Become a Nurse in Vermont – Licensure & Requirements

^{Vermont's Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) roles — Certified Nurse-Midwife, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner — require qualifying graduate nursing education under 26 V.S.A. § 1611, not a master's degree specifically. Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Licensed Nursing Assistant licensure do not require graduate education.}

Vermont Nursing Salaries

^{Nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: Vermont, Burlington-South Burlington, Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area and Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area — May 2025 release.}

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

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

Compact State Status

Vermont is a full participant in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), effective February 1, 2022. A Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse holding a multistate license issued by another NLC-participating state may practice in Vermont, and a Vermont multistate license is recognized in every other NLC-participating state, without obtaining a separate Vermont license. (Source: Vermont Board of Nursing and NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact, verified September 2026.)

Prescriptive Authority in Vermont

Vermont Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are authorized to prescribe medications, including controlled substances, as part of their scope of practice. An APRN beginning a new advanced-practice role or population focus must practice under a signed collaborative provider agreement until completing 2,400 hours and 24 months of active practice in that role, or 1,600 hours and 12 months when adding an additional role or population focus. Once an APRN meets that threshold and notifies the Vermont Board of Nursing, the APRN may practice — and prescribe — independently, without an ongoing collaborating-provider requirement. Prescribing controlled substances additionally requires the APRN to hold a separate DEA registration valid in Vermont. (Sources: 26 V.S.A. § 1572(4) (prescriptive authority); 26 V.S.A. § 1613 and Vermont Board of Nursing Administrative Rules, Rule 9-8 (transition-to-practice); Vermont Board of Nursing APRN FAQs (separate DEA registration), verified September 2026.)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Vermont

Education: Graduate program with courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced assessment and pharmacotherapeutics

Examination: Varies according to prerequisite national certification

Certification Required: National certification in specialty area and must include active Vermont Registered Nurse license

Fees:

• $115 Application Fee
• $145 Renewal Fee (biennial)

Renewal: Advanced practice registered nurse licenses in Vermont expire biennially, on March 31 of odd-numbered years. To renew, APRNs must either have graduated from an APRN program within the preceding two years or have practiced 400 hours within the preceding two years (960 hours within the preceding five years), and must maintain current national certification. A collaborative provider agreement is required only while an APRN is still completing the transition-to-practice threshold described in Prescriptive Authority in Vermont above.

(Sources: 26 V.S.A. § 1611 (graduate nursing education and certification requirement); APRN Application Instructions; Vermont OPR fee schedule and APRN Renewal Instructions / Rule 9-7 for fees and renewal, verified September 2026.)

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

Registered Nurse (RN) in Vermont

Education: Approved Registered Nursing education program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $150 Application Fee – Licensure by Endorsement
• $75 Application Fee (Examination) – Licensure by Examination
• $100 Multistate Privilege Fee – applies only if applying for a multistate license (optional; Vermont also permits single-state licensure)
• $220 Renewal Fee (biennial)

Endorsement: RNs may apply for licensure by endorsement by providing current licensure and meeting practice requirements by the state.

Renewal: Registered Nurse licenses in Vermont expire biennially, on January 31 of even-numbered years. To renew, RNs must satisfy one of the following: 400 hours of active nursing practice within the preceding two years, 960 hours within the preceding five years, 20 hours of continuing education within the preceding two years, current national certification in a nursing specialty, or completion of an approved nursing education program within the preceding five years.

(Sources: RN Application Instructions for education, examination and endorsement; Vermont OPR fee schedule and LPN & RN Renewal Instructions for fees and renewal, verified September 2026.)

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Vermont

Education: Approved Licensed Practical Nursing educational program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $150 Application Fee – Licensure by Endorsement
• $75 Application Fee (Examination) – Licensure by Examination
• $100 Multistate Privilege Fee – applies only if applying for a multistate license (optional; Vermont also permits single-state licensure)
• $200 Renewal Fee (biennial)

Endorsement: LPNs may apply for licensure by endorsement by providing current licensure and meeting practice requirements by the state.

Renewal: Licensed Practical Nurse licenses in Vermont expire biennially, on January 31 of even-numbered years. To renew, LPNs must satisfy one of the following: 400 hours of active nursing practice within the preceding two years, 960 hours within the preceding five years, 20 hours of continuing education within the preceding two years, current national certification in a nursing specialty, or completion of an approved nursing education program within the preceding five years.

(Sources: LPN Application Instructions for education, examination and endorsement; Vermont OPR fee schedule and LPN & RN Renewal Instructions for fees and renewal, verified September 2026.)

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) in Vermont

Education: Approved Vermont nursing assistant education program

Examination: LNA competency examination administered by Excel Testing Service

Fees:

• $25 Application Fee
• $65 Renewal Fee (biennial)

Renewal: Licensed Nursing Assistant licenses in Vermont expire biennially, on November 30 of even-numbered years.

(Sources: LNA Application Instructions for education and examination; Vermont OPR fee schedule for fees; Vermont Nursing Apply & Renew for current LNA renewal authority, verified September 2026.)

Information Disclosure

^{Information on the above nursing careers in Vermont was retrieved from the Vermont State Board of Nursing, the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation's Initial Licensing, Renewal Fees, Dates & 90-Day Licensing Policy schedule (updated July 1, 2025), and the Vermont LPN & RN Renewal Instructions (April 2026), as of September 2026.}