Become a Nurse in Montana – Licensure & Requirements

Montana Nursing Salaries

^{Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Montana, Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls in May 2025.}

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

Compact State Status

Montana is a current member state of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), the interstate agreement that allows RNs and LPNs/LVNs to hold one multistate license valid for practice in other eNLC member states. Montana enacted the compact under Montana Code Annotated § 37-8-501; current participation is confirmed by the Montana Board of Nursing and by NurseCompact.com, whose official implementation map lists Montana's implementation date as January 19, 2018. For the current list of participating states, see the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) States Guide.

Prescriptive Authority in Montana

According to the Montana Board of Nursing – Prescriptive Authority, APRNs may apply for prescriptive authority. A $100 application fee is required. Applicants who completed their graduate program within the last 5 years must show a three-semester-credit graduate course in advanced pharmacology, a graduate-level course in differential diagnosis and disease management, and supervised clinical practice integrating pharmacologic intervention with patient management. Applicants who graduated more than 5 years before application may instead qualify with either that same three-semester-credit graduate pharmacology course completed within the past five years or 45 qualifying continuing-education hours completed within the past five years. A $75 renewal fee is due December 31 of every even year.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Montana

APRNs in Montana include certified nurse practitioner (CNP), certified nurse midwife (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and clinical nurse specialist (CNS).

Education: Accredited graduate-level advanced nursing program

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Fees:

• $75 for each specialty certification
• Certification Examination Fee (Varies for Different Certifications)

Certification Required: National Certification in Advanced Nursing Specialty

Additional Information: An applicant must hold either an active Montana Registered Nurse license or an RN license with a multistate designation from a compact state.

Renewal: $50 per APRN certification type. Montana does not require continuing education contact hours as a condition of nursing license renewal, including for APRN licenses (Montana Board of Nursing – Continuing Education); the Board continues to offer free optional contact-hour modules for professional development.

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

Registered Nurse (RN) in Montana

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee
• $200 Examination Fee

Endorsement: Individuals with equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to a $200 application fee for licensure by endorsement.

Renewal: Renewal fees are $100. Montana does not require continuing education contact hours as a condition of RN license renewal (Montana Board of Nursing – Continuing Education).

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Montana

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee
• $200 Examination Fee

Endorsement: Individuals with equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to a $200 application fee for licensure by endorsement.

Renewal: Renewal fees are $100. Montana does not require continuing education contact hours as a condition of LPN license renewal (Montana Board of Nursing – Continuing Education).

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure:

Information on the above nursing careers in Montana was retrieved from the Montana Board of Nursing, as of September 2026.