District of Columbia nursing license by endorsement
How a nurse licensed in another state gets a District of Columbia license by endorsement: the steps, background check, temporary license, renewal and continuing education, with the board's own sources.
| At a glance | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Licensing board | District of Columbia Board of Nursing |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Not in the compact |
| Fingerprint background check | Required. Board lists a combined $280 application and criminal background check fee; fingerprints taken through Fieldprint. |
| Nursys license verification | Accepted |
| RN renewal cycle | Every 2 years, fee $145 |
| Continuing education per renewal | 24 contact hours. RN renewal requires 24 hours including 2 hours LGBTQ and 2.5 hours in public health priority topics; first-time renewals exempt from CE proof. |
How to get your District of Columbia license, step by step
- Plan for endorsement. District of Columbia is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026. A nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the District of Columbia Board of 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.
- Pay the fee and send documents. 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 District of Columbia
- Credentials issued on or after June 16, 2024 expire on the last day of the holder's birth month.
- RN renewal also requires a separate $50 name-search criminal background check; renewal needs no fingerprints.
- Nursys license verification for endorsement costs $30, separate from the DC fee.
What RNs earn in District of Columbia
The BLS median for registered nurses in District of Columbia is $50.27 per hour, about $104,550 a year. See the full RN salary guide for District of Columbia.
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48.94 | $101,800 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
RN jobs in District of Columbia · District of Columbia state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide · Endorsement checklist
Sources
These facts come from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing web pages below. Checked 2026-10-16.
- dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/RE (endorsement application)
- dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/LI (background check)
- dchealth.dc.gov/bon (board website)
- dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/OS (renewal fee)
Requirements change. Always confirm with the District of Columbia Board of Nursing before you apply or accept a start date. This guide is general information and not legal advice.
Common questions
Is District of Columbia a nurse licensure compact state?
District of Columbia is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026. A license by endorsement is the route for nurses licensed elsewhere.
How much continuing education do District of Columbia nurses need?
RN renewal requires 24 contact hours of continuing education. RN renewal requires 24 hours including 2 hours LGBTQ and 2.5 hours in public health priority topics; first-time renewals exempt from CE proof. Licenses renew every 2 years.
How long does it take to get a District of Columbia license?
The District of Columbia Board of Nursing does not publish a fixed time. It depends on how fast your verification and background check arrive, so apply before you accept a start date.
Does Valorem Health help with District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia? 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
45+ Registered Nurse roles in District of Columbia, 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 reportTop-paying employers shown · your District of Columbia list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- The MedStar-Georgetown Medical Center, Inc.Washington, DC · 2 wage offers$55.66/ hr$48–$64
- 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
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your District of Columbia list
2What they are offering now
5805 RN postings with published pay in the US, 5080 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 RN roles
- Registered Nurse, HospicePermanent$90k–$95k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.