NCLEX in Washington, DC: DC Health, Fieldprint and the $187 fee
In the District of Columbia you apply through the DC Health portal, complete a Fieldprint criminal background check, and register with Pearson VUE. Once DC Health’s Board of Nursing approves your application, it contacts Pearson VUE and you receive your ATT by email.
Last checked October 2026. Based on third-party licensing guides for DC. We could not reach DC Health’s own fee page, so confirm every amount at dchealth.dc.gov before you pay.
The path for a new graduate
Register as a new user on the DC Health portal and submit the licensure by examination application with the fee.
Register and pay $200 on Pearson VUE's NCLEX site.
Complete the criminal background check through Fieldprint and pay its fee.
When your application is complete and approved, the Board of Nursing contacts Pearson VUE, which emails your ATT.
DC-specific continuing education
Third-party guides say DC’s RN renewal requires 24 contact hours every two years, including three hours on HIV/AIDS and two hours of cultural competency instruction focused on LGBTQ patients. These apply after you are licensed, but they are worth knowing before you choose where to apply.
Common questions
What does it cost?
Reports list the DC RN or LPN licensure by examination application fee at $187, plus about $50 for the background check. Endorsement is reported at a higher fee. Confirm both with DC Health.
Who decides NCLEX eligibility in DC?
DC Health’s Board of Nursing handles NCLEX eligibility, and the application is made through its online portal, so start there instead of a generic state form.