How to Get Your LPN License in Idaho (2026)

How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Idaho

Idaho's healthcare landscape spans fast-growing Treasure Valley suburbs and vast rural stretches where LPNs serve as the backbone of primary care. The path to licensure is straightforward, and Idaho's membership in the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) makes practicing across state lines easier than ever.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Practical Nursing Program

Enroll in a state-approved practical nursing program that typically runs 12 to 18 months. Programs are available at Idaho's community colleges, including College of Southern Idaho, North Idaho College, and College of Western Idaho. Look for programs accredited by ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) or approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing. Coursework covers anatomy, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, and clinical rotations in area hospitals and long-term care facilities. Upon graduation you'll hold a certificate or diploma that makes you eligible to sit for NCLEX-PN.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-PN Exam

The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) is administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers across Idaho, including Boise, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls. Key exam facts:

• Format: Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), between 85 and 150 questions
• Fee: approximately $200
• Time limit: 6 hours
• Content areas: Safe and effective care environment, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, physiological integrity

Register through Pearson VUE after the Idaho Board of Nursing approves your eligibility. Results are typically available within 48 hours via the Quick Results service.

Step 3: Apply for Your Idaho LPN License

Submit your initial licensure application to the Idaho Board of Nursing (ibonursing.idaho.gov). Application requirements include:

• Completed application form and fee (approximately $50-$75)
• Official transcripts from your nursing program
• Background check authorization (FBI/Idaho State Police fingerprint-based)
• Proof of passing NCLEX-PN scores

Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks. If you're already licensed in another state, you can apply by endorsement rather than re-taking NCLEX-PN, fees and timelines are similar.

eNLC Compact Membership

Idaho is a full member of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which means your Idaho LPN license is also a multi-state license. You can practice in any of the 40+ eNLC member states without obtaining a separate license in each one. This is particularly valuable for Idaho LPNs who work with traveling nurses agencies or who take per-diem shifts in neighboring states like Oregon (non-compact) or Utah and Montana (compact members). To hold a compact license your primary state of residence must be Idaho.

Continuing Education Requirements

Idaho requires 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years for LPN license renewal. At least one hour must cover professional boundary issues. CE can be completed through approved online providers, community college courses, hospital in-services, or nursing conferences. The renewal fee is approximately $50-$75 and licenses expire on your birthday.

Idaho LPN Salary Ranges

LPNs in Idaho typically earn between $38,000 and $58,000 per year depending on setting, experience, and location. Boise-area positions generally pay above the statewide median. Common practice settings and approximate ranges:

• Skilled nursing facilities (SNF): $38,000-$50,000
• Home health agencies: $40,000-$54,000
• Hospitals (floor/med-surg): $42,000-$58,000
• Correctional facilities: $44,000-$56,000
• Physician offices and clinics: $38,000-$48,000

Rural Idaho commands modest premium pay in some markets due to workforce shortages, travel LPN contracts covering remote communities like Salmon, Sandpoint, or Rexburg can pay $5-$10/hr above standard rates.

Top Employers for LPNs in Idaho

• St. Luke's Health System, largest employer in the state, with acute care, clinics, and rehab sites across Treasure Valley and Magic Valley
• St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise-based Trinity Health system with inpatient and outpatient LPN roles
• Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), major employer in Idaho Falls serving southeast Idaho
• Kindred/Ensign/Cascades SNF chains, multiple skilled nursing facilities statewide
• Home health agencies, Interim HealthCare, Enhabit, and local agencies serve rural counties where LPNs provide the majority of home-based care

Rural access challenges in Idaho create strong demand for LPNs willing to work in frontier communities. Many rural critical access hospitals and FQHCs rely on LPNs as primary care extenders, and travel LPN assignments in these areas offer competitive stipends plus housing.