How difficult to transfer RN license from one state to another?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm planning on becoming an RN in Washington--if I move to another state, is a WA license generally accepted? What is reciprocity like among states? I know for being a teacher, for example, CA won't accept any other states' credentials without taking several additional classes in CA. Is it very difficult to transfer an RN license, or do you generally just need to have a valid license in one state and have passed the NCLEX by the minimum passing score of the new state? Thanks!

Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I am licensed in IL (original). I recently got a TX and AZ license. Mostly what they want is money and fingerprints.

Each state was approx 200$ and I had to be reprinted 2x because they didn't like the quality of prints.

The first set I had done by my local police and then I went to the facility the BON recommends and they accepted that.

My local police charge 30$ and the BON place 55$.

Mostly just time and money.

Since I live in IL I had to get AZ and TX because the reciprocity situation only applies if you live in one of those states.

I plan on collecting more state licenses as time goes by as I do travel nurse sometimes

1 Votes
Specializes in CCU, cardiac stepdown, respiratory.

Can you be licenced in two States at a time??

How can you get national state license?

rn raging butterfly said:
can you be licenced in two states at a time??

generally speaking, you can be licensed in as many states as you wish. however, there is an exception, the multi state license issued to residents of member states of the nursing licensure compact.

ms. nurse assistant said:
how can you get national state license?

there is no national state license. however, the nursing licensure compact is an agreement to which 23 states have signed. the nursing licensure compact would allow you to practice nursing in any member state, on any other member states license.

i’ll use my situation as an example. i am licensed, and maintain residency in the state of north carolina, a member state. since the residency requirement has been met, my license has multi state privileges. this means, that as long as i maintain nc residency i can practice nursing in any of the other 22 compact states without having to obtain a license in that state.

if i relocate and change residency to a non-compact state, then my nc license becomes a single state license allowing my to practice nursing only in the state of nc.

if i relocate and change my residency to another compact state, most of these states would allow me to practice nursing on my nc license for up to a maximum of 30 days, at which time i would need to have obtained licensure in that state. upon being issued a multi state license by another compact state, my nc license would become inactive as you can only maintain one active multi state license at a time.

1 Votes

Do you know if more states are trying to get added to the compact, or has it always been just the original members?

Hi - I will be graduating in December with a license in FL. I am originally from CA and would like to move back, but don't know about jobs so I might need to stay. Can I apply for more than one state (FL and CA) upon taking the NCLEX? I'd like to be licensed for both at the same time (I'll pay whatever money) instead of being licensed in one and then transferring it to the other and having to take supplemental classes. When I sign up for the NCLEX, can I choose more than one state to be licensed in to avoid future hassles?

if i obtain my license in NC and i decide to move to seattle. what should i do? and how much money is involved here? lastly, thus the process take time? thank you.

Specializes in Emergency.

Hello all

Im not sure exactly, but it sounds as though the Nursing Licensure Compact is different from Reciprocity which from what I heard is practiced in all 50 states unlike NLC which is exclusive to the 24 states listed on their FAQ page.....

Im a NYS licensed RN so Im not covered in the compact it seems

1 Votes
Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

No, there is no "50 state reciprocity" that I am aware of...it that were the case, we would only need one license to practice in all 50 states.

The only thing that comes close to this concept would be the NCLEX--once it is passed--all 50 states recognize you as a RN..but you still need licensure in each state--unless you are in one of the compact states...

You may hold as many licenses as you wish (provided you can afford them)and can keep them active and many can be obtained by state endorsement--not hard to do--just a little red tape and a big check:D

from sparklern :

"can i apply for more than one state (fl and ca) upon taking the nclex? i'd like to be licensed for both at the same time (i'll pay whatever money) instead of being licensed in one and then transferring it to the other and having to take supplemental classes. when i sign up for the nclex, can i choose more than one state to be licensed in to avoid future hassles."

i have the same question. but i'm gonna take the nclex in ny and then move to fl. i'd like not to waste time waiting for second license when arrive in fl. thanks for reply.

1 Votes

My original license was in IL...I moved to TX- got a temporary license quickly- permanent license arrived in a couple of months (back in 1985- this was accepted)....moved back to IL, and started licensure long before (thank God). Had to get FBI and IL State police fingerprint sets, some other bs paperwork, and fork over a lot of money- then they were glad to send a license ?

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
alyona said:
from sparklern :

"can i apply for more than one state (fl and ca) upon taking the nclex? i'd like to be licensed for both at the same time (i'll pay whatever money) instead of being licensed in one and then transferring it to the other and having to take supplemental classes. when i sign up for the nclex, can i choose more than one state to be licensed in to avoid future hassles."

i have the same question. but i'm gonna take the nclex in ny and then move to fl. i'd like not to waste time waiting for second license when arrive in fl. thanks for reply.

i just want to prepare you..the job market in south fl is very tight especially for new grads...be prepared to spend many months to find a job...also florida has very low wages compared to it's high cost of living. i just want you to know. i have friends that graduated from nursing school in december 2010 and are still not employed. the hospitals all advertise but they do not fill the positions so don't go by what you see on the internet or web sites.

1 Votes
+ Add a Comment