Become a Nurse in Minnesota – Licensure & Requirements

Minnesota Nursing Salaries

^{Statewide and metropolitan-area annual mean wages above reflect the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) release, retrieved in September 2026 via the OEWS Data Tables page.}

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

Compact State Status

No, Minnesota is not a Nursing Licensure Compact state as of September 2026. Minnesota law requires anyone practicing professional or practical nursing in the state to hold a Minnesota RN or LPN license or temporary permit, subject to limited statutory exceptions.

Prescriptive Authority in Minnesota

According to the Minnesota Board of Nursing, APRN Licensure General Information, Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNPs) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) must complete 2,080 hours of initial postgraduate practice under a collaborative agreement with either a qualifying physician or a Minnesota-licensed APRN who has at least three years of APRN practice and experience with the same or similar patient problems. This postgraduate-practice requirement is separate from prescribing authority: licensed APRNs may prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances, and CNPs and CNSs do not need a written prescribing agreement to do so.

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) providing nonsurgical therapy for acute or chronic pain must work on referral from, and in collaboration with, a Minnesota physician; chronic-pain prescribing additionally requires a written prescribing agreement.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Minnesota

Education: Completion of a graduate-level APRN program in one of the four APRN roles (CNP, CNS, CRNA or CNM) and a population focus, accredited and accepted by the board.

Examination: Varies with Certification

Fees: $105 Application Fee

Renewal: APRN renewal required $85 fee and verification of ongoing national certification. Registered nurse (RN) and APRN licenses must be renewed together. The Board does not publish a grace period for late APRN renewal; a lapsed license requires reregistration — a new application, fee and Confirmation of Employment form — before the license is brought current.

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

Registered Nurse (RN) in Minnesota

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $200 NCLEX registration fee
• $105 Application Fee
• $32.00 Criminal Background Check

Endorsement: Licensure through endorsement is available to registered nurses in Minnesota. There is a $105.00 endorsement fee and a $32.00 criminal background check fee.

Renewal: License renewal is required through the Minnesota Board of Nursing every two years. Education requirements include completion of 24 contact hours of board-approved continuing education per renewal period. Renewal Fee is $85. The Board's renewal FAQ does not publish a grace period for late renewal; a license not renewed by its expiration date requires reregistration rather than simple renewal, with requirements that vary depending on how long the license has been expired.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Minnesota

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $200 NCLEX registration fee
• $105 Application Fee
• $32.00 Criminal Background Check

Endorsement: Licensure through endorsement is available to licensed practical nurses in Minnesota. There is a $105.00 endorsement fee and a $32.00 criminal background check fee.

Renewal: License renewal is required through the Minnesota Board of Nursing every two years. Education requirements include completion of 12 contact hours of board-approved continuing education during a typical 24-month registration period. Renewal Fee is $85. The Board's renewal FAQ does not publish a grace period for late renewal; a license not renewed by its expiration date requires reregistration rather than simple renewal, with requirements that vary depending on how long the license has been expired.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure:

^{Information on the above nursing careers in Minnesota was retrieved from the Minnesota Board of Nursing, as of September 2026.}