Renewal of Licensure FAQ

General Questions about Renewal

• When is a license renewal notification mailed to me?

  A reminder postcard is mailed to you approximately three full calendar months before your registration expiration date.  A reminder email notice is also sent if we have a current email address on file for you.

• Is a paper renewal application mailed to me?

  No.  We no longer mail paper renewal applications unless you request a paper application by checking the box on the back of the reminder postcard and return it to our office.  You may also call the Board at 612-617-2270 to request a paper renewal application.

• What is the difference between the renewal application deadline date and the expiration date?

  There is no longer a difference between the application deadline date and the registration expiration date. Your expiration date is the date your registration will expire. If you are renewing by paper, your application must be received by the Board by your registration expiration date. If your license is not renewed by midnight, either online or by paper, you must apply for reregistration. We are not responsible for any delays in mail delivery. If you have any concerns about your paper application not reaching us in time to process your application by your registration expiration date, you should renew online. 

• I received my renewal notification and do not plan to practice nursing in Minnesota in the next two years. Do I need to notify the Board that I will not be renewing?

  No. However, you should consider that to return to the practice of nursing in Minnesota you will have to apply for reregistration. The requirements for reregistration are different than renewal and vary depending on the length of time since your license expired and the length of time since you last practiced nursing. 

• How do I go inactive?

  There is no formal process for going inactive.  You do not need to notify the Board.

• I plan to retire in one year. Do I need to pay the full renewal fee?

  Yes.

• Why isn’t my license good for 2 years?

  At the time of initial licensure or reregistration, your licensure period is determined by the date of licensure as it relates to the month and year of your birth.  The licensure period can vary from 6 to 29 months depending upon your date of birth and the start date of your registration period.  After this initial period of licensure, your license will be in effect for two years.

• How many hours of continuing education do I need to renew my license?
  • If you are a LPN, you must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education during a 24 month period of registration.  This is a ratio of one contact hour for each two months of registration.  If your period of registration is less than or more than 24 months, you apply the same ratio.
    
  • If you are a RN, you must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education during a 24 month period of registration.  This is a ratio of one contact hour for each month of registration.  If your period of registration is less than or more than 24 months, the same ratio applies.
• Do I need to submit any continuing education documents with my renewal application?

  You should not submit any continuing education documents unless you were instructed to do so.  Continuing education documents are required if you are selected for an audit.  If you fail to respond to an audit, the Board may consider this grounds for disciplinary action.

• How long do I need to keep my continuing education documents?

  You need to keep the documents for two years after using the continuing education for renewal.

• Is infection control continuing education required for renewal?

  No, the requirement was discontinued July 3, 2000.

Online Renewal Help

• How do I renew my license online?

  Locate your license number which can be found on your wallet-sized registration card and:

  • Click on the Renew your License button on the Board of Nursing’s home page at mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/nursing/ 
    
    
  • Click on the Renew your license link

  • Log in: if you are not an existing user, you will need to register as a new user by clicking on New Users Register Here!  and follow the steps to set up a user account as a Licensee) 

  • Click on “Renew License – RN” or “Renew License – LPN” and follow the prompts 

  • Use a Visa or MasterCard credit card or a check card with a Visa or MasterCard logo 

  • You can not renew online if you wish to defer continuing education hours, you have current disciplinary action, or you need to report a name change. Call the Board to request a renewal application form be mailed to you.
• What if I forgot my online password?

  Click Forgot Your Password on the Log-in page and follow the prompts to have your password emailed to you.  If your email address has changed or if the password is not sent to your email contact the Board.

• What happens when my password is reset?

  Your previous password and email address information is cleared out of the system.  Resetting your password allows you to go into the system as a new user and create a new password.  You may also enter a new email address at this time.  After your password is reset you must wait at least 30 minutes before trying to log into the system.

• How do I know my online renewal is successful?

  When you complete the payment steps, a confirmation number will be displayed that looks something like this:  MNONUR000000001.  A confirmation number assures your renewal was completed.  Print a copy of the confirmation number for your records.  Within a few minutes, your new expiration date will be updated in our records. 

• I get the message “Login Failed!”

  Click “Forgot Your Password?” on the Log In page to have your password emailed to you.

• The “Forgot Your Password” service doesn’t work or I didn’t receive my password. What should I do?

  Contact the Board.

• When I try to set up an account as a Licensee, I get the message “The credentials you have entered are not a valid Licensee.”

  Enter your license number with a capital R for RN or L or LPN in the first box.  Enter the year of your birth as a four-digit number (such as “1970” instead of “70”).  If you are sure the information you entered is correct, contact the Board to verify our record is correct.

• When I log in, I do not see a link to the renewal application.

  You may have logged in as an Applicant. In order to renew online, you need to set up an account as a Licensee. On the Log In page, click “New Users Register Here!” to set up a profile as a Licensee.

• I get a message that says “System Error” and/or “Error in /mbn/portal/application runtime error”.

  It is possible: 

  • You have been logged in for more than 30 minutes.  Click the Back button on your browser, then click “Logoff” next to your name in the upper-left corner of the screen (just below the Minnesota Board of Nursing logo).  

  • You are using an older version of Internet Explorer.  Internet Explorer 6.0 or above is required to access our online services.   

  • Your security settings are too high for our online services to run properly.  Set your security settings to "Medium" or add our website to your trusted sites list (http://mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/) by opening Internet Explorer, selecting "Tools" then Internet Options". 

• When I enter my credit card information on the USBank payment site, I am unable to enter all 16 digits of my credit card

  Do not use spaces or dashes when entering the credit card number.

• When I enter my telephone number on the USBank payment site, I get the message “Phone number must be 10 digits”.

  Do not use a “1” when entering your telephone number.  

• When I enter my state in the billing address or contact information on the USBank payment site, I get a message that says “Invalid State”.

  You are using an older version of Internet Explorer.  Internet Explorer 6.0 or above is required to access US Bank’s online payment services.

• After I submit my payment, I see a message in red that begins: “Your credit card cannot be authorized…”

  You may have incorrectly entered your credit card number, your credit card expiration date, or your 3-digit code on the signature strip of your credit card.  Click “Make Changes” to reenter your credit card and billing information.  If you have entered your information correctly you will need to contact your credit card issuer for more information about the transaction as the Board is not provided with the specific reason the transaction cannot be authorized.