To work as an RN in New Mexico you license with the New Mexico Board of Nursing through its Nurse Portal (US$150), register with Idemia for the US$59 background check, have your transcript sent (or your New Mexico program use the Affidavit of Graduation portal) and register with Pearson VUE. An employer can request a six-month graduate permit with a letter of intent to hire. US-educated candidates get five attempts within three years of graduation. New Mexico is a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
✓ Checked against NMBON's official pages on October 7, 2026
The steps, in order (graduates of a New Mexico program)
Tick each step as you finish it; your progress is saved on this device.
7 steps
If you were educated outside the United States
The exam is the same; the path to being allowed to write it is longer. These are the extra steps.
3 steps
Documents to have ready
Nurse Portal Initial Exam Application and US$150
Official transcript sent to licensing@bon.nm.gov, or Affidavit of Graduation portal confirmation (New Mexico programs)
Idemia fingerprint background check (US$59)
Pearson VUE registration (US$200)
Employer's graduate permit form with letter of intent to hire, if wanted
International graduates: course-by-course evaluation (JS&A, CGFNS or ERES), English exam results, visa or passport
Fees
Initial licensure by examinationnon-refundable
US$150
Re-examination
US$60
Idemia fingerprint background check
US$59
NCLEX-RN registration (Pearson VUE)per attempt, non-refundable. US$350 from Feb 1, 2027.
US$200
Multistate compact licencefrom June 1, 2026
US$50
Renewal
US$110
How long it takes
Application active one year; fingerprints valid throughout it.
Graduate permit: at least 3 weeks from a complete file; valid 6 months or until results.
Five attempts within three years of graduation (or of the initial application for international graduates), 45 days apart.
First licence: one year plus the months to your birth month.
Mistakes that cost people time or money
Have your employer send the graduate permit form the day your file is complete; three weeks is the Board's minimum.
Idemia prints must be retrieved within 30 days of printing, so register only when you are ready to apply.
Five attempts in three years is the cap; a sixth attempt needs new education.
If New Mexico is home, budget the new US$50 multistate fee from June 2026.
Questions people ask about New Mexico
How do I register for the NCLEX in New Mexico?
Submit the Initial Exam Application in the Nurse Portal (US$150), have your transcript sent or your program confirm through the Affidavit of Graduation portal, register with Idemia for fingerprints (US$59) and register with Pearson VUE (US$200). The Board makes you eligible and Pearson VUE emails the Authorization to Test.
How much does a New Mexico RN licence cost?
US$150 to the Board, US$59 for the Idemia background check and US$200 to Pearson VUE; a re-exam is US$60, renewal US$110, and the multistate licence US$50 from June 2026.
Can I work in New Mexico before I pass the NCLEX-RN?
Yes, on a graduate permit requested by your employer with a letter of intent to hire naming a supervising RN. It takes at least three weeks and is valid six months from the application date or until your results; it is void on a fail or if you do not test within six months.
Is New Mexico a compact state?
Yes, since January 19, 2018. From June 1, 2026 the Board charges US$50 for a multistate compact licence.
How many times can I take the NCLEX-RN in New Mexico?
Five times within three years of graduation for US-educated applicants, or within three years of the initial New Mexico application for internationally educated applicants, with 45 days between attempts.
Which English tests does New Mexico accept?
TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, IELTS, OET or MET, unless you can otherwise demonstrate English competency.
Official links and sources
Rules and fees change. Everything on this page was read on NMBON's and NCSBN's own pages on October 7, 2026; when a detail matters to you, confirm it there:
This guide explains the process; it is not legal or immigration advice. Decisions about your eligibility are made by New Mexico Board of Nursing.
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