How to Get a Nursing License in Another State While Traveling

Working as a nurse requires a lot of preparation prior to even receiving your license. There are two ways to get your RN nursing license:

1. Going to an accelerated 1-3 year program for your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
2. Attending a four-year program to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Once you graduate from these programs, you must take and pass the NCLEX RN exam. One thing to consider while in nursing school is which state you would like to have your first nursing license in – the state in which you register to take your NCLEX will be the state you are licensed in.

Which License Do I Need To Become a Travel Nurse?

One of the great things about being a travel nurse is that it doesn’t require any licensing or certifications different from what the position would normally require. For example, if you are looking at taking a travel contract as an ER nurse in Washington, you would need a Washington license and any mandatory certification the job requires (ex: TNCC, ACLS, PALS, ect.).

This does, however, mean that you will need to apply for different state licenses as you move around the country. Generally, the other requirements are just maintaining certifications that you already have.

What Are Compact States for Nursing?

To help streamline the process for nurses and make it easier to transition between multiple states, the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) was developed. This has since transitioned to the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) in 2018, which currently includes 43 jurisdictions that have already enacted multi-state compact licensing, either fully or partially, or are awaiting legislation.

The eNLC describes this process as “allowing a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) to possess a multistate license, which permits practice in both the home state and other compact states while maintaining a primary state of residence unless the nurse is under discipline.”

If you maintain a primary state of residence in a state that participates in the eNLC, it grants you reciprocity to practice in all other eNLC states without having to apply for a new license. This can remove steps, time, and anxiety for travelers as they move from state to state to work.

In order to qualify for this benefit, your primary state of residence must participate in the eNLC. For example, if you are registered to vote and your driver’s license is registered in Washington State (not an eNLC), but you apply for a license in Colorado (eNLC), the Colorado license will not grant you reciprocity for other states because your primary state does not participate in the eNLC.

List of Compact Nursing States

In total, 43 jurisdictions within the United States and surrounding territories are part of the eNLC states. Here is the full list of compact states:

1. Alabama
2. Arizona
3. Arkansas 
4. Colorado 
5. Connecticut (eNLC enacted, awaiting implementation)
6. Delaware 
7. Florida 
8. Georgia
9. Guam (Guam is allowing nurses who hold active, unencumbered, multi-state licenses issued by Nurse Licensure Compact member states to practice in Guam under their multi-state licenses.) 
10. Idaho 
11. Indiana  
12. Iowa 
13. Kansas  
14. Kentucky 
15. Louisiana (Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse) 
16. Maine 
17. Maryland 
18. Massachusetts (eNLC enacted, awaiting implementation)
19. Mississippi 
20. Missouri
21. Montana 
22. Nebraska 
23. New Hampshire  
24. New Jersey 
25. New Mexico 
26. North Carolina 
27. North Dakota
28. Ohio
29. Oklahoma 
30. Pennsylvania (Partial implementation)
31. Rhode Island
32. South Carolina 
33. South Dakota 
34. Tennessee 
35. Texas 
36. Utah 
37. Vermont
38. Virginia 
39. Virgin Islands (eNLC enacted, awaiting implementation) 
40. Washington 
41. West Virginia (Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse) 
42. Wisconsin  
43. Wyoming 

How to Get a Nursing License in a Compact State

If you are looking to travel or work in a compact state and currently have a compact license, the process is incredibly easy.

1. If you are working through a travel agency, they should already have your original license information, so there should be no further steps.
2. If you are planning on applying to a job on your own, you will need to submit your primary state license in place of that given state’s license.
3. If you do not have a compact license already and are applying to work in one, you would need to apply for that state license as described below.

How to Get a Nursing License in a Non-Compact State

If, however, you do not have a compact license or you are applying for a state that is not part of the compact, the process becomes more in-depth. Every state has different rules and regulations surrounding its licensing qualifications.

Research the State’s Website

This is typically a site that will end with .gov as it is a government-run organization. This website will now be your primary source to ensure that you are sending all of the required documents in, to ensure you can be licensed as soon as possible.

Find The Requirements List

Once you have found this page, you should try to find the list of all of the requirements needed so you can prioritize which ones to do first. If you have already taken the NCLEX exam, you will be applying for a “License by Endorsement.” Again, states can all vary in terms of what they require, but the large majority of them all require these basic items:

• Application Form – this is a fairly general form asking basic information about your name, address, social security number, criminal history, and questions regarding suspensions on your license, if you have any. These can be forms that are completed online or ones that you print off and mail in with a packet.
• Government Issued ID – Either a photocopy or attachment of a front and back photo of a driver’s license, passport, or social security card.
• Fingerprinting and Background Check – This is a very standard request from each state, and you must complete it every time you apply for another state; they don’t cross over from one to another. Some states require that you get the fingerprinting done through Fieldprints, in which case you find your nearest vendor and complete it with them. If the state only requires the government fingerprint card, you can get it filled out at a local police station or private party.
• License Verification – Most states are now requiring verification from all other states that you are licensed through. This process is very easy and requires a few clicks through Nursys.com.
• Transcripts – Some states still require transcripts sent directly from your college or university.
• Pay the Fee – States have a mandatory application fee that generally runs between $150-$300. It can either be a check mailed in or by credit/debit card if they have an online application.

Some states have a more streamlined licensure process than others, and some states’ Boards of Registered Nurses are faster at processing requests. Due to the sheer volume of nurses in the state of California, it can take upwards of 6 months after filling out the paperwork to receive your license. Having a California license can also slow down the process of getting any other state licenses. Since states require verification of licensure from all other states, California has been known to take a longer time to verify.

Pennsylvania can also require a bit more legwork to verify a license, so make sure you are applying with a bit of wiggle room if you have had a license in Pennsylvania to ensure you can be licensed in time.

Some travel companies have certain privileges with different states. For example, “Travel Nurse Company A” can help you expedite a license in Washington State if you are taking a contract with them there. It is worth asking recruiters if they can help with any of the licensure processes, as they might have some additional benefits to offer you. Also, keep track of all of your receipts for everything included in the licensure process, as most travel companies will fully reimburse you if you end up working a contract in that state. Plus, it’s good to have for your taxes.

How Do Compact States Affect Travel Nurses?

With the expansion of the eNLC, compact licenses have made a considerable difference for travel nurses. If a nurse has a primary state of residence in a state that participates in the eNLC, it allows them to search for contracts in 36 additional states with no extra fees, wait time, or hassle of applying for another license.

This is a great option for first-time travel nurses, as it gives them thousands of available jobs to search through without the added pressure of having to decide on a state prior to getting a contract. Compact states have made traveling so easy and accessible for those who have access to it, and it takes so much of the waiting and pre-work out of deciding on contracts.