Beginning your travel nursing journey can be intimidating, especially when you start research into the nitty-gritty of crossing state lines to practice. It can be easy to get lost in the red tape of State and Federal guidelines. My goal here is to condense what I’ve learned, and hopefully I can help you get through the paperwork and onto your next adventure.
Compact Vs. Non-Compact States
Much of this process will rely on where you obtained your original nursing license. Thirty-eight out of fifty states are part of an agreement called the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses to obtain a multistate (or compact) license. With a compact license, you can practice in any compact state without needing additional fees or documentation.
States/Districts not included in the Nurse Licensure Compact are:
- Alaska
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
Obtaining a Multistate License
Your home state is known as your Primary State of Residence, or PSOR. To qualify for a compact license, there are a few requirements. First, of course, your original nursing license must be held in a state that’s part of the NLC.
The Board of Nursing will need to verify that you graduated from a board-approved nursing program and passed the NCLEX. You cannot have any felony convictions, and you will need to submit to state and federal background checks. You cannot have any record of disciplinary action taken on your nursing license.
The timing for this process can vary state-to-state, taking weeks to upwards of a few months for processing. States like California with a higher volume of applicants could take three months or longer. Make sure you’re factoring this time in when it comes to planning for your first assignment, and reach out to your state’s Board of Nursing with any questions.
Nursing Licensure by Endorsement
As someone who calls New York home, I can tell you firsthand that living in a non-compact state seems like a huge hassle at first. Now, after obtaining licenses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina and South Carolina, I consider myself to be pretty well acquainted with the process.
As this is a necessary part of traveling, your agency should assist you in your application process. Whenever I’m looking to get a new license, I send a text to my recruiter to get the process moving. I’ll then receive an email within the next few days from a Licensing Specialist that details all the steps I’ll need to take.
Key Steps Include:
- First will be creating an account with the state’s Board of Nursing. You’ll be able to find a link to the application by endorsement on their website. The applications tend to be relatively straightforward, with slight variations by state.
- You can expect to provide your nursing school transcripts, either by mail or through a third party.
- You will need to submit any current licensure or certifications you hold.
- You’ll undergo a background check, which may mean having fingerprinting done.
- Each state will need to verify your nursing license, whether that be through mail-in form or a site like Nursys.com. Your agency can often assist, or even take over this process.
Additional requirements may vary. Some states require added trainings or continuing education, such as child abuse and neglect training. Official documents may need to be notarized, so make sure you account for this.
Lastly will be the application fee. My agency, Aya, covers this whenever possible. I provide my login information, and they sign in to complete and submit. If that isn’t an option, I can count on being reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses.
Tips for Success
Like multistate licensing, the timing on this can vary by state. It’s possible to get a license back in as little as two weeks, while some may require months of waiting. Like many other aspects of this job, it’s important to plan ahead. If you’re not planning on extending or there’s a place you really want to see, it’s best to get started sooner rather than later.
As always, try to find a recruiter you trust and feel comfortable reaching out to. This process can seem overwhelming if you’re working through it on your own. But I promise, once you have a few states under your belt, everything will be so much more simple.
I hope this helps make your journey easier. For more travel nursing help or questions, feel free to reach out or check out our Travel Nursing page, where I go deeper into the process of becoming a travel nurse.
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