Verify a Minnesota Nurse—or Renew Before Registration Expires
Most visitors are not looking for a long explanation of nursing regulation. They need to confirm whether a nurse can legally work today, find an expiration date, renew before midnight or understand why an application is still incomplete.
Minnesota separates those tasks across Online Verification, licensee Online Services, continuing education pages, endorsement forms and nursing-program lists. This guide brings the important rules, fees, steps and troubleshooting details together.
Use Online Verification to check an APRN, RN, LPN or temporary permit. Use Online Services to renew your own registration, submit an application, check application status or request a replacement document.
Check a nurse or permit
Verify an APRN, RN, LPN or temporary permit and review available discipline.
Renew a registration
Complete CE, sign in, submit the renewal and pay the current $85 fee.
Check application status
Review endorsement, examination, APRN or reregistration progress online.
Verify a nursing program
Check Board-approved practical or professional nursing programs.
Apply by endorsement
Submit licensure verification, background check and employment information.
Minnesota nursing-license facts to check first
Expiration is the deadline. Online renewal must be completed by midnight on the registration expiration date. A paper application must be received by the Board by that date. After expiration, the nurse must use reregistration rather than ordinary renewal.
Normal registration cycle
After the first registration period, a Minnesota nursing registration is generally effective for two years and tied to the nurse’s birth month and birth year.
First period may be shorter or longer
Initial licensure or reregistration can produce a first registration period of approximately 6 to 29 months before the regular two-year cycle begins.
Do not routinely send CE certificates
Keep the documents, but submit them only when the Board instructs you to do so or selects the license for a continuing-education audit.
No renewal registration card
Minnesota no longer issues paper registration cards after renewal. Employers and nurses should use the online verification record.
Minnesota is not an NLC state
Minnesota has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. An out-of-state compact license does not automatically authorize general Minnesota practice.
Nurse aides use another registry
The Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry is administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, not the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
Browser tip: the Board warns that Online Services has not been fully tested on tablets and smartphones. A desktop or laptop using a current browser can reduce blank screens and submission problems.
How to verify a Minnesota APRN, RN, LPN or temporary permit
Minnesota’s Online Verification system is the primary source for APRN, RN, LPN and temporary-permit information. Employers must verify the license at hiring, record the expiration date and confirm renewal by that date.
Open the Board’s Online Verification system
Use the official Board route instead of a commercial directory, downloaded list or old screenshot.
Open Online VerificationSearch with the strongest identifier
Use the license number when available. Otherwise enter the nurse’s legal name and check spelling carefully.
Match the correct professional record
Confirm whether the result is for an APRN, RN, LPN or temporary permit. A nurse can have more than one Minnesota credential.
Read the status and expiration date
Do not rely only on the nurse’s name appearing. Confirm that the correct license is current for the intended work date.
Open available discipline information
Review applicable disciplinary or corrective-action information before making an employment or credentialing decision.
Record the verification date
Employers should retain the official result, verification date and expiration date under their credentialing process.
| What you see | What to confirm | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Current license | Correct name, credential type and expiration date. | Document the verification and schedule a recheck before expiration. |
| Temporary permit | Permit type, validity and expiration. | Do not treat a temporary permit as an unrestricted permanent license. |
| Expired registration | Exact expiration date and whether reregistration has been approved. | The nurse may not work after expiration without valid authority. |
| APRN record | Current RN license, APRN license and role/population certification. | Do not verify APRN authority from the RN record alone. |
| Disciplinary action | Complete order, effective dates and restrictions. | Read the official documents rather than relying on a short status label. |
| No matching result | License number, legal name, former name and profession. | Recheck the details or confirm whether the application remains pending. |
Verification problems to solve before calling
Minnesota states that a nurse may not work after the license expiration date. An application, payment receipt or pending reregistration does not replace a current license or valid permit.
Renew a Minnesota RN, LPN or APRN registration
The Board generally sends a reminder postcard approximately three full calendar months before expiration and an email when a current email address is on file. The reminder does not extend the deadline.
Verify the exact expiration date
Open Online Verification and record the date shown. Do not estimate the deadline from a previous card or employer file.
Check ExpirationComplete the required continuing education
A typical 24-month period requires 24 RN contact hours or 12 LPN contact hours. Adjust the requirement proportionally for a different registration period.
Review CE RulesSign in to Online Services
Use the existing licensee account. A current desktop browser is safer because the Board says the service is not fully tested on tablets and smartphones.
Open Online ServicesComplete the renewal questions
Review identifying information, practice and disclosure questions carefully and testify truthfully to continuing-education completion.
Pay the non-refundable renewal fee
The official fee schedule currently lists APRN, RN and LPN registration renewal at $85 per renewal transaction.
Check Official FeesVerify that renewal posted
Return to Online Verification and confirm the new registration expiration date before relying on the renewal.
Renewal deadline rules
Online renewal
Complete the transaction by midnight on the expiration date. Waiting until the final evening increases the risk of account, browser or payment problems.
Paper renewal
Minnesota does not routinely mail paper applications. Request one by postcard or by calling 612-317-3000, and ensure the Board receives it by the expiration date.
Missed the deadline? Minnesota does not treat a late submission as ordinary renewal. Once registration expires, use the reregistration process and do not practise until valid authority is shown.
There is no formal “inactive” application. A nurse who does not intend to practise may allow registration to expire, but returning later requires reregistration and the requirements depend on time expired and time since last nursing practice.
Minnesota RN and LPN continuing-education requirements
Continuing education is part of renewal and may also be required for endorsement or reregistration. The participation period is normally the 24 months immediately before the renewal deadline.
| License | Typical 24-month requirement | Short or long first period | Record rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 24 contact hours. | One contact hour for each month of registration. | Keep proof for two years after using the hours for renewal. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 12 contact hours. | One contact hour for each two months of registration. | Keep proof for two years after using the hours for renewal. |
| APRN | RN renewal and continuing-certification requirements apply. | Follow the RN cycle and APRN certification requirements. | Ensure national certification verification reaches the Board directly. |
Three ways CE requirements may be met
Provider education activity
Participate in qualifying continuing-education activities and retain written evidence showing the title, date, instructor or provider and contact hours.
Current specialty certification
A current nursing specialty certificate issued by a qualifying national professional nursing or medical organization may satisfy the requirement.
Accepted professional activity
Certain peer-reviewed publications, professional presentations, national-panel service and nursing or health-care research activities may qualify.
CE document checklist
Do not automatically upload or mail CE documents with renewal. The Board says documents should be submitted when specifically requested, including when a licensee is selected for an audit.
Failure to respond to a continuing-education audit can be considered grounds for disciplinary action. Hours that cannot be verified may be assigned to the next reporting period instead of the audited period.
Minnesota nursing renewal, application and document fees
The Minnesota Board states that all fees are non-refundable. Use the amount displayed in the current online transaction and recheck the fee page before paying.
| Transaction | Official fee currently listed | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| APRN, RN or LPN registration renewal | $85 | Standard registration renewal fee. |
| RN or LPN application by examination | $105 | Board application fee; testing-provider fees can be separate. |
| RN or LPN re-examination | $60 | Board re-examination application fee. |
| RN or LPN endorsement application | $105 | Verification and background-check costs may be separate. |
| Initial APRN licensure | $105 | National certification verification is also required. |
| APRN, RN or LPN reregistration | $105 | Requirements vary by time expired and time since practice. |
| Public Health Nurse registration | $30 | Separate PHN registration process. |
| Border State Registry | $50 | Also listed for a later employment-change notice. |
| Replacement license document | $20 | Replacement document bears the word “Replacement.” |
| License verification outside Nursys | $20 | Use Nursys for routine state-to-state nursing-board verification. |
| Examination-score verification | $20 | Separate written score-verification service. |
| Criminal background check | $32 | Follow the applicant-specific background-check instructions. |
Nursys, NCLEX registration, fingerprinting or another state licensing authority may charge additional fees. Do not estimate the full application cost from the Board fee alone.
Check a Minnesota nursing application status
Online Services allows applicants to submit applications and check processing status. A pending application does not authorize practice unless the Board has issued a valid license or temporary permit.
Sign in to the original applicant account
Use the same online account used to submit the examination, endorsement, APRN or reregistration application.
Open Online ServicesOpen the submitted application
Confirm that the application type and professional credential match the route you intended to use.
Review every outstanding requirement
Look for licensure verification, nursing education, employment confirmation, criminal background check, continuing education or refresher-course requirements.
Confirm who must send the item
A school, licensing authority, certifying body or background-check unit may need to submit information directly to the Board.
Recheck Online Verification
When the Board issues a license or temporary permit, confirm the public record before beginning nursing practice.
| Possible missing item | What to confirm | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| License verification | Whether verification was ordered from the first licensing jurisdiction and the current practice jurisdiction when different. | Use Nursys or the jurisdiction’s official direct-verification route. |
| Criminal background check | Whether the Minnesota-specific process was completed using the issued instructions. | Contact the background-check office before repeating fingerprints. |
| Nursing education | Whether the school sent the required program-completion or transcript information. | Ask the school for the exact date and method of submission. |
| Employment confirmation | Whether recent nursing-employment information was complete and received. | Submit the correct confirmation form without duplicating the entire application. |
| Continuing education or refresher course | Whether time away from nursing triggered additional competency requirements. | Wait for the Board’s specific instruction before choosing a course. |
| APRN certification verification | Whether the certifying body sent current certification directly to Minnesota. | Contact the certifier and verify the recipient and sending date. |
“I submitted a Minnesota _____ application on _____. My online account currently shows _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched to my application and identify the exact requirement that remains incomplete.”
A submitted application, receipt, completed background check or employer start date does not authorize nursing practice. Wait until the official verification system displays a valid license or temporary permit.
Apply for Minnesota RN or LPN licensure by endorsement
A nurse licensed by examination in another U.S. jurisdiction generally applies for Minnesota licensure by endorsement before practising in Minnesota, unless a specific border-state recognition rule applies.
Create or open an Online Services account
The account allows you to apply online and later check the application’s processing status.
Open Online ServicesSubmit the RN or LPN endorsement application
Select the correct profession, complete all disclosure questions and pay the currently listed $105 non-refundable fee.
Open Endorsement PageOrder required license verification
Submit verification from the jurisdiction where you were first licensed. If the license most recently used for practice came from another jurisdiction, verification from both may be required.
Complete Minnesota’s background-check process
Prior fingerprinting for an employer or another licensing board does not replace the Minnesota Board of Nursing background check.
Submit employment information
The Board uses nursing-employment history to determine whether continuing education or a refresher course is required.
Monitor the account and public record
Confirm that every item is received and wait for the license or temporary permit to appear before working.
Temporary permit
An eligible endorsement applicant may request a temporary permit. It is valid until Board action on the application or for 60 days, whichever occurs first.
Permit cannot be extended
The endorsement temporary permit is nonrenewable. Delayed verification, background-check or other documents can cause the permit to expire before licensure.
Criminal background-check questions can be directed to Criminal.Background.Check@state.mn.us or 651-201-2822.
Minnesota NLC status and Border State Registry
Minnesota has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. It does, however, maintain a separate border-state license-recognition process for certain qualifying residents of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
| Situation | Does it authorize Minnesota practice? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Compact license from another state | Not automatically, because Minnesota is not an NLC member. | Apply for Minnesota endorsement unless another specific exception applies. |
| Iowa resident with Iowa RN/LPN license | Potentially through border-state recognition when all requirements are met. | Review the registry and report Minnesota employment. |
| North Dakota resident with ND RN/LPN license | Potentially through border-state recognition when eligible. | Complete the registry process and maintain the border-state license. |
| South Dakota resident with SD RN/LPN license | Potentially through border-state recognition when eligible. | Report qualifying Minnesota employment to the Board. |
| Wisconsin resident with WI RN/LPN license | Potentially through border-state recognition when eligible. | Use the Minnesota Border State Registry process. |
| Resident of another state | No general border-state privilege applies. | Review Minnesota licensure by endorsement. |
Employment reporting deadline
A qualifying border-state nurse must report Minnesota employment to the Board within 10 days of beginning employment.
Registry fee
The official fee page currently lists $50 for the initial Border State Registry application and $50 for a later employment-change notice.
Border-state recognition is not the Nurse Licensure Compact and is not a nationwide multistate license. Verify the nurse’s border-state license and Minnesota registry status separately.
Minnesota APRN renewal and verification requirements
To maintain APRN authority in Minnesota, the nurse must maintain both Minnesota RN and APRN licensure and keep current role and population-focus certification verified with the Board.
Current Minnesota RN license
The APRN must maintain a current Minnesota RN license. APRN status does not replace the underlying RN requirement.
Current Minnesota APRN license
The APRN credential must also remain current and be renewed through the applicable Board process.
Current national certification
Certification must remain current for the licensed APRN role and population focus.
Check both RN and APRN records
Use Online Verification to confirm that neither credential has expired.
Review national certification expiration
Do not wait until the Minnesota renewal deadline to discover that certification has expired.
Arrange direct certification verification
The certifying body must send current certification verification directly to the Minnesota Board when certification is renewed.
Renew the required Minnesota licenses
The RN and APRN registrations share an expiration date tied to birth month and year, but both licensing requirements must be maintained.
An employer should not verify Minnesota APRN practice authority from an RN result alone. Check the RN license, APRN license, role/population information and current certification.
Verify a Minnesota practical or professional nursing program
Minnesota maintains separate Board-approved lists for practical nursing programs that prepare LPNs and professional nursing programs that prepare RNs.
Identify the intended license
Determine whether the student is pursuing practical nursing/LPN or professional nursing/RN education.
Open the correct approved-program list
Use the Minnesota Board list rather than relying only on a school advertisement or recruiter statement.
Match the exact campus
A school system can operate several campuses. Confirm the campus address and the specific program being offered.
Check Board approval separately from accreditation
Board approval authorizes the nursing program to provide qualifying licensure education. National accreditation is a separate external review.
Review practical enrollment details
Before paying, check tuition, completion rates, clinical placement, transfer policy, examination results and accreditation directly.
Approved practical nursing programs
Use this list for Minnesota programs designed to meet education requirements for licensed practical nurse licensure.
Open Practical ProgramsApproved professional nursing programs
Use this list for Minnesota programs designed to meet education requirements for registered nurse licensure.
Open Professional ProgramsBoard approval and national accreditation are not the same. Accreditation can affect graduate education, transfer credit, financial aid or employer requirements even when the program is Board approved.
Online Services, replacement documents and profile changes
Use the existing account
Sign in to the account connected to the license or application. Avoid creating duplicate accounts when a password or username is forgotten.
Name, address or phone changed
Use the Board’s official change-request process. A legal-name change requires supporting documentation.
Open Licensee FormsReplacement license document
Report an original document that was lost, stolen or destroyed. The replacement fee is currently $20 and the new document is marked “Replacement.”
Employer monitoring
Minnesota’s Auto Verification Service can provide subscribers with daily, weekly or monthly email notices about selected license-record changes.
Review Auto VerificationState-to-state verification
Use Nursys when a Minnesota RN or LPN license must be verified to another U.S. board of nursing.
Open NursysUnexpected Board or police call
Minnesota warns that scammers impersonate Board staff and law-enforcement agents. Verify demands for money or private information using official contact details.
A replacement document is not the same as primary-source verification. Employers should continue to use the live Online Verification system even when a nurse presents a paper license.
Minnesota Board of Nursing phone, email, hours and address
Prepare your license or application information before contacting staff. Explain the exact transaction, date submitted, missing requirement and sender of any supporting document.
General licensing, renewal, application and Board information.
Listed for callers in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Relay service for people with hearing or speech disabilities.
General Minnesota Board of Nursing questions.
Nursing-program and education-related inquiries.
Questions about nursing-practice complaints and complaint submissions.
Use fax only when the specific form or Board instruction permits it.
Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
The office closes between noon and 1:00 p.m.
“I am contacting the Minnesota Board of Nursing about my _____ license or application. My license/application information is _____. I submitted _____ on _____. The online account currently shows _____. The document was sent by _____ on _____. Please confirm whether it has been received and explain the exact next step.”
Office and mailing address
Minnesota Board of Nursing
1210 Northland Drive, Suite 120
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Parking and arrival
The Board’s directions page states that free parking is available in the parking lot in front of the building. Call before travelling for application-specific help.
An office visit does not guarantee immediate license issuance, document matching or same-day application review. Bring identification and copies, but follow the official submission instructions for original or direct-source records.
Minnesota Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Minnesota nursing license?
Use the Minnesota Board of Nursing Online Verification system. Search by license number or legal name, match the APRN, RN, LPN or temporary-permit record and confirm status, expiration and available discipline.
How much is Minnesota nursing-license renewal?
The official fee schedule currently lists APRN, RN and LPN registration renewal at $85. Fees are non-refundable, so confirm the transaction before paying.
How many continuing-education hours does a Minnesota RN need?
An RN normally needs 24 contact hours during a 24-month registration period. For a different registration length, the requirement is calculated at one contact hour for each month.
How many continuing-education hours does a Minnesota LPN need?
An LPN normally needs 12 contact hours during a 24-month registration period. For a different period, the requirement is one contact hour for each two months of registration.
Do I send CE certificates with my renewal?
Not routinely. Keep CE records for two years after using them for renewal and submit them when the Board specifically requests proof, including during an audit.
When is a Minnesota nurse’s renewal due?
The registration must be renewed by its expiration date. Online renewal must be completed by midnight, while a paper application must be received by the Board by that date.
What happens if a Minnesota nursing license expires?
The nurse must apply for reregistration rather than ordinary renewal and may not practise until valid Minnesota authority is restored.
Does Minnesota have inactive nursing-license status?
There is no formal process for going inactive. A nurse may choose not to renew, but returning to practice later requires reregistration.
Is Minnesota part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Minnesota has not enacted the NLC. A separate border-state recognition process may apply to qualifying residents of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin.
How long is a Minnesota endorsement temporary permit valid?
An eligible permit is valid until Board action on the application or for 60 days, whichever occurs first. It cannot be extended or renewed.
How do I check a Minnesota nursing application?
Sign in to the Online Services account used for the application, open the submitted transaction and review outstanding verification, education, background-check or competency items.
How do I verify a Minnesota nursing school?
Use the Board’s separate approved practical nursing and approved professional nursing program lists. Match the exact campus and verify national accreditation independently.
Does the Minnesota Board of Nursing regulate nurse aides?
No. The Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry is administered by the Minnesota Department of Health.
What is the Minnesota Board of Nursing phone number?
The main number is 612-317-3000. The regional toll-free number for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin is 888-234-2690.
What are the Minnesota Board of Nursing office hours?
The office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.
Minnesota official pages used for this guide
Rules, fees, application requirements and online systems can change. Recheck the relevant official page before submitting a renewal, application, document or payment.
For employers and public users
Verify the exact APRN, RN, LPN or permit record, record the expiration date, review available discipline and recheck the license by the expiration date.
For applicants and licensees
Use Online Services for applications, renewal, reregistration, replacement documents and status checks. This independent guide cannot access or change private Board records.