Compact License question

[Jefe]

I recently received my Florida Multi-State license and am taking on a new job where I will be required to travel to other compact states: West Virginia, New Mexico, and Colorado specifically. Does anyone know what the process is to get my multistate license in these other states? Do I need to get finger printed, background check, apply for endorsement? I called the west virginia board of nursing and they said I had to fill out an endorsement application which entails fingerprinting and a background check, the lady didn't seem too sure. My thought was that updating to the multi state florida license allowed me to travel seamlessly to other compact states and all they needed was to verify licensure through a website like nursys.com. Any help or experience with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

You are only entitled to a single compact license for the state where you legally reside. Your home state compact license permits you to work in all other states that participate in the NCL pact.

[elkpark]

As long as you're maintaining your permanent residence in FL, you don't need to apply for licensure in any other compact state.

[Jefe]

elkpark said:

As long as you're maintaining your permanent residence in FL, you don't need to apply for licensure in any other compact state.

I am maintaining residence in FL, So if WV hospital told my employer they needed me to fly up and cover tomorrow I would be good to go with my florida multistate license? As long as I had TB / flu shot and whatever other credentials that were hospital specific

[Kallie3006, ADN]

Jefe said:

I am maintaining residence in FL, So if WV hospital told my employer they needed me to fly up and cover tomorrow I would be good to go with my florida multistate license? As long as I had TB / flu shot and whatever other credentials that were hospital specific

You are correct

Move to another state- need a lisence for that state

Live in 1 compact state- can work in all compact states as long as the state your license is endorsed though is your permanent residence

[Jefe]

Kallie3006 said:

You are correct

Move to another state- need a lisence for that state

Live in 1 compact state- can work in all compact states as long as the state your license is endorsed though is your permanent residence

Thanks for the response, do I have to send license verification through Nursys.com to that states boards or only if they request it? Sounds like the lady I spoke with at West Virginia board of nursing gave me the wrong info. She wanted me to fill out an endorsement application, and get background check and fingerprints. Kind of disappointing if I would have done all that and payed the fees to find out I didn't have to.

[Kallie3006, ADN]

I would think that the company you work for would take care of that since they are the ones sending you to the various states. I could be wrong tho ouiugh. I don't see why the places couldn't verify themselves if need be, any place I have worked for has pulled my license info from the BON, I have never had to provide them with a copy of my license. I could be wrong on this also

So I am basically full of assumptions that doesn't help answer to your question. Sorry!

Try asking your supervisor

[elkpark]

Jefe said:

Thanks for the response, do I have to send license verification through Nursys.com to that states boards or only if they request it? Sounds like the lady I spoke with at West Virginia board of nursing gave me the wrong info. She wanted me to fill out an endorsement application, and get background check and fingerprints. Kind of disappointing if I would have done all that and payed the fees to find out I didn't have to.

When I worked in another compact state, I applied for the position and was interviewed, the employer didn't question my home state license, I was treated the same as any other applicant. I never communicated with the BON of the other state. I didn't contact them, they didn't contact me. I assume the employer verified my license (with my home state BON) the same as they would any other new employee. It was no big deal, and it was no different than if I had applied for and started a new job in my home state. That's the point of the compact.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

elkpark said:

As long as you're maintaining your permanent residence in FL, you don't need to apply for licensure in any other compact state.

And if you do move your permanent residence to another compact state (let's say you fall in love with W. Va and decide to move there), you'll have to transfer your licensure to that compact state within a designated time, within 30 days or so.

You'd still have a compact license (in case you decided to go back and help out in FL from time to time), but your state of licensure would change to reflect wherever you are permanently living.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Think of it like a drivers license. You can drive in other states with just your home state's DL. You only need to apply in a different state if you move there.