Healthcare Resource
Maryland RN License 2026: MBON Endorsement, No CE Required & Timeline
In brief
How to get your Maryland RN license in 2026. MBON endorsement, NLC compact state, ~$100 fee, no CE requirement for renewal, and 4-8 week timeline.
Steps at a glance
Confirm compact privilege or endorsement need
Maryland is an NLC compact state. If you hold a compact RN license from another compact state and Maryland is not your primary residence, you may practice in MD under your home-state compact privilege. If Maryland will become your primary state of residence, you must obtain a Maryland RN license through endorsement.
Apply on the MBON online licensing portal
Maryland RN endorsement applications are submitted through the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) online portal at mbon.maryland.gov. Create an account, select "Registered Nurse, Endorsement by Endorsement," and complete the application. Pay the endorsement fee (~$100; verify the current amount at mbon.maryland.gov).
Authorize Nursys electronic license verification
Maryland participates in Nursys. Authorize Nursys to release your current license record to MBON within your application. If your home state is not on Nursys, request paper verification from your state board and mail it to MBON in Baltimore. Paper verification typically adds 2-3 weeks.
Complete the criminal background check
Maryland requires a criminal background check through the Maryland State Police Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). Follow the fingerprinting instructions in your MBON application, fingerprinting is done through an approved Live Scan vendor or authorized site. Results transmit electronically to MBON.
Monitor application status on the MBON portal
Track your application at mbon.maryland.gov. Complete applications, Nursys verification received + background check cleared, typically process in 4-8 weeks. Your license appears in the public Maryland license verification tool when issued.
Renew every 2 years, no CE hours required
Maryland RN licenses renew every two years. A significant advantage: Maryland does not currently require continuing education hours for RN license renewal. Renewal involves paying the renewal fee and making required attestations. Verify this remains current policy at mbon.maryland.gov before each renewal.
In this article
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.
Sources and related links
These external links also appear in the article.
- mbon.maryland.gov (mbon.maryland.gov)
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