Can you hold an RN license in 2 states?

Specialties Travel

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Specializes in ER.

Hi all. I am not a travel nurse, but I have a question many of you might have the answer to. Can you hold an RN license in 2 different states? I am not looking to travel if that makes a difference. Just that I live close enough to work in either state. Also, can you work in both states? Say I have a part time job in one state (Ohio) , and another part time job in another state (West Virginia)...is that ok? Sorry if these questions are silly. Thanks in advance! :redpinkhe

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You can hold as many licenses as you care to pay the renewal fees on. And you can work wherever you want, as long as it is feasible. But beware that you will need to pay state income tax in each state that you earn income in. That is the only drawback I see.

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Ditto what caliotter said, with the one footnote that you can only hold a license in one NLC ("compact") state at a time, and you can only have a compact license if your home state (the state that is your permanent residence) is a compact state. Outside of the NLC, yes, you can hold as many licenses as you're willing to pay for and maintain (CEUs, any other requirements). Ditto for # of jobs -- you can hold as many jobs as you can keep track of and manage to show up for. :)

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Specializes in Pain mgmt, PCU.

I had a nursing license in 3 states at the same time once. I worked in 2 of them. Just remember to keep a copy of contact hours and be ready to copy them for multiple states when you renew. Renew if you think you will be back in the next 5-10 years. It is a royal pain to reinstate a license these days, not like in the old days! Many states will not put you on an "inactive list" anymore. It's no cheap to get a license in a new state. If I remember right it was close to $200 for Ohio by the time all of the required material was gethered. Indiana was only $75 - $100.

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Specializes in ER.

Didn't think of the state taxes...so obvious! Looks like the states I'm interested in aren't compact states.

Thanks for the quick replies!

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Specializes in I hope to become a CNM!!.

Thanks for the info.... I was wondering the same thing. I live in Georgia but very close to SC so I was wondering if I could work in both states. Thanks a lot!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

In the DC metro area lots of nurses work in MD/VA/DC. You need a separate nurse's license for each, but it widens your job opportunities to have multiple licenses. I currently work in DC and VA.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Tele, LTAC, LTC.

Get a load of this:

Simultaneous possession of valid, active licenses in CA, NY, LA, DC, VI, HI, VA, WV, PA, MD, and FL.

Yeah it was great fun renewing a license every 3-4 months:(

Pared it down a bit though over the years, but at the time if I ever wanted to just go somewhere .....

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