How to become a nurse in Michigan
Michigan licenses nurses through the Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing). The route is the same for every state: finish an approved program, apply to the board, pass the NCLEX, then renew on schedule. This page covers what is specific to Michigan.
The steps
Finish a board-approved nursing program
Choose the level you want to start at: a practical nursing certificate (about a year), an associate degree (about two years) or a bachelor's degree (about four). Michigan has 31 bachelor's, 30 associate degree and 34 practical nursing programs in our data. Compare BSN programs in Michigan.
Apply to the board for a license by examination
You apply to the Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) before you can test. The board's fee for registered nurses is $212.90.
Register for and pass the NCLEX
The NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nursing) is the national licensing exam. Registration costs $200 through Pearson VUE, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027. The exam asks between 85 and 150 questions and allows 5 hours. 85.9% of Michigan graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try in 2025, against 86.7% nationally in 2025. NCLEX pass rates in Michigan.
Receive your license, then keep it current
Licenses renew every 2 years, with continuing education required (details in the table below).
Working in more than one state
Michigan is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a license here covers Michigan only.
Source: Nurse Licensure Compact
Michigan licensing at a glance
| Licensing board | Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Board application fee, RN by exam | $212.90Application fee plus the 2-year license fee for RN by examination or endorsement, paid by card through MiPLUS. Separate from the Pearson VUE NCLEX registration fee. | Source |
| Board application fee, LPN by exam | $212.90Application fee plus the 2-year license fee for LPN by examination or endorsement, paid by card through MiPLUS. | Source |
| State law exam (jurisprudence) | Not requiredNo jurisprudence exam is required. Instead, applicants must complete a one-time human trafficking training and 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years before the license is issued. | Source |
| License renewal | Every 2 years25 contact hours of CE every two years, including at least 2 hours in pain and symptom management, plus 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the cycle. Nurses first licensed on or after May 8, 2024 must complete CE for their first renewal. Records are kept by the nurse and checked by random audit. | Source |
Board fees are separate from the NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Fees and rules change; confirm with the board before you apply.
Good to know in Michigan
- You must pass the NCLEX within 3 years of graduation. After that you need a written certification of skills competency from an approved program, or a board-approved extension of up to 6 months, before you can retest (source: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/nursing/nursing-licensing-guide-and-faqs).
- Michigan is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a Michigan license is single-state only (source: https://www.nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf).
- There is no limit on NCLEX attempts, but you must wait 45 days between attempts (source: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/nursing/nursing-licensing-guide-and-faqs).
- Apply online through MiPLUS. The nursing school sends final official transcripts or the Michigan Nursing School Certification Form directly to the Bureau of Professional Licensing (source: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/nursing/nursing-licensing-guide-and-faqs).
- The RN/LPN renewal fee is $131.00, with a 60-day grace period that adds a $20 late fee (source: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/nursing/nursing-licensing-guide-and-faqs).
What nurses earn in Michigan
| Role | Median yearly pay | Employed in Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | $94,300 | 104,950 |
| LPN or LVN | $65,460 | 10,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $131,450 | 8,290 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The median registered nurse in Michigan earns $3,250 less than the national median of $97,550.