Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

The agency that licenses and disciplines nurses in Massachusetts — how to reach it, what it charges, and what it requires to keep a licence active.

Name note: Massachusetts does not call its regulator a "board of nursing". Nursing licensure here is handled by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. Searches for "Massachusetts board of nursing" are looking for this agency.

Contact the board

Website www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing

Phone (617) 973-0900

Email nursing.admin@state.ma.us

Verify a Massachusetts licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in Massachusetts, with what it costs to get and what it takes to keep. Initial cost totals application, examination, and fingerprinting fees.

Credential	Initial cost	Renewal	CE hours
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant	$205	$30 every 2 yrs	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$485	$120 every 2 yrs	15
RN Registered Nurse	$465	$120 every 2 yrs	15
NP Nurse Practitioner	$150	$180 every 2 yrs	15
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	$150	$180 every 2 yrs	15
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	$150	$180 every 2 yrs	15
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$150	$180 every 2 yrs	15

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Massachusetts nurse aide registry, run by Massachusetts Department of Public Health / Nurse Aide Registry — a separate agency from the nursing board.

Multistate practice

Massachusetts has enacted NLC legislation but has not implemented it. Licences issued here are single-state until implementation completes.

Massachusetts enacted the NLC in November 2024 but implementation is pending. Full implementation expected to take 1-2 years as the state completes federal background check systems and updates processes.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing?

Phone: (617) 973-0900. Email: nursing.admin@state.ma.us. Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing. The board is the authoritative source for licence status, disciplinary records, and application questions. Contact it directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, including this one.

What licences does the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing issue?

It handles Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Massachusetts nurse aide registry, run by Massachusetts Department of Public Health / Nurse Aide Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is Massachusetts a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Not yet. Massachusetts has enacted NLC legislation but has not implemented it, so licences issued here remain single-state until implementation is complete.

How do I verify a Massachusetts nursing licence?

Use the board's public verification tool, which is free and does not require an account. It shows current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary action. Nursys also carries Massachusetts data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do Massachusetts nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 2 years, LPN/LVN every 2 years, RN every 2 years, NP every 2 years, CNM every 2 years, CNS every 2 years, CRNA every 2 years. Continuing education requirements are set per credential and are listed in the table above.

Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team

Based on 5 official sources • Last verified: June 2026

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