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California vs North Carolina for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$549
CA
vs
$325
NC
Timeline
10-12 wks
CA
vs
2-4 wks
NC
Renewal Fee
$190
CA
vs
$100
NC

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category California North Carolina
Total Fees $549 $325
Application Fee $300 $75
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 10-12 weeks 2-4 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $190 $100
CE Hours 30 hrs 15 hrs
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

North Carolina is $224 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: North Carolina

Processing Speed

North Carolina processes applications in 2-4 weeks.

Winner: North Carolina

NLC Compact

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

Winner: North Carolina

Renewal Cost

North Carolina has lower renewal fees at $100 per cycle.

Winner: North Carolina

Category Winners

Lower Cost
North Carolina $325
vs California ($549)
Faster Processing
North Carolina 2-4 wks
vs California (10-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
North Carolina $100
vs California ($190)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

North Carolina Board

North Carolina Board of Nursing

Official Website →

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