Fastest States for RN License
50 states ranked by fastest licensing times for RN licensing, updated for 2026.
#1
Idaho
1-2 wks
Idaho ranks #1 for fastest licensing times among all states for RN licensing. Total fees: $298.25.
View Idaho RN requirements →Full Rankings
| # | State | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho (ID) | 1-2 wks |
| 2 | Kansas (KS) | 1-2 wks |
| 3 | Nebraska (NE) | 1-2 wks |
| 4 | Vermont (VT) | 1-2 wks |
| 5 | Maine (ME) | 1-3 wks |
| 6 | Washington (WA) | 2-3 wks |
| 7 | Arizona (AZ) | 2-4 wks |
| 8 | Georgia (GA) | 2-4 wks |
| 9 | Illinois (IL) | 2-4 wks |
| 10 | North Carolina (NC) | 2-4 wks |
| 11 | North Dakota (ND) | 2-4 wks |
| 12 | Oklahoma (OK) | 2-4 wks |
| 13 | South Carolina (SC) | 2-4 wks |
| 14 | South Dakota (SD) | 2-4 wks |
| 15 | Texas (TX) | 2-4 wks |
| 16 | Utah (UT) | 2-4 wks |
| 17 | West Virginia (WV) | 2-4 wks |
| 18 | Wisconsin (WI) | 2-4 wks |
| 19 | Wyoming (WY) | 2-4 wks |
| 20 | Alaska (AK) | 4-6 wks |
| 21 | Indiana (IN) | 4-6 wks |
| 22 | New Hampshire (NH) | 4-6 wks |
| 23 | Tennessee (TN) | 4-6 wks |
| 24 | Virginia (VA) | 4-6 wks |
| 25 | Alabama (AL) | 4-8 wks |
| 26 | Arkansas (AR) | 4-8 wks |
| 27 | Colorado (CO) | 4-8 wks |
| 28 | Connecticut (CT) | 4-8 wks |
| 29 | Delaware (DE) | 4-8 wks |
| 30 | Iowa (IA) | 2-8 wks |
| 31 | Kentucky (KY) | 4-8 wks |
| 32 | Maryland (MD) | 4-8 wks |
| 33 | Michigan (MI) | 4-8 wks |
| 34 | Minnesota (MN) | 4-8 wks |
| 35 | Montana (MT) | 4-8 wks |
| 36 | New Jersey (NJ) | 4-8 wks |
| 37 | New York (NY) | 4-8 wks |
| 38 | Ohio (OH) | 4-8 wks |
| 39 | Pennsylvania (PA) | 4-8 wks |
| 40 | Rhode Island (RI) | 4-8 wks |
| 41 | California (CA) | 10-12 wks |
| 42 | Hawaii (HI) | 4-12 wks |
| 43 | Louisiana (LA) | 4-12 wks |
| 44 | Massachusetts (MA) | 8-12 wks |
| 45 | Mississippi (MS) | 4-12 wks |
| 46 | Missouri (MO) | 4-12 wks |
| 47 | New Mexico (NM) | 4-12 wks |
| 48 | Oregon (OR) | 8-12 wks |
| 49 | Nevada (NV) | 8-16 wks |
| 50 | Florida (FL) | 8-24 wks |
Methodology
Rankings are based on official state licensing data collected from state nursing boards. Processing time estimates are based on typical application processing timelines reported by state boards. Data is verified regularly and updated for 2026.
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