Skip to content

Massachusetts vs North Carolina for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$465
MA
vs
$325
NC
Timeline
8-12 wks
MA
vs
2-4 wks
NC
Renewal Fee
$120
MA
vs
$100
NC

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category Massachusetts North Carolina
Total Fees $465 $325
Application Fee $230 $75
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 8-12 weeks 2-4 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $120 $100
CE Hours 15 hrs 15 hrs
NLC Compact Member Pending Yes

Key Differences

Cost

North Carolina is $140 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 Massachusetts ($465)
Faster Processing
North Carolina 2-4 wks
vs Massachusetts (8-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
North Carolina $100
vs Massachusetts ($120)

Massachusetts Board

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Official Website →

North Carolina Board

North Carolina Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Compare More States

Browse all RN state-to-state comparisons or use our interactive tool.

Compare Massachusetts RN License

Compare North Carolina RN License