How to get your nursing license in another state

Moving is a way of life for many people today. For nurses, whether crisscrossing the country or just moving over state lines, obtaining licensure in the new state is usually essential.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers a program called the mutual recognition model. This interstate compact allows nurses licensed in a state that is part of the program to practice in other states within the program and have their current licenses be recognized. There are, of course, rules and regulations that must be adhered to depending on the specific state.

The problem with this particular plan is that currently only 23 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia, have entered into the nurses' licensure compact.

More states, such as Missouri, are expected to pass legislation for the compact shortly. This will make it much easier for nurses to practice across state borders. If you are interested in finding out if and when your state might take part in the program, contact your local state board of nursing.

Researching License Requirements

If you don't live in one of the states covered by the new compact, don't despair. It might take some time to research another state's nursing license requirements, and perhaps some additional classes or tests to get licensed, but it will be worth it.

Let's say you fulfilled your lifelong dream of becoming a registered nurse. You're living and working in Manhattan at a great teaching hospital. But after a long winter, you decide you love your job, but you really don't like the cold weather, ice and snow. Florida starts to look very good. What's better, you checked out the job situation, and you'll have no trouble finding employment.

Your state nursing license is from New York, but you want to work in Florida. What do you have to do?

Generally, to obtain licensure in another state, nurses must meet the requirements of the specific state in which they are interested in working and then obtain another license from that state. There are a number of ways to go about this.

• Check with the specific state board of nursing. Your current state board of nursing can usually give you the contact information for other state boards.
• Obtain information from your potential employer. With the current nursing shortage, many employers are happy to provide new employees with assistance on how to get licensed.
• Do research on the Internet. Search for information on specific state licensing requirements, license periods, fees, continuing-education requirements, etc.

In the end, you'll have a nursing license to do what you love in another state.

Introduction

Finally, you have taken and passed the NCLEX-RN Exam . . . way to go! The next step now involves becoming licensed as a RN and it will probably seem like it takes forever. Licensure is the process that each state board of nursing goes through in order to grant each individual who has been determined to exhibit competency to perform care within the RN scope of practice. Each state has their own board of nursing and criteria that will determine whether or not each applicant has the necessary skills to practice safe and effective care to become licensed as a RN. But what happens when you want to move to another, how do you transfer an RN license? This guide will take you through all the steps.

Online Nursing Programs to Advance Your Career

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

To Transfer an RN license to from state to state, may not be as complicated as you may think. Thanks to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC allows nurses to have one license that is valid in multiple states…up to 25 states and counting. Through the NLC, nurses have the ability to practice across participating state lines both physically and electronically through a simple process without any additional fees or applications. Nurses will have the ability to practice in both their home state and other states that participate in the NLC. You are eligible to obtain a multistate license if you:

• Are a legal resident of a state included in the NLC.
• Hold an active RN license that is in good standing.
• Meet licensure requirements in your home state, in addition to licensure standards, and exhibit competency to practice within the RN scope if you reside in a remote state that does not participate in the NLC.

Keep in mind the different characteristics of the states in which you practice. There is a party state (any state that participates in the NLC), a home state (the nurse’s primary state of residence), and a remote state (any party state other than the home state). Following are examples if you were to decide to reside in another state and practice as a RN.

See a list of State Boards of Nursing (BON) with state fees and continuing education requirements and a list of nursing compact states.

Current NLC States and Status

Map as of 1-12-21. For the latest NLC map or to contact your legislator see: https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm

How to Transfer an RN License from Non-Compact to Compact State

• You must apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state of residency.
• Your individual state license issued by the non-compact state will not be affected and remain active if you continue to maintain it, meaning you will have to resume your continuing education hours, practice within the laws of that state, and renew it by the deadline.

How to Transfer an RN License from Compact to Non-Compact State

• You must apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state of residency.
• Your compact license will be changed to a single-state license valid only in the state you have chosen.
• You must notify the board of nursing in the state you moved out of so they can take actions to inactivate your license from their board.

How to Transfer an RN License from Compact to Compact

• You can practice on the former residency license for up to 30 or 90 days depending upon the new state to which you have moved.
• You will be required to apply for licensure endorsement at least 1 to 2 months in advance of a move, pay any applicable fees, and complete a declaration of primary state of residency in the new home state.
• You will be issued a new multistate license and your former license will be inactivated.
• You must notify the board of nursing in the former residency state that you have moved.
• Proof of residency may be required.

Here is a scenario to kind of put it all together for you:

Nicole holds an active RN license in her primary state of Colorado. However, she lives near the four corners, (Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado), and all those states participate in the NLC. Therefore, Nicole can drive across the borders to practice or practice electronically without any additional fees or applications. Later though, Nicole decides to move and change her primary residence to New Mexico. She will now have a 30-day grace period to practice on her current license, but by the end of those 30 days, Nicole will need to have obtained her new multi-state license. Ultimately, this is why it is a good idea to apply for new licenses in advance of any move so there is not a lapse in your ability to practice.

If you have to transfer your RN license it will occur via a process referred to as endorsement. Of course, the endorsement process is only able to be carried out once you have passed the NCLEX-RN and hold an active license in good standing with your particular state board of nursing. The process includes:

• Choosing the state in which you would like to endorse your license with to access their board of nursing and rules to fill out an application for endorsement.
• Visiting the “Nursys” licensure verification site to obtain online verification for endorsement to practice in another state.
• The board of nursing in the state to which you are applying for endorsement will then have to accept your application, perform new background checks and ensure all your information is correct.
• Payment of predetermined fees for your RN endorsement in the state you have chosen.
• Within 1 or 2 months you will be notified whether or not your information has been approved to hold a license in your chosen state.

The whole process to transfer an RN license may seem complicated, however with the technology we have today and since we are able to do much of the process electronically. It’s not as complicated as it could be. Ultimately, obtaining a nursing license is a strict process, because let’s face it…we don’t want just anyone to be able to take the lives of others into their hands unless they are highly qualified to provide safe and effective care. Find all the information you need to make your process simple at https://www.ncsbn.org/licensure.htm.

Online Nursing Programs to Advance Your Career

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Best Ranked Nursing Schools by State

One of the best measures of a nursing program’s ability to prepare its students to become a nurse is to look at an institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates. We went directly to each state board of nursing to find, report and rank the best nursing schools in each state. Find a great nursing school that offers ADN, BSN, MSN, NP, DNP degree programs in the state you plan to move to. We rank schools and offer information about tuition costs, average loan rates, and additional data points that will help you find the best RN program for your career.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia

• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland

• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey

• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina

• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The length of RN to BSN degree programs vary per student and student background. Request information from individuals schools and find out from these sponsored programs.

Take the next step toward your healthcare future with online learning.

Sources: 50 State Boards of Nursing, University Websites, U.S. Department of Education, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ranking Methodology.