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California vs Iowa for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$549
CA
vs
$343
IA
Timeline
10-12 wks
CA
vs
2-8 wks
IA
Renewal Fee
$190
CA
vs
$99
IA

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category California Iowa
Total Fees $549 $343
Application Fee $300 $93
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 10-12 weeks 2-8 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 3 years
Renewal Fee $190 $99
CE Hours 30 hrs 36 hrs
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

Iowa is $206 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Iowa

Processing Speed

Iowa processes applications in 2-8 weeks.

Winner: Iowa

NLC Compact

Iowa is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: Iowa

Renewal Cost

Iowa has lower renewal fees at $99 per cycle.

Winner: Iowa

Category Winners

Lower Cost
Iowa $343
vs California ($549)
Faster Processing
Iowa 2-8 wks
vs California (10-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
Iowa $99
vs California ($190)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

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