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California vs Maine for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$549
CA
vs
$355
ME
Timeline
10-12 wks
CA
vs
1-3 wks
ME
Renewal Fee
$190
CA
vs
$75
ME

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category California Maine
Total Fees $549 $355
Application Fee $300 $75
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 10-12 weeks 1-3 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $190 $75
CE Hours 30 hrs N/A
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

Maine is $194 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Maine

Processing Speed

Maine processes applications in 1-3 weeks.

Winner: Maine

NLC Compact

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

Winner: Maine

Renewal Cost

Maine has lower renewal fees at $75 per cycle.

Winner: Maine

Category Winners

Lower Cost
Maine $355
vs California ($549)
Faster Processing
Maine 1-3 wks
vs California (10-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
Maine $75
vs California ($190)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

Maine Board

Maine State Board of Nursing

Official Website →

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