North Carolina licensing facts
How regulation is organized
North Carolina Board of Nursing regulates the credentials recorded for North Carolina: LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, CRNA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Aide II. Public status checks use License Verification; renewal uses RN/LPN Renewal. The recorded renewal schedule is Every two years The compact classification shown for this review is Compact jurisdiction.
Public verification
License Verification is the reviewed public verification route for North Carolina. The destination is hosted on www.ncbon.com. Search the exact credential, then compare status, expiration, record date, and public restrictions before relying on the result.
Renewal timing
For North Carolina, the recorded renewal cycle is Every two years The named renewal route is RN/LPN Renewal. The current fee summary is RN/LPN renewal: $100..
CE or competence
The reviewed North Carolina continuing-education or competence rule is: Complete one of eight approved learning options during the preceding renewal cycle. The record-retention or audit note is: Random audit notices are sent through the Nurse Portal; submit evidence only when requested..
| Reviewed field | Current dataset value |
|---|---|
| Authority | North Carolina Board of Nursing |
| Public verification | NCBON License Verification |
| Renewal cycle | Every two years |
| Renewal deadline | Renew by the last day of the birth month; the application opens 90 days before expiration. |
| Continuing competence | Complete one of eight approved learning options during the preceding renewal cycle. |
| Fees | RN/LPN renewal: $100. |
| Compact status | Compact jurisdiction |
| Credentials | LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, CRNA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Aide II |
| Phone | (919) 782-3211 |
| Physical location | P.O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602-2129 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602-2129 |
| Primary official domains | www.ncbon.com |
How to verify a North Carolina nursing license
License Verification is the reviewed public verification route for North Carolina. The destination is hosted on www.ncbon.com. Search the exact credential, then compare status, expiration, record date, and public restrictions before relying on the result. Renewal-related transactions use RN/LPN Renewal.
Read the detailed lookup and troubleshooting guide
How to interpret the result
| Field | Meaning | Risk to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina credential type | Confirm the exact credential among LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, CRNA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Aide II; the same person may hold more than one license, approval, certificate or permit. | For North Carolina, treating an RN result as proof of APRN, assistant, certificate, permit or prescriptive authority. |
| Current status | Read the exact status wording published by North Carolina Board of Nursing, including active, inactive, expired, lapsed, probationary, suspended, revoked or restricted. | For North Carolina, assuming that a record appearing in search means the person may currently practice. |
| Expiration / renewal timing | Every two years. Renew by the last day of the birth month; the application opens 90 days before expiration. | For North Carolina, using a wallet card, employer roster or old screenshot instead of the live record. |
| Multistate designation | North Carolina is recorded as an operational Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction in this dataset. Verify that the individual public record is actually designated multistate and that the nurse maintains North Carolina or another qualifying compact state as the primary state of residence. | For North Carolina, assuming compact membership automatically makes every license multistate or survives a permanent residence move. |
| Public discipline or restrictions | Review public orders or restrictions linked by North Carolina Board of Nursing, NCBON License Verification or Nursys when applicable. | Checking only expiration while ignoring conditions that limit practice. |
| Verification date | The result supports a decision as of the date it was checked. Record the live North Carolina verification date. | For North Carolina, reusing an undated or stale printout for a new employment or credentialing decision. |
North Carolina nursing license renewal
Named renewal system: NCBON Nurse Portal.
- Complete the continuing-competence requirement.
- Access the Nurse Portal within 90 days of expiration.
- Choose Renewal/Reinstatement for the license.
- Submit the application and $100 fee.
- Verify the updated license in the public database.
Renewal cautions
- Submission is not automatic approval.
- An expired nurse may not practice until reinstated.
- Evidence is submitted only when selected for audit or specifically requested.
Continuing education or continuing competence
Complete one of eight approved learning options during the preceding renewal cycle.
- 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of active practice, or
- 30 contact hours, or
- National certification, refresher course, academic education, project, publication or presentation options described by the Board.
Records and audits: Random audit notices are sent through the Nurse Portal; submit evidence only when requested.
North Carolina license by endorsement
The reviewed North Carolina credential set is LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, CRNA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Aide II. Use License Verification for the public record and RN/LPN Renewal for renewal-related work. Do not infer an advanced-practice, assistant, certificate, permit, or compact privilege from a different credential record; Compact jurisdiction. The public record host is www.ncbon.com, and the recorded renewal schedule is Every two years
No direct endorsement URL is recorded; use the detailed checklist below.
National verification and compact status
Compact jurisdiction
North Carolina is classified as Compact jurisdiction. The recorded renewal cycle is Every two years and the authority model is State nursing regulatory board. Confirm primary residence, the exact license designation, and restrictions in the current official record before relying on compact authority.
Published fee records
| Transaction | Credential | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN/LPN renewal | RN/LPN | $100 | Online renewal fee Official source ↗ |
| International verification | RN/LPN | $25 | Verification to an international board Official source ↗ |
| TruMerit verification | RN/LPN | $15 | Verification to TruMerit Official source ↗ |
North Carolina Board of Nursing contact and location
Confirm current service hours before calling or visiting.
4 reviewed official destinations for North Carolina
License Verification ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026RN/LPN Renewal ↗
Requirements, $100 fee and Nurse Portal route
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Continuing Competence ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026North Carolina Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Frequently asked questions
Who regulates nursing licenses in North Carolina?
North Carolina Board of Nursing. The North Carolina Board of Nursing operates its own Nurse Portal and real-time primary-source verification database. North Carolina participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact and uses a continuing-competence model rather than one universal CE-hour rule.
What is the reviewed North Carolina license lookup?
NCBON License Verification. License Verification is the reviewed public verification route for North Carolina. The destination is hosted on www.ncbon.com. Search the exact credential, then compare status, expiration, record date, and public restrictions before relying on the result. Renewal-related transactions use RN/LPN Renewal.
When is a North Carolina nursing license renewed?
Every two years. Renew by the last day of the birth month; the application opens 90 days before expiration.
What CE or competence applies in North Carolina?
Complete one of eight approved learning options during the preceding renewal cycle.
What fee information is published for North Carolina?
RN/LPN renewal: $100.
How can I contact the nursing authority in North Carolina?
North Carolina Board of Nursing publishes (919) 782-3211 and P.O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602-2129.