Confused About Compact State Licensure...

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I'm sure there's other posts related to my topic, but I can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for.

Short and sweet:

My primary state of residence is a compact state - SC. I lived in a NON-compact state for three years but never changed the non-compact state to be my primary state of residence. I didn't know that I'd necessarily be there forever or not so I kept SC my primary state.

I recently moved to another state, and this one if compact - FL. It is taking a very long time to get my state license here, so I was advised to reinstate my license from my original state of licensure in SC, which is a compact state as I mentioned. (I didn't renew because I wasn't working in that state and didn't plan on working in it). Once it is reinstated, I can start work in FL (I have a job waiting on me to start) without currently holding a license here yet. If i decide to make this state of residence, I understand I must obtain an actual license in this state. But this way, if I reinstate my SC license I can at least start working. I confirmed this with the SC board on the phone.

My question is.... on the reinstatement application - it states that if you currently reside in another compact state - which, technically I do, here in FL - you cannot apply for reinstatement of your SC license. So does this mean that if I "reside" in the non compact state I CAN reinstate my SC license and then practice in Florida? I hold a FL driver's license, but I do have W2's etc from my non compact state that I can turn in to show that I was in a non compact state.

This is so confusing!! If I show proof that I am currently in FL it sounds like I can't reinstate my SC license ... and I don't still have a driver's license or any documentation that I reside in SC.

Thanks for any clarification...

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If you reside in a non-compact state, you can apply for licensure in a compact state (or, as in your case, reactivate a previous license), but what you get will be a "traditional," single-state license that doesn't have multi-state privileges (can't be used to work in other compact states).

However, the fact that you were living in a non-compact state doesn't change your current situation. You are currently residing in FL. As you've already found out, the compact rules specify that you can only have one compact license at a time, and it must be in your "home" state (the state in which you are legally a resident). And what do you mean by "if I 'reside' in the non compact state"? That you would be lying to the BON about where you live?

I suggest you just follow the rules and be honest with the various BONs.

I'm curious -- when you say that your "primary state of residence" has been SC, but you've been living and working in a different (non-compact) state, do you mean literally that you have maintained a permanent residence in SC, while living and working in a different state, or do you mean that you just didn't tell the SC BON that you had moved?

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Obviously I don't want to lie to the BON. I didn't intend that, I was overwhelmed when I wrote the above post so I guess that got misinterpreted! Sorry.

To answer the above question: I did change my mailing address on the SC BON website to reflect my address I lived at in my non compact state. I continued to hold an active license in both the non compact state and SC at the time, even while not living in SC.

That is what I thought - I held a multistate license in SC UNTIL I obtained a license in a non compact state, thus making my SC one a single state license.

So what I'm wondering now is:

If I reinstate my SC license, it will become a once again active SINGLE STATE license because I still hold an active license in a non compact state, meaning, I could NOT practice in FL off it. Right?

So, what if once my SC license is reinstated, I placed my non compact state license inactive (or got rid of it, whatever the proper action would be. Which would be fine with me because I don't plan on ever working there again ) , as to make my SC license my only active license... would my SC license then become multistate again? Thus allowing me to then practice in FL? Of course, I recognize that I should still process my FL license, but could I at least work off my SC license while I wait under these circumstances?

Thanks y'all!

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

Have you contacted the BON in FL, asking your questions?

Frankly, just reading your posts made my brain dizzy. I think BON of one state you currently live in/ practice would be best.

Also - did you say you held a compact lic in one state and worked in a non compact state? If so, what license were you practicing under?

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I practiced under my non compact state license in the non compact state! Haha. I'm sure they wouldn't have let me work if I didn't have a license to practice under!! I will call the BON.

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Specializes in Pedi.
Obviously I don't want to lie to the BON. I didn't intend that, I was overwhelmed when I wrote the above post so I guess that got misinterpreted! Sorry.

To answer the above question: I did change my mailing address on the SC BON website to reflect my address I lived at in my non compact state. I continued to hold an active license in both the non compact state and SC at the time, even while not living in SC.

That is what I thought - I held a multistate license in SC UNTIL I obtained a license in a non compact state, thus making my SC one a single state license.

So what I'm wondering now is:

If I reinstate my SC license, it will become a once again active SINGLE STATE license because I still hold an active license in a non compact state, meaning, I could NOT practice in FL off it. Right?

So, what if once my SC license is reinstated, I placed my non compact state license inactive (or got rid of it, whatever the proper action would be. Which would be fine with me because I don't plan on ever working there again ) , as to make my SC license my only active license... would my SC license then become multistate again? Thus allowing me to then practice in FL? Of course, I recognize that I should still process my FL license, but could I at least work off my SC license while I wait under these circumstances?

Thanks y'all!

It's not because you got a license in a non-compact state that your SC license became a single state license but because you moved out of SC. As I understand it, in order for a license to be a multi-state license, you must live in the compact state where you are licensed. Once you move out of state, it becomes a single state license.

If you reactivate your SC license and you live in FL, it will be a single state license for SC (since you don't reside there) and you cannot use it to practice in FL. That's how I understand it at least.

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[...]

It is taking a very long time to get my state license here, so I was advised to reinstate my license from my original state of licensure in SC, which is a compact state as I mentioned. (I didn't renew because I wasn't working in that state and didn't plan on working in it). Once it is reinstated, I can start work in FL (I have a job waiting on me to start) without currently holding a license here yet. If i decide to make this state of residence, I understand I must obtain an actual license in this state. But this way, if I reinstate my SC license I can at least start working. I confirmed this with the SC board on the phone.

[...]

You must be a resident of the compact state in order for that license to grant you multi-state privileges. While a non-resident of an enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) state can be licensed in that state, it will be issued as a single-state license only. As a resident of one eNLC state (FL), you are not eligible to apply for licensure in another eNLC state (SC). In your case, you need to apply for licensure in the eNLC state in which you reside. If you were told by someone at the SC BON that you, as a resident of FL, could reactivate your SC license and that it would grant you multi-state privileges, this was not correct information. The eNLC Final Rules are available for download (opens as PDF).

[...]

My question is.... on the reinstatement application - it states that if you currently reside in another compact state - which, technically I do, here in FL - you cannot apply for reinstatement of your SC license. So does this mean that if I "reside" in the non compact state I CAN reinstate my SC license and then practice in Florida? I hold a FL driver's license, but I do have W2's etc from my non compact state that I can turn in to show that I was in a non compact state.

[...]

If you currently reside in, and have a driver's license issued by FL, then that is your current state of residency. If you were to relocate to one of the non-eNLC states and apply for licensure in FL or SC, the license you are going to be issued will be a single-state license, good only in the state issued.

The fact that you have income from a non-compact state is not going to have any impact on establishing residency.

[...]

To answer the above question: I did change my mailing address on the SC BON website to reflect my address I lived at in my non compact state. I continued to hold an active license in both the non compact state and SC at the time, even while not living in SC.

That is what I thought - I held a multistate license in SC UNTIL I obtained a license in a non compact state, thus making my SC one a single state license.

[...]

The fact that you have are licensed in a non-eNLC state has no bearing on whether your SC license grants either single- or multi-state privileges. This is based on your stated residency. When yu updated your address with the SC BON, your SC license should have reverted to a single-state.

[...]

If I reinstate my SC license, it will become a once again active SINGLE STATE license because I still hold an active license in a non compact state, meaning, I could NOT practice in FL off it. Right?

[...]

Correct.

[...]

So, what if once my SC license is reinstated, I placed my non compact state license inactive (or got rid of it, whatever the proper action would be. Which would be fine with me because I don't plan on ever working there again ) , as to make my SC license my only active license... would my SC license then become multistate again? Thus allowing me to then practice in FL? Of course, I recognize that I should still process my FL license, but could I at least work off my SC license while I wait under these circumstances?

[...]

Whether you maintain your non-eNLC license or let it expire has no impact on whether a license issued in an e-NLS state grants multi-state privileges; this is all determined by your state of residency. If you were to reactivate your SC license as a non-resident of SC it will be a single-state license only. And again, if you are a current resident of FL, it is highly doubtful that SC is going to reactivate your license as if you reside in an eNLC state, the current rules require that you must apply for licensure in that state. If your goal is to obtain a FL license, the fastest method to do this is to apply for licensure in FL.

Best wishes in this venture.

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