Compact Licensure Question

Nurses Nurse Beth

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Apologies for some very convoluted details for my question on licensure:My original state of licensure is TN (RN and APN).

I then moved to KY and obtained KY RN and APN licenses and worked in KY.
I then remained a KY resident and took a TN job across state line.

I was told I was then back to practicing on my TN APN license, but the RN license would originate from KY since I was a KY resident. (I was told I could not have 2 active RN licenses at once if they were compact states).

I then moved to CA. I obtained CA RN and APN licenses. (CA is not compact).
I continued to renew KY RN and APN.

When the TN APN license was due for renewal, I was not able to renew it because I had not renewed the TN RN license. I thought that since my KY RN license was active, I could piggyback the TN APN onto the KY RN. I was told that I could no longer piggyback the TN APN off the KY RN because I was no longer a KY resident. And I had not renewed my TN RN because I was told I couldn't have two compact licenses active at once.
I was told that that was only the case when I was a KY resident.

Now that I had moved out of KY, it could not be considered as part of the compact program because I no longer resided in a compact state.
I have continued renewing KY RN and APN along with maintaining and working under my CA licensure.
I have now moved from CA to AZ.

Do I need to apply for AZ licensure to practice in AZ, or can I apply the compact agreement from my KY license? Can I now be considered a part of the compact system? Or only if I first get original AZ licensure?
I plan to continue to renew my CA licensure as well, as I do some telemedicine for CA cases. But I want to enter into compact licensure too, and it seems if I have a KY license, I would be able to??
Hope you are able to answer this for me.

Dear Convoluted,

Under the Nursing Compact Licensure, nurses can practice in states that participate in the contact without having to apply for licensure in each state.

Nurses with a compact license must reside in a compact state as their primary residence. They must meet requirements for licensure renewal and follow CE requirements for their primary state of residence.

A primary state of residence, also called a “home state” is defined by the Compact as "the person’s fixed, permanent and principal home for legal purposes" and is generally evidenced by where a nurse holds a driver’s license, pays taxes, and/or votes.

I believe you need to apply for Arizona licensure. Arizona is a compact state. Be sure and check with your BON.

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50 minutes ago, Nurse Beth said:

[...]

I believe you need to apply for Arizona licensure. Arizona is a compact state. Be sure and check with your BON.

[...]

This is correct. If you possess a multi-state license and establish legal residency in another compact state, you must apply for licensure in the new compact state. You can work on the previous state's license while your application is being processed. When you receive your new license all licenses you hold from other compact states should be inactivated.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
21 minutes ago, chare said:

This is correct. If you possess a multi-state license and establish legal residency in another compact state, you must apply for licensure in the new compact state. You can work on the previous state's license while your application is being processed. When you receive your new license all licenses you hold from other compact states should be inactivated.

Best wishes.

Thanks for confirming that, Chare ?

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