Become a Nurse in Louisiana – Licensure & Requirements

Louisiana Nursing Salaries

^{Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Louisiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans-Metairie, and Shreveport-Bossier City in September 2026.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in Louisiana. 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 Louisiana, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Louisiana 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 Louisiana, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

As of July 1, 2019, Louisiana is a Nursing Licensure Compact state (Louisiana State Board of Nursing, Nurse Licensure Compact). The compact lets registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/VNs) hold one multistate license that is valid to practice in Louisiana and in every other compact member state, without applying for a separate license in each one. Louisiana's compact coverage applies to RNs and LPNs only — it does not extend to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who must hold a Louisiana-specific license (or apply through endorsement) regardless of compact status elsewhere.

To qualify for a Louisiana multistate license, a nurse must declare Louisiana as their primary state of residence and meet the Louisiana State Board of Nursing's or Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners' standard licensure requirements below. A nurse who changes their primary state of residence to Louisiana must apply for Louisiana licensure by endorsement within the applicable Nurse Licensure Compact timeframe; the former multistate license may be used to practice only until the new Louisiana multistate license is issued (Louisiana State Board of Nursing, Nurse Licensure Compact; NLC Commission FAQs).

Prescriptive Authority in Louisiana

According to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing APRN application for prescriptive authority, advanced practice registered nurses may apply for prescriptive authority for Schedule III-V controlled substances, schedule II non-narcotic for ADD/ADHD, or full II narcotics, in collaboration with a physician.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Louisiana

APRNs in Louisiana include certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse practitioner.

Education: Approved graduate degree or postgraduate award with concentration in respective APRN role and population focus (LSBN APRN Licensure by Endorsement Application)

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: National Certification in Advanced Practice Specialty

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee (LSBN APRN Licensure by Endorsement Application)
• Certification Examination Fee (Varies for Different Certifications)
• A state and federal criminal background check is required; the Board's current application materials do not publish a fixed background-check fee (Louisiana State Board of Nursing, Applications)

Endorsement: Individuals who hold equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement (LSBN APRN Licensure by Endorsement Application).

Additional Information: An active Louisiana registered nurse license is required for application. If one wishes to apply for licensure in more than one role or population (i.e. FNP and AG-ACNP or CNM and WHNP), an application for APRN licensure and a separate application for licensure in the additional role/population.

Renewal: Renewal period is from October 1 to December 31 of each calendar year. It costs $100 to renew a license. Nationally board-certified APRNs meet the renewal continuing-education requirement by maintaining their approved national certification. APRNs who hold prescriptive authority must also complete six contact hours of continuing education in pharmacotherapeutics each year, totaling 12 hours over the two-year renewal cycle (LSBN Continuing Education FAQs).

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

Registered Nurse (RN) in Louisiana

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program or completed a nursing program that meets or exceeds the educational standards for programs in Louisiana (LSBN RN Licensure by Examination Application)

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee (LSBN RN Licensure by Examination Application)
• $200 Examination Fee (NCLEX Fees and Payment)
• $39.25 Criminal Background Fee

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a registered nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval. A $100 application fee and $39.25 fingerprinting fee are required.

Renewal: Renewal period is from October 1 to December 31 of each calendar year. It costs $100 to renew a license. RNs must complete at least one of the following during each two-year licensure period: 30 contact hours of board-approved continuing education, 900 practice hours verified by an employer, current board-approved specialty certification, or initial licensure by examination or endorsement in the prior calendar year (LSBN Continuing Education FAQs).

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Verify a Nursing License in Louisiana

Employers, other state boards, and patients can confirm that a Louisiana nursing license is active and in good standing before relying on it.

• RN and APRN licenses can be verified through the Louisiana State Board of Nursing's license lookup portal. A formal paper verification for another agency requires a written request and a $25 money order sent to the Board.
• LPN licenses are verified through Nursys, the national licensure database the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners uses for license verification. Nursys also offers a free E-Notify service so nurses and employers can receive license status and expiration alerts.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Louisiana

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program (LSBPNE Licensure by Examination)

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee
• $200 Examination Fee (NCLEX Fees and Payment)
• A state and federal criminal background check is required; IdentoGo processes the check and the appointment confirmation shows the payment amount — LSBPNE does not publish a fixed fee (LSBPNE Criminal Background Check Instructions)

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a licensed practical nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval. The current endorsement application fee is $185 plus a 1.8% state charge, and a state and federal criminal background check is also required (LSBPNE Licensure by Endorsement).

Renewal: LPN licenses are renewed annually, on a different cycle from RN and APRN licenses. The active renewal period runs November 1 through January 31, and every LPN license expires January 31 each year if not renewed. The standard renewal fee is $61.08; a license that lapses after January 31 becomes “Inactive – Lapsed” and requires a higher $162.88 reinstatement fee (LSBPNE License Renewal).

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Louisiana a nursing compact state?

Yes. Louisiana has been a Nursing Licensure Compact state since July 1, 2019, for RNs and LPNs. The compact does not cover APRNs, who need a Louisiana-specific license regardless of any multistate license held elsewhere (Louisiana State Board of Nursing, Nurse Licensure Compact).

What exam do I need to pass to become a registered nurse in Louisiana?

Louisiana requires the NCLEX-RN for registered nurse licensure by examination. Licensed practical nurse candidates take the NCLEX-PN instead (LSBPNE Licensure by Examination).

How often do I need to renew my Louisiana nursing license?

RN and APRN licenses renew every two years, with the renewal window open October 1 through December 31. LPN licenses renew every year, with the renewal window open November 1 through January 31 (LSBN Continuing Education FAQs; LSBPNE License Renewal).

How do I verify a Louisiana nursing license?

RN and APRN licenses are verified through the Louisiana State Board of Nursing's license lookup portal. LPN licenses are verified through Nursys, the national licensure database the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners uses.

Information Disclosure:

Information for advanced practice registered nurse and registered nurse licensure above was retrieved from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, as of September 2026. Information for licensed practical nurse licensure was retrieved from the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners, as of September 2026.