Verify a Rhode Island Nurse—or Renew Before March 1
Most people searching for the Rhode Island Board of Nursing need an immediate answer: Is this nurse legally active, is a 2026 renewal already overdue, which continuing-education hours count, or why is an endorsement application still waiting for fingerprints or verification?
Rhode Island uses Nursys for primary-source nurse verification, MyLicense for applications and renewals, the Attorney General for fingerprint-supported national background checks, and a two-year renewal calendar tied to the license record. This guide puts those details into one practical route.
Rhode Island nursing licenses expire on March 1 every other year. Renewal applications should be submitted before February 15. A license showing a March 1, 2026 expiration is already past due; a license showing March 1, 2027 is not yet in its ordinary renewal window.
Verify an RN, LPN or APRN
Check current status, expiration, compact authority and discipline through Nursys.
Open Nursys QuickConfirmRenew a Rhode Island license
Use the saved registration code, confirm CE and submit before the individual deadline.
Open Online RenewalCheck missing requirements
Log in to MyLicense and open the application’s View Checklist link.
View Application ChecklistApply by endorsement
Submit the online application, fingerprints, residency proof and license verifications.
Start Nursing ApplicationRhode Island nursing-license details that control your next step
Do not rely on a card, screenshot or receipt. The public verification result must show current authority. Practicing after a license has lapsed is treated as illegal nursing practice under Rhode Island law.
Nursys is the faster verification route
RIDOH’s public license list is updated weekly and directs users to its professional verification system for more timely information.
Save the renewal registration code
RIDOH states that the registration code does not change. Store it securely for future renewal cycles.
Renewals are processed each business day
RIDOH currently reports that renewal transactions are processed daily, while complete initial applications take longer.
Initial applications take six to eight weeks
The current RIDOH estimate applies after a complete initial application has been received.
Rhode Island rejoined the compact
Rhode Island returned to the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 1, 2024.
Board staff do not demand personal data by phone
Hang up on threatening suspension or payment calls and contact RIDOH through its published number.
How to verify a Rhode Island RN, LPN or APRN license
Use Nursys QuickConfirm for the most useful nurse-license check. Rhode Island’s broader license list can help locate a professional, but it is updated weekly and is not the best source for a time-sensitive employment decision.
Open Nursys QuickConfirm
Accept the terms and select Rhode Island when narrowing the search.
Open QuickConfirmSearch with the strongest identifier
Use the license number when known. Otherwise enter the legal first and last name and check former names when needed.
Match the correct credential
Confirm whether the record is RN, LPN, APRN, single-state, multistate or another related authorization.
Read status and expiration together
A matching name is not proof of current authority. Confirm that the status is active and that the expiration has not passed.
Check compact and discipline information
Confirm single-state or multistate authority and open any available disciplinary record before making a credentialing decision.
Record the verification date
Employers should retain the source, date, license type, status, expiration and compact determination.
| Result | What it generally means | Correct action |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The credential currently authorizes practice under the displayed conditions. | Still check expiration, restrictions, APRN authority and compact status. |
| Lapsed or expired | The biennial renewal was not completed before expiration. | Stop practice and contact the Board or use the reinstatement route. |
| Inactive | The nurse retains a record but cannot practice in Rhode Island under that status. | Request reactivation and wait for active status. |
| Single-state | The license authorizes Rhode Island practice but does not include a multistate privilege. | Obtain authority where the patient is physically located. |
| Multistate | The nurse has compact authority based on the primary state of residence. | Confirm the current home state and unencumbered status. |
| APRN record | Advanced-practice authority exists only as displayed. | Check RN prerequisite authority, APRN certification and CSR where prescribing is involved. |
Rhode Island RN, LPN and APRN renewal steps
Licenses expire March 1 every other year on an odd/even schedule tied to the license record. Notices are sent about 60 days before expiration, but the nurse remains responsible for timely renewal.
Notice period
Renewal reminders are generally issued about 60 days before the March 1 expiration.
Submission target
The nursing regulation directs scheduled licensees to submit before February 15.
Expiration
An unrenewed license expires on March 1 of its scheduled renewal year.
New cycle
A timely renewal is effective March 2 and runs until March 1 two years later.
Verify the expiration date
Do not assume every Rhode Island nurse renews in 2026. Check whether the record expires March 1, 2026 or March 1, 2027.
Confirm email and registration-code access
RIDOH communicates by email. Save the registration code because it remains the same for future renewals.
Complete the required education
Finish 10 approved contact hours during the two-year cycle, including two hours concerning substance abuse.
Open online renewal
Use MyLicense, enter the registration information and review legal name, home address, email and compact-residence answers.
Open MyLicenseAttest accurately and pay
Answer CE, criminal, disciplinary and primary-residence questions honestly. Save the confirmation and payment record.
Verify the renewed record
RIDOH says renewals are processed each business day. Confirm the new expiration before relying on the renewal.
A March 1, 2026 expiration is already past. As of July 20, 2026, a nurse whose record was not renewed for that cycle must use the Board’s reinstatement process and must not practice while the license is lapsed.
A March 1, 2027 expiration is not yet in its ordinary renewal period. Confirm that the email and profile address are correct so the renewal reminder can be received near January 2027.
Why online renewal may not work
Rhode Island nursing CE requirements and recordkeeping
Every renewing nurse must attest to 10 approved continuing-education hours completed during the preceding two-year licensing cycle.
| Requirement | What satisfies it | Practical proof |
|---|---|---|
| Total nursing CE | 10 approved contact hours during each two-year cycle. | Certificates showing nurse, course, date, provider and hours. |
| Substance-abuse content | Two of the 10 hours must concern substance abuse. | Course title or description clearly identifies the topic. |
| Alzheimer’s disease training | One hour completed once during the nurse’s career. | Keep the completion certificate permanently. |
| Accepted providers | ANCC or local chapter, recognized nursing organizations, board-approved schools of nursing or another Board-approved accrediting organization. | Provider approval or accreditation appears on the certificate. |
| Record retention | Maintain course-completion documents for four years. | Store digital and backup copies by renewal cycle. |
| Hardship extension | The Board may grant one six-month CE extension when documented hardship prevented completion. | Contact the Board before relying on an extension. |
Do not assume that any healthcare webinar counts. The course must come from an approved or recognized provider and the certificate should clearly show the number of contact hours.
DEA-registered practitioners are also subject to the federal one-time eight-hour education requirement concerning treatment or management of opioid or other substance-use disorders unless another federal qualifying pathway applies.
Rhode Island RN, LPN, APRN and background-check fees
Rhode Island’s active Department of Health fee regulation lists the amounts below. Fees are generally non-refundable, and outside services such as NCLEX or Nursys charge separately.
| Transaction | Published amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| RN initial application by examination | $135 | NCLEX registration and fingerprints are separate. |
| RN endorsement | $135 | Nursys verification and fingerprints are separate. |
| RN 90-day temporary permit | $135 | Issuance depends on eligibility and completed requirements. |
| RN renewal | $135 | Covers the two-year license cycle. |
| LPN initial application | $45 | Examination, endorsement and reexamination use the published $45 amount. |
| LPN 90-day temporary permit | $45 | Permit authority is temporary and condition-based. |
| LPN renewal | $45 | Covers the two-year license cycle. |
| APRN initial application | $145 | RN authority, certification, transcript and fingerprints also apply. |
| APRN renewal with prescriptive authority | $145 | Current national certification is verified at renewal. |
| Legacy APRN without prescriptive authority | $80 | Applies to the qualifying no-prescriptive-authority renewal category. |
| Rhode Island CSR registration | $200 | A Rhode Island business and clinical address is required. |
| National fingerprint background check | $45 | Credit/debit processing fees can apply at the Attorney General’s office. |
Pearson VUE NCLEX registration, Nursys verification, transcript ordering and payment-processing costs are separate from the Rhode Island license fee.
Check a Rhode Island nursing application and missing documents
MyLicense provides a View Checklist link after an application has been submitted. Use it before calling so you can identify the exact item that remains incomplete.
Log in to MyLicense
Use the account under which the original nursing or APRN application was submitted.
Open MyLicenseOpen the submitted application
Do not create a second application merely because an item has not yet been matched.
Select View Checklist
The checklist shows documents received and requirements still outstanding.
Confirm who must send the item
Transcripts, national certification and license verifications may need to come directly from the issuing organization.
Allow the current processing period
RIDOH currently estimates six to eight weeks after it receives a complete initial application. Its nursing regulation requires Board action within 90 days of submission.
| Missing item | What to verify | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Official transcript | Whether the school sent the final record with graduation date and degree conferred. | Ask the school or clearinghouse for the exact transmission date. |
| License verification | Whether every state in which a license was issued has been covered. | Use Nursys; Pennsylvania verification must be sent directly through Pennsylvania’s process. |
| National background check | Whether fingerprints and the required national check were completed through an authorized Rhode Island route. | Contact the Attorney General fingerprint unit when the transaction cannot be confirmed. |
| Proof of primary residence | Whether the uploaded document proves the legal primary state of residence. | Upload an accepted driver’s license, voter record, federal return or military Form 2058. |
| APRN certification | Whether the certifying organization sent official verification directly. | Ask the national certifier to resend the official certification letter. |
| Everything appears complete | Whether the current six-to-eight-week complete-application period has elapsed. | Monitor email and the checklist before contacting RIDOH. |
“I am contacting the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education about my _____ application. I submitted it on _____. The checklist item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ using _____. My online checklist currently shows _____. Please confirm whether the item has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
Rhode Island RN or LPN licensure by endorsement
Endorsement is for a nurse who passed the NCLEX and already holds a license in another jurisdiction. The correct Rhode Island license depends on the applicant’s primary state of residence and compact eligibility.
Choose single-state or multistate correctly
A Rhode Island resident who qualifies must apply for a multistate license. A noncompact-state resident generally applies for a Rhode Island single-state license.
Submit the online nursing application
The current application fees are $135 for RN and $45 for LPN.
Start the ApplicationUpload proof of primary residence
Accepted examples include a valid driver’s license, voter-registration card with home address, federal income-tax return stating PSOR or military Form 2058.
Complete fingerprint-supported national screening
Use the Rhode Island Attorney General or another authorized process that satisfies the application requirements.
Order verification from every licensing state
Use Nursys for participating jurisdictions. Rhode Island’s application instructions identify Pennsylvania as requiring direct verification.
Order Nursys VerificationMonitor the online checklist
Payment does not mean that a license has been issued. Wait until the public record shows active authority.
A nurse whose legal primary state of residence is another compact state should normally obtain a multistate license from that home state rather than applying for a separate Rhode Island multistate license.
Foreign-trained applicants must complete the applicable Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools requirements in addition to the Rhode Island application.
Rhode Island national background-check steps
Nursing applicants must complete a national background check supported by fingerprints. A basic $5 Rhode Island name-based BCI is not the same transaction.
National check fee
The Attorney General publishes a $45 fingerprint-supported national background-check fee.
Bring valid identification
Use an accepted state or federal photo ID and any application-specific paperwork.
Fingerprinting stops earlier
The Cranston center is open until 4:30 p.m., but fingerprint processing stops at 4:00 p.m.
Out-of-state mail route
Out-of-state applicants can use the published fingerprint-card and notarized-release process.
Fingerprint location
Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson Customer Service Center
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401-274-4400
Open Fingerprint-Center MapOut-of-state mailing address
Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
Attn: Fingerprint Department
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Fingerprint email: BCIfingerprints@riag.ri.gov
Rhode Island single-state and multistate license routes
Rhode Island rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 1, 2024. Compact status depends on legal primary residence and eligibility—not where the nurse happens to work.
| Primary state of residence | Correct license route | Important result |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Apply for a Rhode Island multistate RN or LPN license when eligible. | If compact requirements are not met, RIDOH can consider the applicant for a Rhode Island single-state license. |
| Another compact state | Apply to the home state for a multistate license. | A separate Rhode Island license may become inactive when the valid home-state MSL is used. |
| Noncompact state | Apply for or maintain a Rhode Island single-state license. | The Rhode Island license remains subject to its individual renewal cycle. |
| Rhode Island single-state holder upgrading | Use the MyLicense upgrade-to-multistate application. | The current application instructions say a new background check is not required solely for this upgrade. |
Telephonic nursing and telehealth occur in the state where the patient is physically located. Confirm multistate or separate state authority before providing remote nursing services.
Rhode Island reinstatement and return-to-practice requirements
A nurse whose license expired by failure to renew can apply for reinstatement. The current renewal fee applies, and additional competency requirements depend on how long the RN has been away from practice.
| Practice gap | Board guidance | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Up to two years | No RN remediation is ordinarily recommended solely because of the practice gap. | Complete reinstatement, fees and any other outstanding requirements. |
| At least two years and up to five years | Pass a Board-approved competency test and demonstrate clinical proficiency. | Contact the Board before enrolling in a course or testing program. |
| More than five years | Complete and pass a Board-approved RN refresher course with pre-test, post-test and clinical competency. | Use one of the Board-approved 2026 refresher routes. |
| LPN requiring refresher education | Community College of Rhode Island is the identified approved LPN refresher option. | Confirm Board approval and enrollment requirements before payment. |
| Inactive status | Inactive status does not authorize practice and has no initial placement fee. | Contact the Board for reactivation requirements before returning to work. |
RN refresher courses approved on June 18, 2026
University of Delaware
Listed by the Rhode Island Board as an approved RN refresher-course provider.
Boston College
Listed by the Rhode Island Board as an approved RN refresher-course provider.
Community College of Rhode Island
Approved for RN refresher education and identified as the LPN refresher option.
An application, paid fee or refresher-course enrollment does not authorize nursing practice. Wait until the public verification record shows an active license.
“My Rhode Island _____ license expired on _____. I last practiced nursing on _____ and my total practice gap is approximately _____. Please confirm whether I need ordinary reinstatement, a competency test, clinical-proficiency verification or an approved refresher course before I enroll or pay.”
Rhode Island APRN application, renewal and prescribing checks
An active Rhode Island RN license or an active multistate RN license from the APRN’s primary state of residence is a prerequisite for Rhode Island APRN licensure.
RN authority comes first
The APRN must maintain an active Rhode Island RN license or qualifying home-state multistate RN authority.
National certification is verified
The professional certifying organization must send official certification information directly to the Board.
Controlled-substance authority is separate
A Rhode Island CSR and federal DEA registration are required for applicable controlled-substance activity.
Submit the $145 APRN application
Use MyLicense and upload applicant-supplied documents only where the checklist permits.
Arrange the official graduate transcript
The school, Parchment or clearinghouse must send it directly. It must show completion, graduation, degree and advanced pathophysiology, assessment and pharmacology.
Arrange national-certification verification
The certifying organization must send the official letter directly to the Board.
Complete fingerprints when required
A qualifying Rhode Island RN background check obtained within one year of the APRN application may be usable for the APRN application.
Verify every out-of-state APRN license
Some state APRN records are not available through Nursys and must be sent directly from the licensing authority.
Complete CSR and DEA steps in order
Obtain the Rhode Island CSR before applying for the federal DEA registration associated with the Rhode Island business address.
Rhode Island’s current APRN instructions state that controlled substances may not be prescribed by telemedicine from outside Rhode Island. The CSR address must be a Rhode Island clinical space where patients are evaluated in person; a home-only address is not accepted.
Rhode Island nursing programs and 2025 NCLEX results
RIDOH publishes annual first-time NCLEX pass rates for Rhode Island practical-nursing and registered-nursing programs. Pass rate is useful, but students should also verify program approval, national accreditation, tuition, completion rate and clinical placement.
| Program | Credential pathway | 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Community College of Rhode Island | Licensed Practical Nurse | 90.00% |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | Licensed Practical Nurse | 85.00% |
| New England Institute of Technology | Licensed Practical Nurse | 100% |
| Community College of Rhode Island | Registered Nurse | 84.81% |
| New England Institute of Technology | Registered Nurse | 82.14% |
| Rhode Island College | Registered Nurse | 86.05% |
| Salve Regina University | Registered Nurse | 78.57% |
| University of Rhode Island | Registered Nurse | 86.76% |
| Johnson & Wales University | Registered Nurse | 100% |
A single year’s NCLEX pass rate should not be the only enrollment factor. Ask how many graduates tested, how many students completed the program and whether national accreditation meets future employment or graduate-school requirements.
Update your name, address, email or inactive status
Use a permanent personal email
RIDOH advises against relying on a work or school email that may later become inaccessible.
Legal name change
Submit the profile-change form with legal documentation such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Address or home-state change
Provide accepted proof of residency because a PSOR change can alter compact-license status.
Inactive status request
There is no fee to be placed on inactive status, but the nurse cannot practice while inactive.
Protect the registration code
The renewal registration code does not change. Store it securely instead of sharing it by email or phone.
Verify suspicious calls independently
Board staff use the email on file and do not request personal or financial information by telephone.
Rhode Island Board of Nursing phone, email and address
Before calling, open the Nursys result or MyLicense checklist and prepare the legal name, license or application type, document name, submission date and exact status wording.
Main RIDOH professional-licensing contact listed on the nursing page.
Number printed on current RN/LPN and APRN application-requirement documents.
Current contact printed on official nursing application instructions.
Use the subject requested on the applicable profile-change form.
Questions concerning compact status and primary-state rules.
Weekdays. General RIDOH office hours extend to 4:30 p.m.
RIDOH licensing address
Rhode Island Department of Health
Office of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education
3 Capitol Hill, Room 103
Providence, RI 02908-5097
Before visiting
Parking is restricted until 3:00 p.m. Healthcare-professional licensing visitors must use the lobby QR-code check-in process and wait for staff assistance.
“I am contacting the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education about my _____ application or license. My legal name is _____. I submitted _____ on _____. Nursys or MyLicense currently shows _____. Please identify the exact remaining action and whether the license currently authorizes practice.”
Do not email a Social Security number, full financial information or sensitive identity documents unless the official application or a verified RIDOH staff instruction specifically requires the document through an approved route.
Rhode Island Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Rhode Island nursing license?
Use Nursys QuickConfirm for a time-sensitive RN, LPN or APRN verification. Confirm the license type, status, expiration, compact authority and disciplinary information.
How often do Rhode Island nursing licenses renew?
Rhode Island nursing licenses renew every two years on an odd/even schedule tied to the license record.
When does a Rhode Island nursing license expire?
The license expires March 1 of its scheduled renewal year. A timely renewal becomes effective March 2 and expires March 1 two years later.
When should Rhode Island nurses submit renewal?
The nursing regulation directs scheduled licensees to submit the renewal application and fee before February 15. Notices are generally sent about 60 days before expiration.
What if my Rhode Island license expired March 1, 2026?
As of July 20, 2026, that expiration is already past. Stop practicing under the lapsed license and contact the Board or use the applicable reinstatement process.
How much is Rhode Island RN renewal?
The active Rhode Island Department of Health fee regulation lists RN renewal at $135 for the two-year cycle.
How much is Rhode Island LPN renewal?
The active fee regulation lists LPN renewal at $45 for the two-year cycle.
How many CE hours does a Rhode Island nurse need?
A renewing nurse needs 10 approved contact hours during the two-year licensing cycle. Two of those hours must concern substance abuse.
Is Alzheimer’s training required?
Yes. Rhode Island requires one hour of Alzheimer’s disease training once during the nurse’s career.
How long should CE documents be kept?
Rhode Island instructs nurses to retain continuing-education completion documents for four years.
How do I check a Rhode Island nursing application?
Log in to MyLicense, open the submitted application and select View Checklist to see documents received and requirements still incomplete.
How long does Rhode Island nursing licensure take?
RIDOH currently estimates six to eight weeks after receiving a complete initial application. Missing documents, fingerprints, verifications or disclosures can extend processing.
How much is Rhode Island RN endorsement?
The active fee regulation lists RN endorsement at $135. Nursys verification and the fingerprint-supported national background check are separate costs.
How much is Rhode Island LPN endorsement?
The active fee regulation lists LPN endorsement at $45. Fingerprints and any verification-service fees are separate.
Is Rhode Island a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Rhode Island rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective January 1, 2024.
How much is the nursing fingerprint background check?
The Rhode Island Attorney General publishes a $45 fee for the fingerprint-supported national background check, before any card-processing charge.
What is the Rhode Island nursing licensing phone number?
The main RIDOH Licensing Unit number is 401-222-5960. Current nursing application instructions also list 401-222-5700.
Rhode Island nursing pages used for this guide
Fees, application forms, office contacts and compact requirements can change. Recheck the relevant official page before submitting payment, fingerprints or identity documents.
For employers and public users
Use Nursys for a fresh verification, match the exact RN, LPN or APRN record and document status, expiration, compact authority, restrictions and verification date.
For applicants and licensees
Use MyLicense for applications and renewal, View Checklist for missing requirements and the public verification record before beginning or returning to nursing practice.