examiners.

To prescribe Schedule III, IV or V controlled substances, CRNPs and CNMs must obtain a Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (QACSC) from the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners each year; a QACSC is specific to each collaborative practice agreement. A QACSC holder may then apply for a Limited Purpose Schedule II Permit (LPSP) to prescribe Schedule II drugs used in the collaborating physician's specialty practice.

The Alabama Board of Pharmacy describes the same structure: Schedule III to V prescribing under a QACSC, and Schedule II prescribing under an LPSP. When prescribing legend drugs, a CRNP or CNM must use a prescription format that shows the name, medical practice site address and telephone number of the collaborating physician or covering physician, under rules 610-X-5-.12 and 610-X-5-.23.

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) in Alabama

Education: Master’s degree or higher in nursing with a curriculum designed to prepare nurse midwives (ABN CNM requirements). Applicants who graduated before 1996 from a board-recognized post-baccalaureate nurse-midwifery program, or before 1984 from a non-baccalaureate program, are exempt from the master’s requirement, and the board may waive it (rule 610-X-9-.21).

Examination: Certification examination from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), listed on the ABN's approved certification exams

Certification Required: Certified Nurse-Midwife from the AMCB, per the ABN CNM requirements

Fees:

• $175 ABN application fee (ABN CRNP/CNM application)
• $200 Physician’s Collaborative Practice Fee, paid when a physician begins a collaborative practice (Alabama Board of Medical Examiners)
• $425 AMCB Certification Examination Fee (AMCB fee schedule)
• $70 Annual Fee for the AMCB Certificate Maintenance Program, for CNMs who maintain certification by the module method (AMCB maintenance fees)

Additional Information: An unencumbered Alabama RN license, or a valid multistate RN license from another compact state, is required for application, per the ABN CNM requirements.

Renewal: If you hold an Alabama RN license, CNM approval renews with that license; single-state RN licenses renew in even-numbered years. If you practice on a multistate RN license issued by another compact state, you renew Alabama approval between September 1 and December 31 of odd-numbered years. Either way, approval expires early if your national certification expires during the license period (rule 610-X-4-.08; ABN advanced practice FAQs).

AMCB certification runs on a five-year cycle. CNMs who use the module method pay the annual maintenance fee each year, while CNMs who use the reexamination method pay the $425 certification examination fee in lieu of annual fees (AMCB certificate maintenance program). AMCB maintenance is separate from renewing Alabama approval. Every CNM must complete six contact hours of continuing education in pharmacology for each biennial renewal, according to the ABN advanced practice FAQs; these hours are not required for the first renewal if one year or less remained in the license period at initial approval, under rule 610-X-4-.08.

Learn more on how to become a certified nurse midwife.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in Alabama

Education: Master’s degree or higher from a nurse anesthesia program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, under rule 610-X-9-.01 (ABN CRNA requirements). Applicants who graduated from an accredited school of nurse anesthesia before December 31, 2003, are exempt from the master’s requirement under the same rule. Since January 1, 2022, all students entering an accredited nurse anesthesia program must be enrolled in a doctoral program (COA position statements).

Examination: National Certification Examination (NCE) from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), listed on the ABN's approved certification exams

Certification Required: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist from the NBCRNA, per the ABN CRNA requirements

Fees:

• $175 for initial approval (ABN CRNA/CNS application)
• $1,310 NBCRNA National Certification Examination fee in 2026, including a $160 MAC Check enrollment fee; NBCRNA lists $1,335 from January 1, 2027 (NBCRNA fee schedule)

Additional Information: An unencumbered Alabama RN license, or a valid multistate RN license from another compact state, is required for initial approval, per the ABN CRNA requirements.

Renewal: If you hold an Alabama RN license, approval to practice renews at the same time as that license. If you practice on a multistate RN license issued by another compact state, you renew Alabama approval between September 1 and December 31 of odd-numbered years (rule 610-X-4-.08). Approval expires early if national certification expires, and national certification must be maintained. Renewal requires six contact hours of pharmacology content under rule 610-X-9-.03, except at a first renewal when one year or less remained in the license period at initial approval (rule 610-X-4-.08).

Learn more on how to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) in Alabama

Education: Master’s degree or higher from an approved nurse practitioner program (ABN CRNP requirements). Applicants who graduated before 1996 from a board-recognized post-baccalaureate nurse practitioner program, or before 1984 from a non-baccalaureate program, are exempt from the master’s requirement, and the board may waive it (rule 610-X-9-.14).

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: Certification as a nurse practitioner in the specialty consistent with nurse practitioner education from a national certifying body recognized by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Fees:

• $175 for initial approval (ABN CRNP/CNM application)
• $200 Physician’s Collaborative Practice Fee (Alabama Board of Medical Examiners)
• Certification Examination Fee Varies Dependent on Specialty and certifying body (see, for example, the fee pages of AANPCB, ANCC and AACN)

Additional Information: An unencumbered Alabama RN license, or a valid multistate RN license from another compact state, is required for initial approval, per the ABN CRNP requirements.

Renewal: If you hold an Alabama RN license, CRNP approval renews with that license. If you practice on a multistate RN license issued by another compact state, you renew Alabama approval between September 1 and December 31 of odd-numbered years (rule 610-X-4-.08). Approval expires early if national certification expires during the license period. Under rule 610-X-9-.16, renewal requires continued collaboration with the approved physician, or continued eligibility for an exemption from collaboration such as the board's "Faculty Only" designation for nurse practitioners who only teach (ABN advanced practice FAQs). It also requires six contact hours of pharmacology, except at a first renewal when one year or less remained in the license period at initial approval (rule 610-X-4-.08), and ABN-prescribed continuing education on collaborative practice.

Learn more on how to become a nurse practitioner.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Alabama

Education: Master’s degree or higher from an approved clinical nurse specialist program (ABN CNS requirements).

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: Certification as a clinical nurse specialist from a national certifying body recognized by the Alabama Board of Nursing: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), per the ABN's list of approved certification organizations.

Fees:

• $175 for initial approval (ABN CRNA/CNS application)
• Certification Examination Fee Varies Dependent on Specialty and certifying body (see, for example, the fee pages of ANCC and AACN)

Additional Information: An unencumbered Alabama RN license, or a valid multistate RN license from another compact state, is required for initial approval, per the ABN CNS requirements.

Renewal: If you hold an Alabama RN license, Clinical Nurse Specialists renew advanced practice approval when renewing that license. If you practice on a multistate RN license issued by another compact state, you renew Alabama approval between September 1 and December 31 of odd-numbered years (rule 610-X-4-.08). National certifications must also be renewed, and renewal deadlines for them vary. Renewal requires six contact hours of pharmacology content under rule 610-X-9-.10, except at a first renewal when one year or less remained in the license period at initial approval (rule 610-X-4-.08).

Learn more on how to become a clinical nurse specialist.

Information for the advanced practice nursing careers: certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified registered nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist is from the Alabama Board of Nursing – Advanced Practice Nursing requirements pages and Alabama Administrative Code chapter 610-X-9, as of October 2026.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Alabama

Education: Completion of an approved registered nursing program in Alabama, or an approved program in another jurisdiction that substantially meets Alabama's educational criteria, under rule 610-X-4-.02

Examination: NCLEX-RN, from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX)

Fees:

• $125 single-state or $225 multistate application fee, by examination or endorsement, under rule 610-X-4-.14
• $200 NCLEX registration fee, paid to Pearson VUE; NCSBN lists $350 from February 1, 2027 (NCLEX fees)
• $100 single-state or $200 multistate renewal fee, plus a $4.50 transaction fee (ABN renewal)

Renewal: Single-state RN licenses renew in even-numbered years and multistate RN licenses in odd-numbered years, from 8:00 a.m. September 1 to 4:30 p.m. December 31, per the ABN renewal page. Each license period requires 24 contact hours of continuing education; for a first renewal, newly licensed nurses complete four contact hours of board-provided continuing education plus one contact hour for each month remaining, up to 24 hours, under rule 610-X-4-.08.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Alabama

Education: Completion of an approved practical nursing program in Alabama, or an approved program in another jurisdiction that substantially meets Alabama's educational criteria, under rule 610-X-4-.02

Examination: NCLEX-PN, from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX)

Fees:

• $125 single-state or $225 multistate application fee, by examination or endorsement, under rule 610-X-4-.14
• $200 NCLEX registration fee, paid to Pearson VUE; NCSBN lists $350 from February 1, 2027 (NCLEX fees)
• $100 single-state or $200 multistate renewal fee, plus a $4.50 transaction fee (ABN renewal)

Renewal: LPN licenses, single-state and multistate, renew in odd-numbered years, from 8:00 a.m. September 1 to 4:30 p.m. December 31, per the ABN renewal page. LPNs have the same continuing education requirements as RNs, including the first-renewal rule, under rule 610-X-4-.08.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information for RN and LPN licensure, including the examination and endorsement routes, is from the Alabama Board of Nursing's licensing, fingerprinting and renewal pages and Alabama Administrative Code chapter 610-X-4, as of October 2026.