NCLEX in Rhode Island: a $135 application and a national background check
In Rhode Island the Department of Health’s Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education handles licensure. Guides describe an online account on the Department’s services page, an RN application fee of $135, a national criminal background check, and Pearson VUE registration, after which the Department notifies Pearson VUE of your eligibility.
Last checked October 2026. This page rests on third-party summaries only, as we could not reach the Department’s own licensing pages. Treat every figure here as reported and confirm it with the Department of Health. Sources also disagree on whether Rhode Island is a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
The path for a new graduate, as reported
Create a user ID and password on the Department of Health's online services page, complete the application and pay the fee.
Guides say the Department requires a national criminal background check with a fee, with fingerprints submitted as the Department instructs.
Register and pay $200.
Once your materials are in, the Department notifies Pearson VUE of your eligibility and Pearson VUE emails your ATT.
If you fail
A guide says retaking means registering with Pearson VUE again and paying the $200 fee. Check with the Department whether anything else is needed, and allow for the 45-day wait between attempts that NCSBN policy sets.
Common questions
Is Rhode Island a compact state?
Sources contradict each other. One says Rhode Island is a compact member, and another, last verified in March 2026, says it is not and that a Rhode Island license is required. Ask the Department before you plan around a multistate license.
Why do the fees differ for other license types?
Guides report $135 for an RN and $45 for an LPN, and a $135 temporary permit fee for endorsement. This page covers new graduates applying by examination.