Returning to Nursing in New Hampshire

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the New Hampshire Board of Nursing · 2026-06-22

The New Hampshire RN reinstatement fee is $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08), plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No formal grace period. Nurses must renew before their license expires to avoid lapsing. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.

What your lapse length means in New Hampshire

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (New Hampshire: $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (New Hampshire: $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (New Hampshire: $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08)) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in New Hampshire.

Refresher course rules in New Hampshire

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: The trigger is practice hours, not lapse length: RNs who have not been active in nursing practice for at least 400 hours in the 4 years immediately before applying must complete a board approved re entry program before an active license is granted. Practice under another state's license counts toward the hours. Separately, a license expired one year or more requires a full initial application with a criminal background check; under one year uses the reinstatement application.
What it takes: The re entry program is a refresher course of at least 120 hours, 40 theory and 80 clinical, completed in no more than 6 months, through a structured in person course or a board approved online course with a locally arranged clinical site. You must apply for licensure and hold a temporary New Hampshire license before starting; the temporary license only allows practice under the supervision of the re entry course instructor.
Re-examination: The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for re entry or reinstatement; the published pathway is the 120 hour re entry program. Confirm your case with the board.

New Hampshire is an NLC state and its nursing board sits under the OPLC. The 400 hour standard is the board's published statement citing RSA 326-B:16.

Source: New Hampshire OPLC, re entry process for RNs and LPNs, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in New Hampshire

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: New Hampshire Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

New Hampshire reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in New Hampshire?: The New Hampshire RN reinstatement fee is $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08), plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the New Hampshire Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my New Hampshire nursing license?: The trigger is practice hours, not lapse length: RNs who have not been active in nursing practice for at least 400 hours in the 4 years immediately before applying must complete a board approved re entry program before an active license is granted. Practice under another state's license counts toward the hours. Separately, a license expired one year or more requires a full initial application with a criminal background check; under one year uses the reinstatement application. The re entry program is a refresher course of at least 120 hours, 40 theory and 80 clinical, completed in no more than 6 months, through a structured in person course or a board approved online course with a locally arranged clinical site. You must apply for licensure and hold a temporary New Hampshire license before starting; the temporary license only allows practice under the supervision of the re entry course instructor.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my New Hampshire license back?: The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for re entry or reinstatement; the published pathway is the 120 hour re entry program. Confirm your case with the board.
Is there a grace period after my New Hampshire license expires?: New Hampshire's published rule: No formal grace period. Nurses must renew before their license expires to avoid lapsing. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does New Hampshire license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in New Hampshire

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the New Hampshire Board of Nursing · 2026-06-22

Grace period: No formal grace period. Nurses must renew before their license expires to avoid lapsing. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.

What your lapse length means in New Hampshire

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (New Hampshire: $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (New Hampshire: $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (New Hampshire: $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08)) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in New Hampshire.

Refresher course rules in New Hampshire

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: The trigger is practice hours, not lapse length: RNs who have not been active in nursing practice for at least 400 hours in the 4 years immediately before applying must complete a board approved re entry program before an active license is granted. Practice under another state's license counts toward the hours. Separately, a license expired one year or more requires a full initial application with a criminal background check; under one year uses the reinstatement application.
What it takes: The re entry program is a refresher course of at least 120 hours, 40 theory and 80 clinical, completed in no more than 6 months, through a structured in person course or a board approved online course with a locally arranged clinical site. You must apply for licensure and hold a temporary New Hampshire license before starting; the temporary license only allows practice under the supervision of the re entry course instructor.
Re-examination: The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for re entry or reinstatement; the published pathway is the 120 hour re entry program. Confirm your case with the board.

New Hampshire is an NLC state and its nursing board sits under the OPLC. The 400 hour standard is the board's published statement citing RSA 326-B:16.

Source: New Hampshire OPLC, re entry process for RNs and LPNs, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in New Hampshire

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

New Hampshire reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire RN reinstatement fee is $116 ($88 license fee plus a $28 Professionals Health Program fee; New Hampshire charges the same fee for licensure, renewal, and reinstatement per Plc 1002.33 and 1001.08), plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the New Hampshire Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my New Hampshire nursing license?

The trigger is practice hours, not lapse length: RNs who have not been active in nursing practice for at least 400 hours in the 4 years immediately before applying must complete a board approved re entry program before an active license is granted. Practice under another state's license counts toward the hours. Separately, a license expired one year or more requires a full initial application with a criminal background check; under one year uses the reinstatement application. The re entry program is a refresher course of at least 120 hours, 40 theory and 80 clinical, completed in no more than 6 months, through a structured in person course or a board approved online course with a locally arranged clinical site. You must apply for licensure and hold a temporary New Hampshire license before starting; the temporary license only allows practice under the supervision of the re entry course instructor.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my New Hampshire license back?

The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for re entry or reinstatement; the published pathway is the 120 hour re entry program. Confirm your case with the board.

Is there a grace period after my New Hampshire license expires?

New Hampshire's published rule: No formal grace period. Nurses must renew before their license expires to avoid lapsing. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does New Hampshire license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in New Hampshire

What your lapse length means in New Hampshire

Refresher course rules in New Hampshire

Steps to reinstate in New Hampshire

New Hampshire reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for New Hampshire nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in New Hampshire

What your lapse length means in New Hampshire

Refresher course rules in New Hampshire

Steps to reinstate in New Hampshire

New Hampshire reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for New Hampshire nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free