Advice from RN's who've moved appreciated!

KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2015

Get your GA license right away. If you plan to never live or work in KY ever again, it is OK to let it expire assuming you have an active license from another state.

ceejRN · Feb 27, 2015

Thank you!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2015

It's easier to endorse than to get a new license altogether, so you need to get your GA license while your KY license is active for the best results. The GA BON can take a while sometimes - I think it took me about a month and a half to go through endorsement for GA, so sooner rather than later is better.

I am personally keeping all of my licenses active until I no longer work as a RN because I feel like it's easier just to pay the $100 or whatever to renew than it is going through the process of providing all of that initial documentation again, or going through the process of endorsement again if I ever need that license or decide to travel. It doesn't hurt you to be licensed in more than one state, so unless money is very tight, I'd say why not keep both licenses active?

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2015

I moved from TX to NY. I got a NY license immediately(non compact state). I kept my TX license active for a few years thinking I might move back but did eventually let it expire. You can also put a license in inactive status and if you want to reactivate it you show proof of CEUs, at least you can in Texas.

ceejRN · Feb 27, 2015

Thanks everyone! I didn't know you could be licensed in more than one state so that was super helpful. I appreciate everyone's answers.

Those of you from GA, it looks like (from Ga BON website) that there are no ceu's required to keep your license up to date, is this true?

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2015

I was shocked when I moved to NY and found no CEUs were required, only infection control every 4 years. Hope someone can answer about GA for you but it's certainly possible.

KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

Actually I am in the process of getting a GA license right now. I work in an eICU and we have to posess licenses in every state we provide service to and my program is picking up a hospital in GA. The paper work for a GA license is a PIA and I agree that it is best to do it while you have an active license from another state.

I only keep the licenses I need to keep active for my job. I felt no need to renew licenses in states I knew I might never live in again or not live in again for a very long time. Applying for a new license if I needed to is a hassle, but less expensive than renewing,

ceejRN · Feb 28, 2015

Thanks so much for your replies! These are super helpful! And sistrmoon, I was shocked when I read that about Ga, too! Weird for me because Ky requires 15 hours!

We are hopeful that several years down the road it may work out that we could move back to Ky (my whole family and a ton of my friends still live here). Would it be wise to keep both licenses and keep both active? Or keep both licenses and keep both inactive since I'm not planning on finding work for a year or more? Or keep both and keep the Ky one inactive and the Ga one active since I might begin looking for a job after a year? And if I keep the Ky one (whether active or inactive) do I need to keep up on ceu's each year even though I'm not working? Anything else I'd need to keep up to date to keep my licenses up to date (besides bls/cpr)?

Sorry for all the extra questions. I've only been a nurse for almost 4 years (and only had two different nursing jobs between those years) and have never actually moved except for to college and back. Just a lot to think about and deal with! And I want to make sure I don't do anything like let my license expire completely because I've heard how horrible it is to get it back once you let it lapse.

Thanks!

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

Yeah I think Texas required 22:)

My understanding is that if you put your license in inactive status you don't have to do the CEUs until you are ready to reactivate and then you have to show proof of them to reactivate. No idea what to tell you. All my family and friends were back in Texas and I'd lived there 30 years so I thought I would probably move back. But I ended up preferring to stay here. Now my parents are moving here in April! I did let my Texas license lapse accidentally rather than putting it into inactive status. It will be a pain if I ever move back there. I would probably get and keep an active license in your new state and an inactive one in your old one.

MatrixRn · Feb 28, 2015

Is KY your original state of license? Yes than you need to keep that license. Your original state of license is what allows you to license in other states. KY is compact, so by holding that license you are already 'licensed' in several other states, however GA is not compact so you would have to apply there.

When you complete CEUs for one state they will also apply to the other, so you don't have to do double.

My disclaimer.....As with all things.....check with the board.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

Just make sure you talk with the BON for Georgia just to be sure. These are message board replies and not official statements. It is good information, but always do the work yourself to ensure you are good to go.