Boards Question

I am pretty sure you have to apply to the state's (where you would like to work) health departments to get credentials in that state. I don't think it is hard to do so, you just have to have graduated from an accredited nursing school and pass NCLEX and then you apply for a transfer of state.

I would think you would apply for licensure in your chosen state before applying to jobs, but I am not entirely sure. I have heard some state's processes on this is very long. If you want to get exact information, look up New Jersey's and Connecticut's Department of Health and Human Services website and try to see if you can find a number to call about licensure.

Thanks, really appreciate it!

The term you're looking for is endorsement. After your initial licensure, to obtain a license in another state you apply for that state's license by endorsement. The BON for each state will provide requirements and information needed to complete the process. I'm actually in the process of endorsing to Florida. The usual things apply, like background check, license verification form to be completed by my state, continuing education requirements to be met by the new state, if applicable, and of course, nothing goes through without the fees being paid.

I am a Long Islander as well. Passed the NCLEX in NY. I was under the impression that our reciprocity laws made it much easier to practice in other states. I know you still need to apply for the license but I don't think it is a difficult process.

Some states are compact states and with that multipstate license, you can practice in those states without changing licenses. Check with your state BON to see if you are in a compact state. OTherwise you apply by endorsement and depending on the state that costs varying amounts of money and can take from afew days to weeks or longer to complete.

You can get your first nursing license in any state (let's call it State 1) by applying to that state's Board of Nursing (BoN) and getting their approval to sit the NCLEX exam in their jurisdiction. You don't have to have gone to school in State 1 to do this. You have to meet whatever criteria they want-- your nursing school has to be accepted by them (some states approve schools that other states won't approve), if there are fingerprinting or other requirements, they'll want a transcript, and, as LYNDAA says, they want the money. Then when you pass NCLEX you are granted a State 1 RN license.

So now you want to move to State 2. You write to the State 2 BoN and tell them you want a State 2 license by reciprocity (or by endorsement, same thing for practical intent and purpose). They tell you what they want, which may be all of the above again, and the money, and then they send you a State 2 license. Unlike your driver's license, you don't have to turn in your State 1 license. You can be licensed in as many states as you like (or can afford). :)

24 states are part of a Nursing Licensure Compact*. Compact states grant you the ability to practice within their borders if your license is from another Compact state (a state where you have your primary legal residence) without going through all that process outlined above (though you probably will have to pay something). If your legal residence isn't a Compact state, you can still get a license in State 2, though. And 3, and 4, and 5...

As an example: My primary legal residence is not a Compact state. I have a license there. I do some work in a neighboring state which is a Compact state, but since my home state isn't, I got it by reciprocity/ see above process. Now I have a Compact state license so i should be good to go to any other Compact state and get a license easily, right? Wrong, because my legal residence is in a nonCompact state.

So I have licenses in 8 states and they cost me a bloody fortune because I had to go through that whole process in every single one of them, even though most are Compact states. Order a college transcript (at $10 per) for all. NY wants me to take an online class on recognizing and reporting abuse-- time and money. Two or three states want me to pay for background checks-- a coupla hunnert bucks per. A few others want fingerprints...on their forms only, done by recognized law enforcement (the local State Police barracks got used to seeing a lot of me there for awhile). One or two want a passport photo. Many, but not all, participate in a national licensure verification system called Nursys, so I pay for Nursys to verify my license in all the states they work with to all the rest of them, at $30 each...but California doesn't participate in Nursys, so it's $60 to have them verify my license to everyone else. Each. And so on.

Glad you asked? :)

* 24 Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) States (current)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

Missouri 6/1/2010

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