Smart to get licensed in compact state first?? Plz advise

A license from a compact state only has "compact privileges" as long as you maintain your permanent residence in that state -- as soon as you move out of state, the license reverts to an ordinary nursing license with no compact privileges (if you move to a non-compact state) or, if you move to another compact state, you foreit the previous license and have to apply for licensure in your "new" compact state (you can only be licensed in one compact state at a time). So, there is no point in applying for licensure in a compact state unless you are going to live there.

I'm not sure how the compact state BONs handle it if you are applying from out of state with the intention of moving there.

Furthermore, although endorsing your license from one state to another is easy, it usually involves paying your current BON a fee to verify your license and fill out paperwork or completing Nursys verification, which is an added cost to the process.

Please, save yourself time and money and go to IL BON site and apply for your RN license by examination. Just so you know, when you get your approval to test, you may choose any testing center in the US, so if you haven't moved to IL yet, you can take the NCLEX wherever it's convenient to you and the results will be sent to IL if that's where you decide you want your license.

Don't bother worring about compact license issues. Its probably not what you think it is. A compact license allows you to work across state lines only if you still reside in another state. For instance, if you live in Wisconsin and have a license in Wisconsin but would like to work across state lines in Iowa, you can do so without applying for a state license. However, if you have a Wisconsin license and want to relocate to Texas, you will still have to apply for a Texas license even though they both are compact states.

The nursing compact is really only valuable for those nurses who live on state borders and want to work across state lines.

I am dealing with this right now. I have a valid license in Iowa, and have a job offer in Texas. Even though both states participate in the nursing compact, I still have to apply for a license in the state of Iowa.

There is a lot of confusion about the nursing compact, and when most people find out what little value it has are deeply disappointed. So unless you plan on residing in one state and working in another, don't bother on getting a license in a compact state.

Besides, Illinois dosn't participate in the nursing compact. Find which states do at https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm