Nursing License Requirements in Iowa 2026
Iowa licenses both Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Applicants must complete a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN before practicing. Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so nurses who hold an active, unencumbered multistate license from another compact state can practice in Iowa without a separate Iowa application.
The Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON) sets the requirements for RN and LPN licensure in the state. Whether you’re a new graduate, a nurse licensed in another state, or an internationally educated nurse, the steps are largely the same: complete a board-approved program, clear a background check, and pass the national licensing exam. The main variation is whether you need to retake the exam, which endorsement applicants generally don’t. If you’re researching Iowa Certified Nursing Assistant requirements instead, that process runs through a separate state registry.
Use the links below to jump to the requirements for your license type and situation.
- LPN license requirements in Iowa
- RN license requirements in Iowa
- Iowa’s compact state status
- License renewal requirements
- Iowa nursing resources
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LPN Requirements in Iowa
Education Requirements for LPNs
LPN candidates must graduate from a practical nursing program approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Iowa-based programs are approved directly by the Board. Programs from other states are accepted if that state’s board of nursing approves them. Note that RN students in Iowa cannot be licensed as LPNs mid-program. The two paths are separate.
A list of approved practical nursing programs in Iowa is available on the Iowa Board of Nursing’s website. If you completed your program in another state, the Board applies the same acceptance process, provided the program holds active state approval.
Application Process for LPNs
Applications are submitted through the Iowa Board of Nursing’s online licensure portal. Fingerprints are required and should be completed before or alongside your application. Iowa currently uses Fieldprint as its primary fingerprinting method. Paper fingerprint card packets are available in limited circumstances. Check the Board’s current application instructions to determine which process applies to you.
The current fee is $143 for the application and background check. Verify the current amount on the Iowa Board’s website before applying. Official transcripts must come directly from the school where you completed your LPN program. The application packet includes a checklist of required materials.
A criminal conviction doesn’t automatically disqualify an applicant. The Board evaluates each case individually. Applicants may choose to include letters of recommendation.
NCLEX-PN
After the Iowa Board approves your application, you’ll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) from Pearson VUE. You must schedule and sit for the NCLEX-PN within the window specified in the ATT. Missing that window may require re-registration or additional steps under the current Iowa Board and Pearson VUE rules. The exam fee to Pearson VUE is $200.
The NCLEX-PN is registered and paid for separately through Pearson VUE’s website. A candidate bulletin is available on the Pearson site, and the Iowa Board requests that applicants review it before scheduling.
LPN Scope Additions: IV Therapy and Supervision
Iowa LPNs who want to supervise other nurses or perform IV therapy must complete additional training before doing so. LPNs employed as supervisors in long-term care facilities are generally expected to complete this training within six months of starting the role. Verify the current deadline and approved training options with the Iowa Board before proceeding. One exception exists: LPNs enrolled in an RN program within a year of graduation may request a waiver.
Endorsement: Out-of-State LPN Applicants
LPNs licensed in other states apply for licensure by endorsement. Requirements include transcripts (sent directly from the school), fingerprints, and license verification from the original state of licensure. The endorsement fee is $169 and covers both the application and background check. Verify the current amount on the Iowa Board’s website before applying.
International nurses must have their credentials evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). If the nursing education was not conducted in English, candidates must also pass an approved English proficiency exam, such as the TOEFL or IELTS. International applicants use a separate application form available on the Iowa Board’s website.
RN Requirements in Iowa
RN Education Requirements
RN candidates must complete a professional nursing program approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Programs are approved at the associate’s degree (ADN) level and above. Students who attended an out-of-state program can still apply to the Iowa Board for their exam. The program needs to be in good standing with its own state board.
Some out-of-state programs allow students to complete clinical requirements within Iowa. The Iowa Board retains some oversight in that process.
Application Process for RNs
After graduation, your school sends an official transcript directly to the Iowa Board. You’ll complete the background check through Iowa’s current process (the Board currently uses Fieldprint for digital fingerprinting) and submit your application and the $143 fee through the online portal. Verify the current fee before applying.
Once the Iowa Board communicates your eligibility to Pearson VUE, you’ll receive your ATT by email or mail. From there, you register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE ($200 fee) and schedule a test at a testing center in Iowa or another state. A candidate handbook is available on the Pearson VUE website.
Candidates who pass will have their license status posted through the Iowa Board’s online portal. Those who don’t pass on the first attempt receive instructions for reapplying and should verify current Board and Pearson VUE fees before reapplying. The Iowa Board retake fee has been $93, but confirm the current amount before submitting.
Processing timelines vary based on application completeness, background check processing, and third-party transcript delivery. The Iowa Board has noted that gathering third-party documentation can take several weeks. Check your application status through the Board’s online portal.
RN Licensure by Endorsement
RNs licensed in other U.S. states apply through the endorsement process, which requires license verification but not a retake of the NCLEX-RN. Internationally educated nurses who have since been licensed in another state must still provide evidence of a CGFNS credential evaluation or certification. The prior U.S. licensure doesn’t waive that requirement. English proficiency documentation is not required at the endorsement stage.
RNs who pursue advanced practice in Iowa will need a separate license. See Iowa Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) licensure for those requirements.
Iowa and the Nurse Licensure Compact
Iowa is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses who hold a multistate license from another compact state to practice in Iowa without a separate Iowa license. The multistate license is issued by the nurse’s state of primary residence.
If you already hold a multistate license issued by another compact state, do not apply to the Iowa Board. You’re authorized to practice in Iowa as long as that license is active and unencumbered. If you move to Iowa and establish it as your primary residence, current NLC rules require you to apply for an Iowa multistate license within 60 days of the move. Your existing compact license becomes your single-state license from your prior home state once Iowa issues your new multistate license.
Nurses who live in non-compact states must apply for a single-state Iowa license through the standard process described above.
License Renewal in Iowa
Iowa RN and LPN licenses are renewed every three years. License expiration falls on the 15th of the licensee’s birth month. The Iowa Board sends renewal notifications approximately 60 days before expiration, but the responsibility for renewing on time sits with the licensee, not the Board.
Renewal requires completing 36 contact hours of continuing education (CE) within each three-year renewal cycle. Iowa’s 2025 CE rule update removed the Board’s requirement to approve specific CE providers or content. Nurses are responsible for ensuring their CE is relevant to their practice. The renewal fee is currently $99. Verify the current amount on the Iowa Board’s website before renewing, as fees apply to both RNs and LPNs.
Nurses who regularly examine, attend, counsel, or treat children or dependent adults must complete training related to identifying and reporting child and dependent adult abuse. Iowa currently requires 2 contact hours of this training every five years. Verify current timing and documentation requirements with the Iowa Board before your renewal.
Renewal is completed online through the Iowa Board’s licensure portal. You can renew beginning 60 days before your expiration date.
Iowa Nursing Resources
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Iowa accept nursing licenses from other states?
Yes. Nurses licensed in other U.S. states can apply for Iowa licensure by endorsement. This requires license verification, fingerprints, and transcripts, but does not require retaking the NCLEX. Iowa is also a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so nurses who hold an active, unencumbered multistate license from another compact state can practice in Iowa without a separate application.
How long does it take to get an Iowa nursing license?
Processing timelines vary based on application completeness, background check processing, and third-party transcript delivery. The Iowa Board has noted that gathering third-party documentation can take several weeks. Check your application status through the Board’s online portal after submitting.
What are the continuing education requirements for Iowa nurses?
Iowa RNs and LPNs must complete 36 contact hours of CE during each three-year renewal cycle. Iowa’s 2025 CE rule update removed the Board’s requirement to pre-approve CE providers. Nurses are responsible for ensuring CE is relevant to their practice. Renewal is completed online through the Iowa Board’s licensure portal.
Can LPNs perform IV therapy in Iowa?
Iowa LPNs may perform IV therapy and certain supervisory duties only after completing required training under the current Iowa Board scope-of-practice rules. LPNs in long-term care supervisory positions are generally expected to complete this training within six months of starting the role. Verify current training requirements and any applicable waivers with the Iowa Board before beginning either function.
What does Iowa’s compact state status mean for my license?
Iowa is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If you hold an active, unencumbered multistate license from your home compact state, you’re authorized to practice in Iowa without a separate Iowa application. If you move to Iowa permanently, you must apply for an Iowa multistate license within 60 days of establishing Iowa as your primary residence.
Key Takeaways
- Iowa licenses RNs and LPNs through the Iowa Board of Nursing; both paths require a board-approved program, a background check, and passing the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN.
- Iowa is an NLC compact state — nurses with an active, unencumbered multistate license from another compact state can practice in Iowa without having to apply separately.
- Endorsement applicants don’t retake the NCLEX. Out—of—state nurses apply by endorsement and need license verification, fingerprints, and transcripts.
- Renewal is every three years — 36 CE hours are required per renewal cycle, with expiration tied to the licensee’s birth month.
- LPN scope expansions require additional training — IV therapy and supervisory roles in Iowa require additional training beyond initial licensure.
Select your state to find approved RN and LPN programs, application requirements, and licensing information for your jurisdiction.