Getting a Kansas nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Allow 7 to 10 business days before checking status online. Applications stay active 6 months.

Kansas endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Kansas grants licensure by endorsement to a nurse already licensed in another state (single state to single state, multistate to multistate). You choose a single-state or multistate Kansas license.
Processing time: Allow 7 to 10 business days before checking status online. Applications stay active 6 months.
Work while waiting: Yes. The application offers a 120-day temporary permit to practice in Kansas only, which applies only to applicants with a single-state license.
Requirements: Official transcripts, verification of original licensure, a fingerprint background check, and a Social Security number. International graduates also need a credentials evaluation and English proficiency. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $125 RN multistate or $100 single-state, plus a $57 background-check fee. No refunds.
Compact rules: Kansas is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Kansas practice. To get a Kansas multistate license, Kansas must be your primary residence (a Kansas driver's license is required); you may hold only one multistate license.
Military spouse: A dedicated mail-in spouse-of-active-military endorsement form is used (not the online application), requiring copies of the military ID, a Kansas driver's license (for multistate), military orders, and the marriage certificate.

Source: Kansas State Board of Nursing, endorsement application and fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Kansas

1Check whether you even need Kansas endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the Kansas State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: Kansas State Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

Kansas endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Kansas nursing license by endorsement?: Allow 7 to 10 business days before checking status online. Applications stay active 6 months.
Can I work in Kansas while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. The application offers a 120-day temporary permit to practice in Kansas only, which applies only to applicants with a single-state license.
Do I need a Kansas license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: Kansas is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Kansas practice. To get a Kansas multistate license, Kansas must be your primary residence (a Kansas driver's license is required); you may hold only one multistate license.
How much does Kansas endorsement cost?: $125 RN multistate or $100 single-state, plus a $57 background-check fee. No refunds.

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Kansas endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Kansas grants licensure by endorsement to a nurse already licensed in another state (single state to single state, multistate to multistate). You choose a single-state or multistate Kansas license.
Processing time: Allow 7 to 10 business days before checking status online. Applications stay active 6 months.
Work while waiting: Yes. The application offers a 120-day temporary permit to practice in Kansas only, which applies only to applicants with a single-state license.
Requirements: Official transcripts, verification of original licensure, a fingerprint background check, and a Social Security number. International graduates also need a credentials evaluation and English proficiency. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $125 RN multistate or $100 single-state, plus a $57 background-check fee. No refunds.
Compact rules: Kansas is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Kansas practice. To get a Kansas multistate license, Kansas must be your primary residence (a Kansas driver's license is required); you may hold only one multistate license.
Military spouse: A dedicated mail-in spouse-of-active-military endorsement form is used (not the online application), requiring copies of the military ID, a Kansas driver's license (for multistate), military orders, and the marriage certificate.

Source: Kansas State Board of Nursing, endorsement application and fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Kansas

1Check whether you even need Kansas endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the Kansas State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Kansas endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Kansas nursing license by endorsement?

Allow 7 to 10 business days before checking status online. Applications stay active 6 months.

Can I work in Kansas while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. The application offers a 120-day temporary permit to practice in Kansas only, which applies only to applicants with a single-state license.

Do I need a Kansas license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

Kansas is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Kansas practice. To get a Kansas multistate license, Kansas must be your primary residence (a Kansas driver's license is required); you may hold only one multistate license.

How much does Kansas endorsement cost?

$125 RN multistate or $100 single-state, plus a $57 background-check fee. No refunds.