Washington, D.C. Nurse Licensing Guide

At least 30 days upon receipt of all required materials.

Renewal cadence: Every 2 years. RN licenses must be renewed in even years by June 30th. LPN licenses must be renewed in odd years by June 30th. Renewal opens in mid-April.
Renewal fee: $195.00 if renewed on time. Late renewals will incur an additional fee of $85. Renewal fees are the same for RNs and LPNs.
Required contact hours: 24 hours for RNs and 14 hours for LPNs. You can find more information on education requirements here.
You can view renewal FAQs here.
Renewal can only be completed through the portal online. Click here to begin your renewal application.

Please allow the BON 30 days for processing of your application prior to checking your status. You can check the status here.
You can find a list of helpful contact info, forms, fees, and instructions here.
An application that remains incomplete for 90 days or more from the date of submission shall be considered abandoned and closed by the Board

Submit an application online and pay the fee. The process is similar for RNs and LPNs. You can view the RN checklist here and the LPN checklist here.
Upload a copy of a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Upload proof of name change if the name on your application is different from the name on any of your supporting documents.
Upload a passport‐type photo. The photo should be a front-facing headshot with a plain white background.
Provide a background check with fingerprints. Once you have made payment for your application, you will be sent an email with a code and link to schedule your fingerprinting appointment.

Request verification of licensure via Nursys from your original state of licensure and the state where you are currently employed. If these states do not participate in Nursys, you will need to contact that state's BON and request verification be sent to the Washington DC BON via email to the DC Board of Nursing at verifications.bon@dc.gov.