Maryland RN License 2026 — MBON Endorsement, No CE Required & Timeline

Maryland is a high-density East Coast healthcare market anchored by Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, MedStar Health, Adventist HealthCare, and multiple VA medical centers serving the Baltimore-Washington corridor. The Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) administers RN licensure at mbon.maryland.gov.

Is Maryland an NLC compact state?

Yes. Maryland is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member. Maryland-licensed RNs with Maryland as their primary state of residence hold multistate compact licenses valid in all other NLC compact states. Nurses residing in other compact states may work in Maryland using their home-state compact privilege without a separate Maryland endorsement.

Endorsement fees (2026)

Item	Fee
Endorsement application (MBON portal)	~$100
Maryland State Police fingerprinting (background check)	~$39–50
Nursys electronic verification (if applicable)	$30
Estimated total	~$169–$180

No CE requirement for renewal

Maryland is one of the few states that does not currently require continuing education hours for RN license renewal. Renewal every two years involves paying the renewal fee and making required attestations to MBON. This makes Maryland an administratively lightweight license to maintain alongside more demanding state licenses. Verify this remains current policy at mbon.maryland.gov before each renewal, as board requirements can change by regulation.

Timeline expectations

Complete endorsement applications — Nursys verification received + Maryland State Police background check cleared — typically process in 4–8 weeks. Maryland does not issue temporary permits for nurses pending endorsement. Plan your application submission 6–8 weeks before your target Maryland start date.

What we see at Ava Health

Maryland generates consistent nursing demand in our pipeline, anchored by Johns Hopkins (Bayview, main campus, Howard County) and the University of Maryland Medical System across the Baltimore metro. The DC-adjacent Northern Maryland market (MedStar) is increasingly popular with travel nurses who want access to multiple high-acuity systems within commuting distance. Maryland's no-CE renewal policy makes it popular as a license nurses hold in reserve alongside their primary compact state license.

Related: Travel Nurse Salary Guide, Virginia RN License Guide, Pennsylvania RN License Guide, Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide.