California vs Massachusetts for CNS Licensing

Total Fees

$500

$150

Timeline

4-8 wks

Renewal Fee

$150

$180

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category	California	Massachusetts
Total Fees	$500	$150 ✓
Application Fee	$500	$150 ✓
Exam Fee	N/A	N/A
Processing Time	4-8 weeks	4-8 weeks
Renewal Cycle	2 years	2 years
Renewal Fee	$150 ✓	$180
CE Hours	30 hrs	15 hrs ✓
NLC Compact Member	No	No

Key Differences

→

Cost

Massachusetts is $350 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Massachusetts

→

Renewal Cost

California has lower renewal fees at $150 per cycle.

Winner: California

Category Winners

Lower Cost

Massachusetts $150

vs California ($500)

Faster Processing

California 4-8 wks

vs Massachusetts (4-8 wks)

Cheaper Renewal

California $150

vs Massachusetts ($180)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

Full California CNS requirements →

Massachusetts Board

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Official Website →

Full Massachusetts CNS requirements →

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