Maine nursing license by endorsement
How a nurse licensed in another state gets a Maine license by endorsement: the steps, background check, temporary license, renewal and continuing education, with the board's own sources.
| At a glance | Maine |
|---|---|
| Licensing board | Maine State Board of Nursing |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Compact state |
| Fingerprint background check | Required. State (Maine CJIS) and FBI criminal history check with fingerprints required for initial and endorsement applicants (32 MRSA 2111). |
| RN renewal cycle | Every 2 years |
How to get your Maine license, step by step
- Check the compact first. If your primary state of residence is a compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Maine without applying again. If you move your residence to Maine, you apply for a Maine license as your new home state.
- Start the application on the board's site. Use the board's licensure by endorsement page.
- Send license verification. Ask each state where you are or were licensed to verify your license to the board. Follow the board's instructions for how it wants to receive it.
- 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 Maine
- Statutory caps: RN endorsement and renewal fees may not exceed $100 each; actual fees set by board rule (not verified).
- RN endorsement requires licensure by an NCLEX-equivalent exam and graduation from a program with standards equivalent to Maine schools.
What RNs earn in Maine
The BLS median for registered nurses in Maine is $39.84 per hour, about $82,860 a year. See the full RN salary guide for Maine.
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year |
|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | $41.76 | $86,860 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $39.84 | $82,860 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $39.82 | $82,830 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
RN jobs in Maine · Maine state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide · Endorsement checklist
Sources
These facts come from the Maine State Board of Nursing web pages below. Checked 2026-10-16.
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec2205-A.html (endorsement application)
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec2111.html (background check)
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec2206.html (renewal)
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec2207.html (state notes)
Requirements change. Always confirm with the Maine State Board of Nursing before you apply or accept a start date. This guide is general information and not legal advice.
Common questions
Is Maine a nurse licensure compact state?
Maine is in the Nurse Licensure Compact. A nurse whose home state is also a compact state can practice here on a multistate license.
How long does it take to get a Maine license?
The Maine State 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 Maine 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 Maine? 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
170+ Registered Nurse roles in Maine, 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 reportMaine · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 32 postings$49.50/ hr$32–$68
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationLEWISTON, ME · 31 postings$42.58/ hr$33–$55
- Greenstaff Medical Staffing LLCBangor, ME · 2 wage offers$38.22/ hr$38–$38
- Acadia HealthcarePortland, ME · 2 postings$31.60/ hr$24–$42
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
67 RN postings with published pay in Maine, 66 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 67 RN roles
- RN AdmitPermanent$79k–$98k/ year
- RN Dispensing Nurse - PRNPer diem$23.93–$29.78/ hour
+ 65 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.