Returning to Nursing in North Dakota

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

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the North Dakota Board of Nursing · 2026-06-05

The North Dakota RN reinstatement fee is $220, 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: Late renewal available with an additional late fee ($280 for RN, $260 for LPN); practicing on an expired license is prohibited

What your lapse length means in North Dakota

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Late renewal window (likely)	Renewal fee + late penalty (North Dakota: $280). Total is usually $100–$300 above the standard fee.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (North Dakota: $220) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (North Dakota: $220) + 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 North Dakota.

Refresher course rules in North Dakota

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: North Dakota calls it reactivation, and the trigger is practice hours rather than lapse length: relicensure requires at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding 4 years. Practice in another jurisdiction counts (NDAC 54-02-05-05); hours worked in another regulated profession do not. Nurses short of the hours can qualify with a refresher course completed within the preceding year, graduation from a nursing program in the last 4 years, completion of a clinical nursing course in a board recognized program, or other evidence of nursing competence acceptable to the board.
What it takes: The board approves specific refresher courses (currently Minnesota State Community and Technical College and South Dakota State University) and publishes no minimum hour count of its own. Refresher contact hours may also be applied to the first renewal cycle after reactivation, and the board offers a nursing education scholarship for refresher applicants. The RN reactivation fee is 220 dollars.
Re-examination: The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for reactivation at any lapse length (the full NDAC 54-02-05 chapter contains none); competency is shown through practice hours, CE, a refresher, or other acceptable evidence, and a temporary limited license is the published fallback. Confirm your case with the board.
CE catch-up: Reactivation requires verifying the standard CE requirement of at least 12 contact hours within the preceding 2 years; no separate reinstatement CE is published.

Applicants who cannot immediately document competency may be considered for reactivation to a temporary limited status.

Source: North Dakota Board of Nursing, renew or reactivate your nursing license, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in North Dakota

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: North Dakota Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

North Dakota reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in North Dakota?: The North Dakota RN reinstatement fee is $220, 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 North Dakota Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my North Dakota nursing license?: North Dakota calls it reactivation, and the trigger is practice hours rather than lapse length: relicensure requires at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding 4 years. Practice in another jurisdiction counts (NDAC 54-02-05-05); hours worked in another regulated profession do not. Nurses short of the hours can qualify with a refresher course completed within the preceding year, graduation from a nursing program in the last 4 years, completion of a clinical nursing course in a board recognized program, or other evidence of nursing competence acceptable to the board. The board approves specific refresher courses (currently Minnesota State Community and Technical College and South Dakota State University) and publishes no minimum hour count of its own. Refresher contact hours may also be applied to the first renewal cycle after reactivation, and the board offers a nursing education scholarship for refresher applicants. The RN reactivation fee is 220 dollars.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my North Dakota license back?: The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for reactivation at any lapse length (the full NDAC 54-02-05 chapter contains none); competency is shown through practice hours, CE, a refresher, or other acceptable evidence, and a temporary limited license is the published fallback. Confirm your case with the board.
Is there a grace period after my North Dakota license expires?: North Dakota's published rule: Late renewal available with an additional late fee ($280 for RN, $260 for LPN); 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in North Dakota

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the North Dakota Board of Nursing · 2026-06-05

Grace period: Late renewal available with an additional late fee ($280 for RN, $260 for LPN); practicing on an expired license is prohibited

What your lapse length means in North Dakota

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Late renewal window (likely)	Renewal fee + late penalty (North Dakota: $280). Total is usually $100–$300 above the standard fee.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (North Dakota: $220) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (North Dakota: $220) + 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 North Dakota.

Refresher course rules in North Dakota

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: North Dakota calls it reactivation, and the trigger is practice hours rather than lapse length: relicensure requires at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding 4 years. Practice in another jurisdiction counts (NDAC 54-02-05-05); hours worked in another regulated profession do not. Nurses short of the hours can qualify with a refresher course completed within the preceding year, graduation from a nursing program in the last 4 years, completion of a clinical nursing course in a board recognized program, or other evidence of nursing competence acceptable to the board.
What it takes: The board approves specific refresher courses (currently Minnesota State Community and Technical College and South Dakota State University) and publishes no minimum hour count of its own. Refresher contact hours may also be applied to the first renewal cycle after reactivation, and the board offers a nursing education scholarship for refresher applicants. The RN reactivation fee is 220 dollars.
Re-examination: The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for reactivation at any lapse length (the full NDAC 54-02-05 chapter contains none); competency is shown through practice hours, CE, a refresher, or other acceptable evidence, and a temporary limited license is the published fallback. Confirm your case with the board.
CE catch-up: Reactivation requires verifying the standard CE requirement of at least 12 contact hours within the preceding 2 years; no separate reinstatement CE is published.

Applicants who cannot immediately document competency may be considered for reactivation to a temporary limited status.

Source: North Dakota Board of Nursing, renew or reactivate your nursing license, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in North Dakota

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.

North Dakota reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in North Dakota?

The North Dakota RN reinstatement fee is $220, 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 North Dakota Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my North Dakota nursing license?

North Dakota calls it reactivation, and the trigger is practice hours rather than lapse length: relicensure requires at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding 4 years. Practice in another jurisdiction counts (NDAC 54-02-05-05); hours worked in another regulated profession do not. Nurses short of the hours can qualify with a refresher course completed within the preceding year, graduation from a nursing program in the last 4 years, completion of a clinical nursing course in a board recognized program, or other evidence of nursing competence acceptable to the board. The board approves specific refresher courses (currently Minnesota State Community and Technical College and South Dakota State University) and publishes no minimum hour count of its own. Refresher contact hours may also be applied to the first renewal cycle after reactivation, and the board offers a nursing education scholarship for refresher applicants. The RN reactivation fee is 220 dollars.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my North Dakota license back?

The board publishes no NCLEX retake or jurisprudence exam requirement for reactivation at any lapse length (the full NDAC 54-02-05 chapter contains none); competency is shown through practice hours, CE, a refresher, or other acceptable evidence, and a temporary limited license is the published fallback. Confirm your case with the board.

Is there a grace period after my North Dakota license expires?

North Dakota's published rule: Late renewal available with an additional late fee ($280 for RN, $260 for LPN); 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in North Dakota

What your lapse length means in North Dakota

Refresher course rules in North Dakota

Steps to reinstate in North Dakota

North Dakota reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for North Dakota nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in North Dakota

What your lapse length means in North Dakota

Refresher course rules in North Dakota

Steps to reinstate in North Dakota

North Dakota reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for North Dakota nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free