California nursing license by endorsement
How a nurse licensed in another state gets a California license by endorsement: the application fee ($350 for an RN), the steps, background check, temporary license, renewal and continuing education, with the board's own sources.
| At a glance | California |
|---|---|
| Licensing board | California Board of Registered Nursing |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Not in the compact |
| RN license by endorsement, application fee | $350 |
| LPN/LVN license by endorsement, application fee | $300 |
| Fingerprint background check | Required. Live Scan must be done in California; otherwise FD-258 hard card with $49 Board processing fee. Apply before fingerprinting. |
| Nursys license verification | Accepted |
| Temporary license while you wait | Temporary license. $100; valid six months; request after endorsement application; DOJ and FBI fingerprint results required before issuance. |
| RN renewal cycle | Every 2 years, fee $190 |
| Continuing education per renewal | 30 contact hours. 30 contact hours every two years; exempt first two years after initial licensure except a one-hour implicit bias course. |
| Processing time, per the board | Board's mandatory timeframe: US endorsement applications 10-12 weeks; temporary license 2-3 weeks. |
How to get your California license, step by step
- Plan for endorsement. California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026. A nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California Board of Registered Nursing for licensure by endorsement before working here, even with a multistate license.
- Start the application on the board's site. Use the board's licensure by endorsement page.
- Verify your license through Nursys. Request verification from each state where you are or were licensed. Boards that use Nursys receive it electronically.
- Complete the fingerprint background check. The board requires fingerprints for endorsement applicants. Follow its instructions for where to get them taken.
- Ask about the temporary license. The board offers a temporary license while the application is processed. Check the conditions before you plan a start date.
- Pay the fee and send documents. The application fee is $350 for an RN. Fingerprint and vendor fees can be separate. Keep copies of everything you submit.
- Tell your recruiter your status. Employers set their own start dates around licensing, so your recruiter needs to know where your application stands.
Specific to California
- LVNs are licensed by a separate board (BVNPT); LVN endorsement fee of $300 is from the BVNPT fee schedule.
- RN endorsement requires a passed NCLEX-RN or SBTPE; the Canadian exam is not accepted.
- Nursys verifications expire 90 days after request, so request after submitting the endorsement application.
What RNs earn in California
The BLS median for registered nurses in California is $67.47 per hour, about $140,330 a year. See the full RN salary guide for California.
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $100.45 | $208,940 |
| Vallejo, CA | $92.53 | $192,470 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90.40 | $188,020 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $86.01 | $178,900 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $82.88 | $172,390 |
| Modesto, CA | $81.47 | $169,460 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
RN jobs in California · California state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide · Endorsement checklist
Sources
These facts come from the California Board of Registered Nursing web pages below. Checked 2026-10-16.
- rn.ca.gov/ (board website)
- rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-end.shtml (endorsement application, Nursys verification, state notes)
- rn.ca.gov/consumers/fees.shtml (fees, renewal fee)
- bvnpt.ca.gov/licensees/fees.html (fees)
- rn.ca.gov/applicants/fpinstruct.shtml (background check)
- rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-temp.shtml (temporary license)
- rn.ca.gov/licensees/lic-renewal.shtml (renewal)
- rn.ca.gov/licensees/ce-renewal.shtml (continuing education)
- rn.ca.gov/times.shtml (processing time)
Requirements change. Always confirm with the California Board of Registered Nursing before you apply or accept a start date. This guide is general information and not legal advice.
Common questions
How much does a California nursing license by endorsement cost?
The California Board of Registered Nursing lists an application fee of $350 for an RN and $300 for an LPN/LVN. Fingerprint and vendor fees can be charged separately.
Is California a nurse licensure compact state?
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026. A license by endorsement is the route for nurses licensed elsewhere.
Can I work in California while my license is processed?
The board offers a temporary license. $100; valid six months; request after endorsement application; DOJ and FBI fingerprint results required before issuance. Confirm the conditions with the board.
How much continuing education do California nurses need?
RN renewal requires 30 contact hours of continuing education. 30 contact hours every two years; exempt first two years after initial licensure except a one-hour implicit bias course. Licenses renew every 2 years.
How long does it take to get a California license?
The board says: Board's mandatory timeframe: US endorsement applications 10-12 weeks; temporary license 2-3 weeks.
Does Valorem Health help with California licensing?
Your recruiter tells you which license each role needs and what the facility requires. You apply to the board, and our credentialing team helps with documents for onboarding.
Moving to California? See what RNs get paid near you.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
2,300+ Registered Nurse roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your RN pay reportCalifornia · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$108.25/ hr$94–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 16 postings$106.18/ hr$59–$119
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 8 postings$103.75/ hr$90–$113
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 7 postings$85.12/ hr$73–$111
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
536 RN postings with published pay in California, 518 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 536 RN roles
- RN Float PoolPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
- RN Physical RehabilitationPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
+ 534 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.