Can I endorse my inactive nursing license to Florida?

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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Hello Nurse Beth.

I live in Delaware and my RN license is currently inactive. After I had my son I developed health issues and my son had issues and we had to live and sell multiple properties. I was unable to work the hours needed to continue to have an active nursing license. The State of Delaware's requirements for a refresher course would mean I would need to drive over 2 hrs in each direction. I have considered relocating to Florida. My daughters dad and his family are there and my parents snowbird there. Their health isn't well and when one of them dies the other would move to Florida permanently. Would I be able to move to Florida and then get my RN license turned active by a refresher course or training. I don't know Florida's requirement and I'm not sure how it would work having an inactive license. My license has always been clean. But commuting for the class with my children and their schedules would be impossible to try to make it active and then relocate. Is there a way to move to Florida and do a refresher course or training to turn my RN license active again.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Relocating,

Florida and Delaware are both compact states, so when changing your primary residence from Delaware to Florida, you would normally apply for licensure by endorsement to Florida.

You would contact the Delaware licensing board and request verification be sent to the Florida Board of Nursing. But this is assuming an active license.

Florida BON specifies that "An applicant (requesting licensure by endorsement) who has not been in active practice of nursing within the past 5 years is required to take a remedial course". But that doesn't specifically say an inactive license. Hopefully so.

Contact the Florida BON with your question. Your situation is tricky, and with any luck, they will allow you to transfer your inactive license, change your primary residence, pay any fees, and then take the remedial course.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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