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How to Get a Nurse (RN/LPN) License in Iowa (2026)

Quick answer

Initial examination and endorsement licenses run 24–36 months.

Renewal

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration.

View official source

Continuing education

36 hours

View official source

Check the official requirementsRemind me before my renewal

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

How do I get this license?

  1. Check the licensing authority

    Board

    Iowa Board of Nursing

    Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
    Iowa Board of Nursing
    Official source

    Official agency page

    Open the official agency page

    Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
    Instructions for Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses
    Official source

  2. Prepare your application

    Apply with the agency

    Open the official agency page

    Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
    Instructions for Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses
    Official source

  3. Confirm your next step with the agency

    Review the official instructions for your situation before applying.

    Open the official agency page

What else should I know?

Agency guidance

Initial examination and endorsement licenses run 24–36 months.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
The board issues licenses by endorsement and examination for a 24- to 36-month period.
Official source

Agency guidance

Online renewal opens up to 60 days before the license expiration date.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
A licensee may renew up to 60 days before the license expiration date.
Official source

Agency guidance

Examination application total is $143 including a $50 background check; endorsement total is $169 including a $50 background check. Renewal is $99.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Examination | $143.00 (Includes the $93 application fee and the $50 fee for the criminal history background check.) Endorsement | $169.00 (Includes the $119 application fee and the $50 fee for criminal history background check.) Includes $99.00 renewal fee plus the $50.00 late fee
Official source

Agency guidance

Effective June 4, 2025, the Board removed its requirement to approve CE providers and CE content.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Effective June 4, 2025, the Iowa Board of Nursing updated its administrative rules. The update removed the Board’s requirement to approve continuing education (CE) providers and CE content.
Official source

Agency guidance

Nurses caring for children or dependent adults in Iowa must complete the corresponding mandatory-reporting course, or both courses when caring for both populations. Certificates issued under the post-July 1, 2019 program last three years; each course counts as two CE contact hours.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Nurses providing care to dependent adults or children in Iowa must take a mandatory reporter course. If you care for BOTH, you must complete both mandatory reporting courses. If you took mandatory reporting after July 1, 2019, you took the Iowa Department of Human Services course. Your certificate lasts for three years. Completion of each course counts as two contact hours for continuing education.
Official source

When do I renew, and is CE required?

Renewal

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration. The board has elected to not impose a monetary penalty for missing this deadline.
Official source

License term in years

3 years

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle.
Official source

Continuing education hours

36 hours

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
The requirement is 36 contact hours of continuing education to renew any license.
Official source

Continuing education topics

Choose CE appropriate to nursing practice; current national nursing certification/recertification or a nurse residency program is recognized as 36 hours. Keep documentation for four years.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Current national certification or recertification related to the practice of nursing. The national certification or recertification is recognized as 36 contact hours of continuing education. Completion of a nurse residency program. A residency program is recognized as 36 contact hours of continuing education. Your CE documentation should be ready to turn in for audit purposes and kept for four years.
Official source

Have a license or permit? Use the expiration date printed on it to set up your calendar and reminders.

Add to my calendarRemind me before my renewal

What does it cost?

Application fee

$93

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Includes the $93 application fee and the $50 fee for the criminal history background check.
Official source

Exam fee

$200

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
$200.00 paid online to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Official source

Confirm the charges and conditions for your application with the official agency.

What are the common questions?

How often do I renew a registered nurse and lpn renewal and continuing education license in Iowa?

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration.

Source and quotation
License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration. The board has elected to not impose a monetary penalty for missing this deadline.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Which official sources support this guide?

Official sources and verification (14)

Last verified Oct 25, 2026. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.

Official agency page

Open the official agency page

https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwifery/nursing-licensure/renewals

Instructions for Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Apply with the agency

Open the official agency page

https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/health-professions/nursing-professional-midwifery/nursing-licensure/renewals

Instructions for Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

Initial examination and endorsement licenses run 24–36 months.

Initial examination and endorsement licenses run 24–36 months.

The board issues licenses by endorsement and examination for a 24- to 36-month period.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

Online renewal opens up to 60 days before the license expiration date.

Online renewal opens up to 60 days before the license expiration date.

A licensee may renew up to 60 days before the license expiration date.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

Examination application total is $143 including a $50 background check; endorsement total is $169 including a $50 background check. Renewal is $99.

Examination application total is $143 including a $50 background check; endorsement total is $169 including a $50 background check. Renewal is $99.

Examination | $143.00 (Includes the $93 application fee and the $50 fee for the criminal history background check.) Endorsement | $169.00 (Includes the $119 application fee and the $50 fee for criminal history background check.) Includes $99.00 renewal fee plus the $50.00 late fee
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

Effective June 4, 2025, the Board removed its requirement to approve CE providers and CE content.

Effective June 4, 2025, the Board removed its requirement to approve CE providers and CE content.

Effective June 4, 2025, the Iowa Board of Nursing updated its administrative rules. The update removed the Board’s requirement to approve continuing education (CE) providers and CE content.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

Nurses caring for children or dependent adults in Iowa must complete the corresponding mandatory-reporting course, or both courses when caring for both populations. Certificates issued under the post-July 1, 2019 program last three years; each course counts as two CE contact hours.

Nurses caring for children or dependent adults in Iowa must complete the corresponding mandatory-reporting course, or both courses when caring for both populations. Certificates issued under the post-July 1, 2019 program last three years; each course counts as two CE contact hours.

Nurses providing care to dependent adults or children in Iowa must take a mandatory reporter course. If you care for BOTH, you must complete both mandatory reporting courses. If you took mandatory reporting after July 1, 2019, you took the Iowa Department of Human Services course. Your certificate lasts for three years. Completion of each course counts as two contact hours for continuing education.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

License term in years

3 years

3

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Renewal

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration.

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration. Applies to: Iowa RN and LPN licenses; the Board does not impose a monetary penalty for missing the 30-day advance renewal deadline.

License renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle. Expiration is the 15th day of the licensee’s birth month. Iowa law requires completion of the renewal 30 days before expiration. The board has elected to not impose a monetary penalty for missing this deadline.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Continuing education hours

36 hours

36

The requirement is 36 contact hours of continuing education to renew any license.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Board

Iowa Board of Nursing

Iowa Board of Nursing

Iowa Board of Nursing
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Fees / Application

$93

93

Includes the $93 application fee and the $50 fee for the criminal history background check.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Fees / Exam

$200

200

$200.00 paid online to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Continuing education topics

Choose CE appropriate to nursing practice; current national nursing certification/recertification or a nurse residency program is recognized as 36 hours. Keep documentation for four years.

Choose CE appropriate to nursing practice; current national nursing certification/recertification or a nurse residency program is recognized as 36 hours. Keep documentation for four years.

Current national certification or recertification related to the practice of nursing. The national certification or recertification is recognized as 36 contact hours of continuing education. Completion of a nurse residency program. A residency program is recognized as 36 contact hours of continuing education. Your CE documentation should be ready to turn in for audit purposes and kept for four years.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Not yet verified: license fee, required hours, exam — see the official agency.

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Following: How to Get a Nurse (RN/LPN) License in Iowa (2026)

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What should I explore next?

Registered nurse and LPN renewal and continuing education in neighboring states

Neighboring states use Census adjacency data, including water and point boundaries.

Related licenses in Iowa

What’s my next step?

Continue with the official agencyRemind me before my renewal

Last verified Oct 25, 2026.

Official sources (4)

Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.