Become a Nurse in District of Columbia – Licensure & Requirements

Washington, D.C. Nursing Salaries

^{Nurse salaries above are Annual Median Wage estimates for May 2025, the most recent period published, retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for District of Columbia and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, retrieved September 2026.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in the District of Columbia. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in the District of Columbia, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of District of Columbia nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current.If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Washington, D.C., please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

The District of Columbia is not a Nursing Licensure Compact state — DC does not appear among the NCSBN's current list of enacted Compact jurisdictions, and the DC Board of Nursing confirms DC has not enacted the NLC. A nurse cannot practice in DC solely under an NLC multistate license; however, a nurse who holds a qualifying active multistate license may use DC's expedited endorsement pathway to obtain a DC license.

The District of Columbia Nurse Licensure Compact Authorization Act of 2025 — Council Bill B26-0069, which would authorize DC to join the Compact — was introduced on January 22, 2025 and referred to the Council's Committee on Health on February 4, 2025; as of September 18, 2026, the official DC Council record does not show it as enacted.

Prescriptive Authority in Washington, D.C.

Nurse practitioners may apply for prescriptive authority for Schedule II-V drugs. According to the Municipal Regulations for Nurse Practitioners, nurse practitioners must possess a valid controlled substance certification of registration from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and a District of Columbia controlled substances registration. Prescriptive authority for nurses in Washington, D.C. does not extend to prescription refills of controlled substances.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Washington, D.C.

Recognized APRN roles in Washington, D.C. include: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, and Nurse Practitioner.

Education: Completion of a post-basic nursing education program applicable to the specialty, approved by the DC Board of Nursing or accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body, plus current national certification in that specialty. See the DC Board's APRN authority requirements for details.

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: National Certification as a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, or Clinical Nurse Specialist

Fees:

• $145 Dual Application Fee — RN and APRN license sought at the same time
• $230 Single Application Fee — adding APRN authority to an existing DC RN license
• $50 Criminal Background Check Fee — required only if your last DC Health background check was completed more than two years ago

Additional Information: The $145 Dual Application applies when RN and APRN are sought together; the $230 Single Application applies when adding APRN authority to an existing DC RN license. See the DC Health APRN page for current application types and fees.

Renewal: APRNs are required to complete continuing education that includes at least 15 hours in pharmacology, plus any additional requirements set by their national certifying body. Renewal with the APRN's national certification organization is also required. See the 2026 RN/APRN Renewal Notice for current details.

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Washington, D.C.

Education: Completion of an approved registered nurse program.

Examination: NCLEX-RN, administered by Pearson VUE. See the RN examination requirements for current fees.

Fees:

• $237 Application and Criminal Background Check Fee (includes the $187 base application component)
• $200 Examination Fee, paid directly to Pearson VUE

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a registered nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval. A $280 application and criminal background check fee is required. See the RN endorsement requirements for details.

Renewal: Registered nurses are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education, including 2 hours of LGBTQ cultural-competency coursework and 2.5 hours addressing DC Health's public health priorities.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Washington, D.C.

Education: Completion of an approved licensed practical nurse program.

Examination: NCLEX-PN, administered by Pearson VUE. See the LPN examination requirements for current fees.

Fees:

• $237 Application and Criminal Background Check Fee (includes the $187 base application component)
• $200 Examination Fee, paid directly to Pearson VUE

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a licensed practical nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval. A $280 application and criminal background check fee is required. See the LPN endorsement requirements for details.

Renewal: Licensed practical nurses are required to complete 18 hours of continuing education, including 2 hours of LGBTQ/cultural-awareness coursework and coursework addressing DC Health's public health priorities.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

License Renewal Cycle

Since June 16, 2024, District of Columbia nursing credentials no longer renew on a fixed biennial date — each credential now expires on the last day of the holder's birth month, with the renewal year following the same odd/even pattern as the holder's birth year. The 2026 RN/APRN renewal window ran April 1 through June 30, 2026, with renewed licenses effective July 1, 2026. Confirm your specific renewal window with the DC Board of Nursing.

Information Disclosure:

Fee, education, certification and continuing-education details above for advanced practice, registered, and licensed practical nurses are drawn from current DC Department of Health – Board of Nursing application checklists and notices, linked inline above; each was independently verified live on September 18, 2026.