North Carolina nursing license renewal

Where and when to renew

The reviewed route is NCBON Nurse Portal. Renew by the last day of the birth month; the application opens 90 days before expiration.

1. Complete the continuing-competence requirement.
2. Access the Nurse Portal within 90 days of expiration.
3. Choose Renewal/Reinstatement for the license.
4. Submit the application and $100 fee.
5. Verify the updated license in the public database.

Portal and account safety

• For North Carolina, open public status checks through Verify a NC License; use RN/LPN Renewal only for account or transaction work.
• The reviewed North Carolina renewal timing is Every two years. Renew by the last day of the birth month; the application opens 90 days before expiration.
• Before payment, match the exact credential (LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, CRNA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Aide II) and compare the displayed charge with this source-reviewed summary: RN/LPN renewal: $100.
• Use only reviewed authority domains (www.ncbon.com); avoid search advertisements and look-alike renewal or verification pages.
• If the North Carolina portal does not show the expected option, check credential type, current status and renewal window before creating a second account or paying again.
• For unresolved account or routing issues, contact North Carolina Board of Nursing at (919) 782-3211 and keep the confirmation number, date and staff response.
• After any transaction, return to Verify a NC License and verify the public record; a receipt by itself is not practice authority.

Renewal requirements and 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.

CE or competence connection

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.

Published fee records

Common renewal problems

Fraud and privacy safety

• Begin every North Carolina transaction from a reviewed authority domain (www.ncbon.com) or a source-reviewed link on this guide.
• Do not give a caller payment-card details, a password or a one-time code merely because the caller claims to represent North Carolina Board of Nursing.
• If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through (919) 782-3211 or the secure North Carolina account.
• Use Verify a NC License to confirm current status rather than a private lookup page or emailed screenshot.
• Upload identity, background, education or legal documents only through a secure method explicitly named by North Carolina Board of Nursing.
• Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current North Carolina instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
• For North Carolina, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources reviewed