Iowa vs Tennessee for RN Licensing

Total Fees

$343

$365

Timeline

2-8 wks

4-6 wks

Renewal Fee

$99

$100

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category	Iowa	Tennessee
Total Fees	$343 ✓	$365
Application Fee	$93 ✓	$115
Exam Fee	$200	$200
Processing Time	2-8 weeks	4-6 weeks ✓
Renewal Cycle	3 years	2 years
Renewal Fee	$99 ✓	$100
CE Hours	36 hrs	N/A
NLC Compact Member	Yes	Yes

Key Differences

→

Cost

Iowa is $22 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Iowa

→

Processing Speed

Tennessee processes applications in 4-6 weeks.

Winner: Tennessee

→

Renewal Cost

Iowa has lower renewal fees at $99 per cycle.

Winner: Iowa

Category Winners

Lower Cost

Iowa $343

vs Tennessee ($365)

Faster Processing

Tennessee 4-6 wks

vs Iowa (2-8 wks)

Cheaper Renewal

Iowa $99

vs Tennessee ($100)

Iowa Board

Iowa Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Full Iowa RN requirements →

Tennessee Board

Tennessee Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Full Tennessee RN requirements →

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