Montana

" The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between states that allows nurses to have one license but the ability to practice in other states that are part of the agreement.

Originally developed in 2000, in 2024 the license has grown to include 39 states. To help streamline the process for nurses the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) was implemented in 2018 and included standards for licensure which the original compact license was lacking.

Each state needs a competent medical workforce to meet the needs of its citizens. However, the requirements for some health care professions are not the same in each state. That is why it is important to find out what is required of you as a future or current registered nurse before moving across state lines. Contact information is located at the bottom of this page.

Endorsements

Montana refers to endorsements as license by credentialing. The general requirements for license by credentialing include:

• A complete application fee of $200.00. You can find the application form here.
• Proof of passing the NCLEX or a Board-recognized license exam.
• Proof of all states or locations where you have been licensed in for the last two years. You may verify your license through www.nursys.com.
• Foreign transcripts must be evaluated.
• Nurses attending training abroad may need to provide proof of English language proficiency by exam.
• A fingerprint/background check. You must obtain a fingerprint card from a law enforcement agency, which costs $27.25 to process.

If your state does not participate in the Nursys verification system, you must request verification directly from the board that issued your license. For this, you need to fill out the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Verification Request form, which incurs a fee of $20.

For further details, see Montana Board of Nursing.

Continuing Competency

Montana does not have mandatory continuing education requirements for renewal. However, RNs are still expected to maintain their competence through continuing education voluntarily. Renewal occurs during even-numbered years on December 31, and the cost is $100. For more information, the renewal application can be found here.

This state requires nurses to hold current ACLS certification.

Contact Information

Physical Address 301 South Park, 4th Floor
Helena, MT 59601

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513

General Fax: 406-841-2305
General email: nurse@mt.gov

Telephone Numbers:

• Information regarding endorsement: 406-841-2202
• For renewal or name changes: 406-841-2205
• For continuing education: 406-841-2380

To contact Board Management, you can reach Cynthia Gustafson, PhD, RN, the Executive Officer, at 406-841-2380 or via email at cgustafson@mt.gov

For further details, visit the Montana Board of Nursing website.

FAQ

A link to the Montana State Nursing Board’s frequently asked questions can be found here.