Quick Question About Compact License

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in No specialities a this time.

I just have a quick question about my nursing license. I graduated last year in 2009. My Rn license is a compact license, which goes for the state of Texas and Arkansas. I live in Texas. Does my license mean that I can work in Arkansas just as well. Do I need to go through some special process to work in Arkansas? I have applied at some facilities in Arkansas and just want to know in case I get an opportunity to work there. Thanks.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

as far as I am aware you do not need a license in Arkansas as long as you maintain a permanent residence in Texas. However if you sell or cancel rental in Texas to buy or rent new primary residence in Arkansas you have to apply for endorsement and meet requirements and obtain a license in Arkansas

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Peds, Ortho, LTC and MORE.

With a compact License you can work in another state that is part of the NLC group. Some states request that you inform the Board of the state you are working in that you are indeed working there. I do travel nursing, and I do get a copy of each state nurse practice act (that I take a contract in) so that I am current and up-to-date on what I can do in each state.

As long as you have a valid license in one compact state you are able to work in another compact state.

Here is a list of states in the NLC:

Participating States in the NLC

Nurse Licensure Compact

COMPACT STATES IMPLEMENTATION DATE

Arizona 7/1/2002

Arkansas 7/1/2000

Colorado 10/1/2007

Delaware 7/1/2000

Idaho 7/1/2001

Iowa 7/1/2000

Kentucky 6/1/2007

Maine 7/1/2001

Maryland 7/1/1999

Mississippi 7/1/2001

Nebraska 1/1/2001

New Hampshire 1/1/2006

New Mexico 1/1/2004

North Carolina 7/1/2000

North Dakota 1/1/2004

Rhode Island 7/1/2008

South Carolina 2/1/2006

South Dakota 1/1/2001

Tennessee 7/1/2003

Texas 1/1/2000

Utah 1/1/2000

Virginia 1/1/2005

Wisconsin 1/1/2000

Planning to implement

Missouri will officially be a compact state starting June 1, 2010.

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Specializes in No specialities a this time.

Thank you for your responses. I will check on that.

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With a compact License you can work in another state that is part of the NLC group. Some states request that you inform the Board of the state you are working in that you are indeed working there. I do travel nursing, and I do get a copy of each state nurse practice act (that I take a contract in) so that I am current and up-to-date on what I can do in each state.

As long as you have a valid license in one compact state you are able to work in another compact state.

Here is a list of states in the NLC:

Participating States in the NLC

Nurse Licensure Compact

COMPACT STATES IMPLEMENTATION DATE

Arizona 7/1/2002

Arkansas 7/1/2000

Colorado 10/1/2007

Delaware 7/1/2000

Idaho 7/1/2001

Iowa 7/1/2000

Kentucky 6/1/2007

Maine 7/1/2001

Maryland 7/1/1999

Mississippi 7/1/2001

Nebraska 1/1/2001

New Hampshire 1/1/2006

New Mexico 1/1/2004

North Carolina 7/1/2000

North Dakota 1/1/2004

Rhode Island 7/1/2008

South Carolina 2/1/2006

South Dakota 1/1/2001

Tennessee 7/1/2003

Texas 1/1/2000

Utah 1/1/2000

Virginia 1/1/2005

Wisconsin 1/1/2000

Planning to implement

Missouri will officially be a compact state starting June 1, 2010.

Pls excuse the ignorance in my asking, but if I have an RN license in AZ, does this mean that I would be able to work in any of the states you have listed in that compact list as long as I continue to live in AZ and maintain AZ RN licensure?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If you have a compact license, you can work in any of those states without having to get a new license or endorsement. The important thing is that you must maintain your nursing license in the compact state where you live. So if you live in AZ, you need to be licensed by the AZ BON.

If you want to work in NM, you can do so--as long as you live in AZ you don't have to get a NM license.

Now, if you're working in, say, WI, I don't know how you'll swing that and live in AZ, unless you take daily flights to and from :) You should check with the individual BONs to determine residency requirements (e.g., do you have a grace period before you have to transfer licensure) or how travel nursing is covered in that state.

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If you have a compact license, you can work in any of those states without having to get a new license or endorsement. The important thing is that you must maintain your nursing license in the compact state where you live. So if you live in AZ, you need to be licensed by the AZ BON.

If you want to work in NM, you can do so--as long as you live in AZ you don't have to get a NM license.

Now, if you're working in, say, WI, I don't know how you'll swing that and live in AZ, unless you take daily flights to and from :) You should check with the individual BONs to determine residency requirements (e.g., do you have a grace period before you have to transfer licensure) or how travel nursing is covered in that state.

Thanks, Meriwhen!

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I noticed California was not on the list. Does it mean that if I wanted to travel outside California I would have to take another test to do travel nursing?

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

I'm glad someone asked about this. I live in WV on the border of WV OH and KY. I am wanting to get a license in KY to start out because they are a compact state, and I am planning on relocating eventually, probably to TN. Do I have to LIVE in KY to get the compact license first? Ugh, it should be so easy but it's confusing.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
I noticed California was not on the list. Does it mean that if I wanted to travel outside California I would have to take another test to do travel nursing?

No, but you will probably have to apply for reciprocity in the other states you work in. All states have reciprocity with each other; it's just that with the compact states, you don't have to pay another fee and go through all of the rigamarole to go work in another compact state.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Peds, Ortho, LTC and MORE.
i'm glad someone asked about this. i live in wv on the border of wv oh and ky. i am wanting to get a license in ky to start out because they are a compact state, and i am planning on relocating eventually, probably to tn. do i have to live in ky to get the compact license first? ugh, it should be so easy but it's confusing.

you must be a resident of the state (that is part of the nlc) in order to have a compact license. that means you must live, pay taxes, have car registered--- anything that will prove you are in fact a state resident.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I noticed California was not on the list. Does it mean that if I wanted to travel outside California I would have to take another test to do travel nursing?
u would have to endorse and meet requirements for endorsement

No, but you will probably have to apply for reciprocity in the other states you work in. All states have reciprocity with each other; it's just that with the compact states, you don't have to pay another fee and go through all of the rigamarole to go work in another compact state.

Only NCLEX has reciprocity among the different states what you have to do is endorse and meet requirements if a license is required enabling you to work in that state and you do not meet compact requirements

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