Nurse Licensure

Congratulations, you’ve decided to take the plunge into travel nursing! You’ve passed your NCLEX, received your RN degree, and gotten some years of experience under your belt – now what? You’re licensed in your home state, but what about other states? Fortunately, we have all of the information you need to be a travel nurse in all 50 states!

Every state is different when it comes to getting licensed. Some states are compact while others aren’t. Some are free to apply for your license, while others require a small fee. Whichever state you plan to travel to, it’s important to know what you need to do to get compliant. Click any state below to find out their specific requirements.

NLC State: This state is a part of the nurse licensure compact. Nurses can practice in these states with a single license.
Pending NLC Legislation: These states currently have proposed bills to join the eNLC.
Partial Implementation: Nurses with active multi-state NLC licenses can practice in these locations. However, nurses with these states as their primary state of residency can’t apply for a multi-state license until the NLC is fully implemented.
Currently No Action: These states are not a part of the nurse licensure compact. There is no legislation in place to become part of the NLC at this time.

• When applying make sure you are printing legibly in black ink or type out the application.  
• Provide your current residential address as verified by tax records. Submitting an alternative address, such as one within a compact state or an address associated with a staffing agency, may lead to potential delays. 
• Provide up-to-date contact information, including an active email address. While most Boards of Nursing (BONs) typically use traditional mail for correspondence, having an email address and phone number on file can facilitate prompt communication in case of urgent matters. 
• Provide a social security number that have been issued by the United States Social Security Administration. If you do not possess a social security number issued by the U.S., we recommend keeping this section empty. In most states, an SSN is not mandatory for obtaining a permanent license. However, providing false information may result in processing delays. 
• Provide details pertaining to your fundamental RN education. This information will be recorded and cross-referenced with the education data listed in the Exam State. 
• Document essential information concerning the National Licensing Examination, which should include the following: the specific exam you successfully completed, the date of the exam, the state where the examination occurred, and whether or not you acquired a license in that particular state. If the licensure did not occur in the same state where the examination took place, be ready to provide supporting documents explaining the reasons behind not obtaining the license in that state. 
• Provide a comprehensive list of all the countries, territories, and provinces where you have been employed, granted authority to practice, or held a nursing license. 
• Document all RN licenses and permissions to practice, starting with the original license issued through examination. Ensure that you include license numbers. 
• Blurry or damaged fingerprints can result in a delay in the application process. Many states now provide an alternative to the traditional manual fingerprint card. The Livescan service allows for the electronic submission of fingerprints directly to the Board, significantly expediting the process compared to manual fingerprint cards. However, there’s a caveat: the nurse must be physically present in the state where they seek licensure to complete Livescan. It cannot be done from outside the state. You can locate a nearby Livescan service provider here. 
• Apply for your license as far in advance as possible. Each state has an estimated different amount of time it will take to receive your license and processing time could vary due to a variety of factors or errors. 
• If you are seeking licensure through endorsement, you will be required to confirm the validity of an active nursing license. We recommend utilizing Nursys.com to fulfill this requirement. Nursys is the sole national database for verifying nurse licensure, disciplinary records, and practice privileges for both RNs and PN/LVNs licensed in participating jurisdictions, which encompass all states within the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). However, it’s important to note that not all states make use of this database. If your state does not participate, you will need to verify your license directly through the state’s Board of Nursing (BON). 
• Only send sealed transcripts mailed directly from the college or university. Processing times will vary from school to school so make sure you are ordering your transcripts in advance so you do not hold up the process.  
• Create a digital document or folder to include documents that will be requested when applying at the time of licensure: 

Create a digital document or folder to include documents that will be requested when applying at the time of licensure: 

• You have several choices for submitting your license application, which include in-person submission, mailing it in, or applying online. Typically, applying in person is the quickest option. However, if an in-person submission is not feasible, applying online is generally faster than using the mail-in option. Additionally, we advise reaching out to your state’s Board of Nursing (BON) via phone to inquire about your license, particularly if you require expedited processing. 
• While awaiting the issuance of either your temporary or permanent license, it’s crucial to monitor its status. Employers may be unable to proceed with candidate interviews until the candidate’s license status is, at the very least, marked as “pending.”

Reasons your License can be delayed:

• Incomplete application 
• Illegible application 
• Issues with an applicant’s education 
• Issues regarding an applicant’s address or declaration of primate state of residency 
• The need for eligibility review 
• Outdated application 
• Not sending the correct amount for the endorsement fee 
• Not signing or dating the application 
• Missing eligibility documents 

Licensing is an essential component of any nursing program. Each state maintains their own regulations so it’s important to know what is needed for each state license that you apply for. The four nursing programs that require licensing are:

• • Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) -multiple states also call this Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs)
  • Registered Nurses (RNs)
  • Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)  
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)

General Licensure Requirements

Each state will require different specifications to obtain your license, however in general you will need the following for most states:

• • Graduation from a board-approved education program
  • Pass the NCLEX exam 
  • Report of all criminal convictions – juvenile convictions, chemical dependencies, and functional ability deficits 
  • Verification of original state of nursing licensure  
  • Original transcripts sent to the Board of Nursing (BON). The college or university MUST be the sender of the transcripts. 
  • Current list of Continue Education Units (CEUs) 
  • Proficiency in the English language 
  • Good moral character and sound physical and mental health

What is NURSYS

• National database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges of RNS, LPNs and APRNs licensed in participating jurisdictions, including all states in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). 
• Publicly available 
• Visit the NURSYS Website
• Nurses can get free license expiration and status updates via email  
• QuickConfirm to verify a nurse’s license and discipline status for free 
• Request verification when applying to a new state 

License by examination is for new nurses. To get this license, you need a nursing degree and must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) test. The NCLEX is a standardized exam used by every state’s nursing board to check if new nurses are ready; it’s a national requirement. License by endorsement is for nurses who are already licensed as Registered Nurses in the United States but want to get a license to work in a different state.

Nursing License Renewal

Whether you’re a new graduate getting your license by taking an exam or an experienced nurse getting it by endorsement, you’ll eventually get a permanent license. Once you receive it, it’s your job to keep it in good standing, protect it, and keep it active. The timing for renewing your license depends on your state. Some licenses expire on your birthday, while others expire every 24 months from when you first got it. The rules for renewal also vary by state. Some states may require you to complete a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs) or a specific amount of clinical hours within a certain timeframe. 

Temporary Nursing License

While many states offer temporary permits to nurses seeking licensure, not all do. Some states may grant temporary permits to newly graduated nurses waiting for their NCLEX results and who want to work in a nurse-graduate program. Temporary licenses have a short validity of about 6 months, so it’s essential to also apply for a permanent license to avoid any issues when the temporary one expires. Licensing times differ by state, and a few states can issue temporary licenses in just a day or two. However, you must already hold a license from another state. Nurses applying for licensure by endorsement might also receive temporary licenses. The processing time, conditions, and expiration dates can vary, so it’s important to check with the state’s Board of Nursing (BON).

Helpful websites: 

• • https://www.nursecompact.com/ 
  • Nursys.com 
  • https://www.nclex.com/