North Carolina Nursing License Lookup

Verify any North Carolina (NC) registered nurse license for free. Below is the official North Carolina Board of Nursing lookup tool plus a step-by-step guide on how to use it.

NLC Compact State

Official North Carolina License Verification

Hosted by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The board's own record is authoritative; check any update date shown or contact the board about recent changes.

Open North Carolina License Lookup

Official source: North Carolina Board of Nursing

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What you'll need to look up a North Carolina nurse license

The nurse's first and last name (exactly as registered), OR
The nurse's license number
No login or account required

How to look up a nurse license in North Carolina

1
Visit the North Carolina Board of Nursing license verification tool (link above).
2
Enter the nurse's first and last name exactly as registered, or enter the license number if you have it.
3
Submit the search and review the results list.
4
Click into the matching record to see license status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions.

What each license status means

Status	Meaning
Active	Licensed and currently eligible to practice.
Inactive	Not currently practicing, but the license can be reactivated.
Lapsed / Expired	License was not renewed on time; nurse cannot practice until renewed.
Suspended	Disciplinary action in place; practice is temporarily prohibited.
Revoked	License was permanently terminated by the state board.

Looking up a multistate compact license?

North Carolina is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state. If the nurse holds a multistate license issued by North Carolina, you can also verify it through Nursys, the national database operated by NCSBN. Nursys is useful if you're unsure which state issued the primary license.

Open Nursys QuickConfirm

North Carolina nurse aide (CNA) registry lookup

Looking up a certified nursing assistant? CNAs are not in the North Carolina Board of Nursing RN/LPN lookup. North Carolina keeps a separate nurse aide registry, run by North Carolina Board of Nursing - Nurse Aide Registry, that shows certification status, expiration, and any findings of abuse or neglect.

Open the North Carolina nurse aide registry → Registry phone: (919) 782-3211 North Carolina CNA certification guide →

Getting licensed in North Carolina?

Requirements, fees, processing times, and renewal rules for each North Carolina nursing license.

Comparing states? Nursing license cost by state, cheapest RN license states, and fastest RN license states.

Checking for disciplinary actions

The North Carolina Board of Nursing lookup tool shows any disciplinary actions (suspensions, revocations, probation, consent orders) as part of the public record. If you need more detail on a specific disciplinary case, most state boards publish formal action documents on their enforcement page.

Visit the North Carolina Board of Nursing website →

North Carolina License Lookup FAQs

How do I look up a nurse license in North Carolina?

Use the official North Carolina Board of Nursing license verification tool. Enter the nurse's full name or license number to review the available license status, expiration, and disciplinary information. The board's own record is authoritative; check any update date shown and contact the board if information is unclear.

Is North Carolina nursing license lookup free?

Yes. The North Carolina Board of Nursing provides free public license verification. There is no cost to search, and you do not need to create an account for a basic lookup.

What does each license status mean?

Active means the nurse is licensed and in good standing. Inactive means the license is not currently in use but may be reactivated. Lapsed or Expired means the license was not renewed on time. Suspended or Revoked means disciplinary action was taken by the board and the nurse cannot legally practice.

Can I use North Carolina license lookup results for hiring decisions?

No. Information from this page and from state board lookup tools is for general reference only. It is not a consumer report and cannot be used to make employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions. Employers who need FCRA-compliant background checks should use a licensed consumer reporting agency.

How current is the license information in North Carolina?

The North Carolina Board of Nursing maintains the authoritative record. Nursys, NCSBN's national database, shows what this board has submitted to it: NCSBN states that it posts information "when, and as, submitted by the individual boards of nursing" and displays the date each board last updated. That date is the one to check — NCSBN publishes no standard refresh interval, and submission gaps do happen. When a status matters for a decision, verify it against the board's own record.

How do I look up a CNA in North Carolina?

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the North Carolina nurse aide registry, run by North Carolina Board of Nursing - Nurse Aide Registry, not on the nursing board's RN/LPN lookup. Search the registry by name or certificate number to confirm the CNA is active and in good standing.

Can I look up a multistate (compact) license from North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so nurses holding a multistate license issued here can practice in other NLC member states. The North Carolina Board of Nursing lookup tool will indicate whether the license is single-state or multistate.