compact states

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ICU/ER.

Hi,I am an RN in Oklahoma; which is not a compact state. I am considering travel nursing, is there any way to get around paying for each compact state individually other than moving to one of those states. I'm not sure why oklahoma is not participating at this time other than possibly some states do not require criminal background checks. I wish we would all get on the same page and quit making the lifes of nurses difficult

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I don't think there is a quick fix to your problem.

I believe that in order to have compact privileges on your license, you must live in a compact state.

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Specializes in OB.

Sorry - Jolie is right. If your state of residence is not a compact state then you must apply for and pay for a license in each state in which you will work. No way around it. (It's a pain - I'm up to 11 now)

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Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

I too live in Oklahoma and I think one reason it is not in the compact has to do with CEUs. We don't have a required amount here to keep our licenses current; my original home state IS in the compact and there I needed 30 hrs every 2 years Know that is not the only difference and the BON could clarify much better than I could.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

You must physically reside in the said compact state.

For example, I work in Arkansas, therefore I hold an Arkansas license. I do not live in Arkansas though, I live in Missouri. Arkansas is a compact state but my license is not a compact license and is valid only in the state of Arkansas. It states it about 20 different ways on the license too. I also hold a Missouri license as well because I did work in MO up until recently.

So, if you wanna do the traveling thing, you'll have to get a license in each state you go to or move to a compact state, obtain your license there and travel only to other compact states.

Huge pain and I agree, I wish every state would get on board with this!!!!

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I too live in Oklahoma and I think one reason it is not in the compact has to do with CEUs. We don't have a required amount here to keep our licenses current; my original home state IS in the compact and there I needed 30 hrs every 2 years Know that is not the only difference and the BON could clarify much better than I could.

I live in Maryland which is a compact state, but we don't require any CEUs to maintain our license. I think it's more of a money issue than anything else. I don't know how many millions of dollars a state could lose if it did not require every nurse working there pay for a license.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I agree, Katnip. Even amongst compact states, the licensing requirements vary quite a bit. Some require only CEU's, some mandate continuing practice, some insist on both. I believe there may be some compact states that don't require anything other than a fee.

I had to take a refresher course to be licensed in my new home state of Nebraska, since I lacked current practice, even though I hold a valid license in IL (not a compact state). If I had been in posession of any compact license, I could have worked here in NE (as a non-resident), despite not meeting their state licensing requirements.

That's just nuts!

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