Can someone explain licensure in multiple states to me?

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

So I know that you can gain licensure through endorsement and some states even have a compact agreement that allows practice across borders. However, what is unclear to me is how I would go about initial licensure and job searching in multiple states.

Here is my situation. I am in school in Louisiana. I want to job search in Florida (where my family lives), North Carolina, Texas and Louisiana (though I really don't want to stay here).

What is my best strategy for job searching and licensure post graduation?

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I'm not sure if all would agree that this is the best way, but this is what I did. I knew while in school that I would br moving across state lines when finished with school, so I searched for jobs in New State. Onice I had a job lined up and the move was complete (and had a new official address), I sat the NCLEX in my new state. I'm not licensed in my native state where I graduated from.

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The only thing I am aware of is when you fill out the nursing job application you put the nursing license state and your number. If you get the job then you just have to apply for the licensure for the new state if it is not a compact state. Some states have a temporary one that gets out to you in 15 days and then you have up to 90 to use that one while you wait for the official one to go through. Hope I was helpful.

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Specializes in Hospice.
I'm not sure if all would agree that this is the best way, but this is what I did. I knew while in school that I would br moving across state lines when finished with school, so I searched for jobs in New State. Onice I had a job lined up and the move was complete (and had a new official address), I sat the NCLEX in my new state. I'm not licensed in my native state where I graduated from.

Me either, and I did the same thing you did. Went to school in Missouri, came back to Illinois, got a job as an RNLP, then sat Boards a few months later.

Now, a few years ago, an employer wanted all of us to be dual Illinois/Indiana licensed (Home Care). We filled out the paperwork, turned it in to HR, and they did the rest, including the fee for the first time. I assume they had to show proof we were licensed in good standing in Illinois as well.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
I'm not sure if all would agree that this is the best way, but this is what I did. I knew while in school that I would br moving across state lines when finished with school, so I searched for jobs in New State. Onice I had a job lined up and the move was complete (and had a new official address), I sat the NCLEX in my new state. I'm not licensed in my native state where I graduated from.

Ok, so I guess my confusion is coming from the application process. You can apply for jobs without having an active license in the current state or already having a temporary license?

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
The only thing I am aware of is when you fill out the nursing job application you put the nursing license state and your number. If you get the job then you just have to apply for the licensure for the new state if it is not a compact state. Some states have a temporary one that gets out to you in 15 days and then you have up to 90 to use that one while you wait for the official one to go through. Hope I was helpful.

Can you apply for temporary licenses in multiple states?

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I'm not sure. Just use the license number you have for your current state, and if you are offered the job apply for the new state.

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You can job hunt and apply for jobs without being licensed in that state, and possibly even get a job, but lots of employers won't take any interest in you unless you already have license in hand. Lots of the online application forms these days ask specifically if you are licensed in that state and, if the answer is no, the software doesn't allow you to go any further in the application process. Of course, if you get a job without the license, you would have to be licensed (in that state) before you could actually start working in the job.

It would be most cost- and time-effective for you to figure out which state you most want to practice in after you graduate, and focus your job hunting in that state. As I said, lots of employers nowadays won't even consider an application unless you already have a state license, and getting multiple state licenses is possible, but it gets expensive.

Your choices are to go ahead and get licensed in LA when you graduate, and then you can apply for licensure in any other state you want by "endorsement" once you have your LA license (you can only apply for one initial license, you can't apply to several states at once); or if, by the time you graduate, you've sorted out that you are definitely most interested in NC, TX, or FL, you can bypass LA entirely and apply for initial licensure in whichever one of those states you most want. You will just need to apply for licensure in that (other) state instead of LA, and let your school know that you want them to send your school documentation to the other state. The schools all automatically send all their graduates' info to their own state BON each year; they can send it to a different state just as easily, they just need to know you want them to. Once you are licensed in a state, whichever state it is, you are welcome to apply for licensure in the other three, but, as I said, that will get pricey.

I would suggest that, if you're going to apply for jobs in other states, esp. if you're not licensed in those states yet, write a pretty compelling cover letter with your application about your intentions and reasons for moving to that state. Nowadays, with the employment situation for new grads as bad as it has been, lots of new grads are just blanketing the US with job applications, and healthcare employers have gotten wary of out-of-state applicants -- unless you can explain convincingly why you are serious about relocating to their area (e.g., you mentioned your family is in FL -- relocating to be close to family is a reasonable explanation for why you would be interested in moving to FL). Something to show them that you are serious about their area and their facility, and you aren't just wasting their time.

You mentioned temporary licenses. Lots of states don't offer them any more. If they do, it's not like a discounted "sample" license or anything; you apply for regular, full licensure, supply all the necessary documentation, and pay all the fees, and then they issue you a temporary permit pretty quickly to enable you to start working (on the presumption that everything is probably going to check out) while they are completely the full background checks and paperwork. Some of the states that do offer temporary permits charge an additional fee if you want the temporary permit instead of just waiting for the "real" license. (As I mentioned, this gets pretty expensive pretty quickly. :))

I would say that your best strategy is to figure out which one state you want to end up in after school, and focus on getting licensed and job-hunting in that state. You can always expand your search later if your first option isn't working out for you. Best wishes!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
You can job hunt and apply for jobs without being licensed in that state, and possibly even get a job, but lots of employers won't take any interest in you unless you already have license in hand. Lots of the online application forms these days ask specifically if you are licensed in that state and, if the answer is no, the software doesn't allow you to go any further in the application process. Of course, if you get a job without the license, you would have to be licensed (in that state) before you could actually start working in the job.

It would be most cost- and time-effective for you to figure out which state you most want to practice in after you graduate, and focus your job hunting in that state. As I said, lots of employers nowadays won't even consider an application unless you already have a state license, and getting multiple state licenses is possible, but it gets expensive.

Your choices are to go ahead and get licensed in LA when you graduate, and then you can apply for licensure in any other state you want by "endorsement" once you have your LA license (you can only apply for one initial license, you can't apply to several states at once); or if, by the time you graduate, you've sorted out that you are definitely most interested in NC, TX, or FL, you can bypass LA entirely and apply for initial licensure in whichever one of those states you most want. You will just need to apply for licensure in that (other) state instead of LA, and let your school know that you want them to send your school documentation to the other state. The schools all automatically send all their graduates' info to their own state BON each year; they can send it to a different state just as easily, they just need to know you want them to. Once you are licensed in a state, whichever state it is, you are welcome to apply for licensure in the other three, but, as I said, that will get pricey.

I would suggest that, if you're going to apply for jobs in other states, esp. if you're not licensed in those states yet, write a pretty compelling cover letter with your application about your intentions and reasons for moving to that state. Nowadays, with the employment situation for new grads as bad as it has been, lots of new grads are just blanketing the US with job applications, and healthcare employers have gotten wary of out-of-state applicants -- unless you can explain convincingly why you are serious about relocating to their area (e.g., you mentioned your family is in FL -- relocating to be close to family is a reasonable explanation for why you would be interested in moving to FL). Something to show them that you are serious about their area and their facility, and you aren't just wasting their time.

You mentioned temporary licenses. Lots of states don't offer them any more. If they do, it's not like a discounted "sample" license or anything; you apply for regular, full licensure, supply all the necessary documentation, and pay all the fees, and then they issue you a temporary permit pretty quickly to enable you to start working (on the presumption that everything is probably going to check out) while they are completely the full background checks and paperwork. Some of the states that do offer temporary permits charge an additional fee if you want the temporary permit instead of just waiting for the "real" license. (As I mentioned, this gets pretty expensive pretty quickly. :))

I would say that your best strategy is to figure out which one state you want to end up in after school, and focus on getting licensed and job-hunting in that state. You can always expand your search later if your first option isn't working out for you. Best wishes!

Thank you ElkPark! This is the best explanation I have received to date. I know I don't want to stay in the area I am in in LA for certain - but there are a couple areas that I wouldn't be opposed to. Florida is the top choice for me. My husband wants to move to Texas, which also has great opportunities. NC is more of compromise state, my husband and I both love NC and since his parents live here in LA and mine in FL we can't be guilted with favoritism (we have a young child, grandparents are crazy!) LOL

I still have 1.5 years to figure it out :) I am just a planner

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