Confused about which state to apply in

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hi, this is probably a silly question but. . . I live in virginia and just accepted a job in Tennessee. Which state to I apply for licensure in? I believe that both va and tn are compact states. If I apply in VA then will my license be valid to work at my TN job? Do I how to do anything or is the compact thing automatic?

Thanks.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, & Tele all on one ward!.

You need a license to practice in the state that you will be working in. If the states are part of the compact there are still procedures that you need to go through to transfer your license. If you will be working in TN you should go to the website for the Board of Nurse Examiners for TN (or whatever that state calls it) and read what their policy is.

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Sorry, but the information above is completely wrong.

A compact license is valid in all states that are part of the compact consortium, and do not require an additional license in the other state.

However, if you are not going to live in Virginia, but are moving to TN, then you will need to get a license for TN. The compact license only remains valid if you continue to have your legal residence in the state where it was issued, if you move out of the state, then the compact part becomes null and void. You will continue to hold a license in Virginia, but it will not be good in any other state.

Licenses are also never, ever transferred. They are endorsed, meaning that you still keep the license that is being endorsed, but will also gain a license in the new state.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, & Tele all on one ward!.

The only part of my post that was wrong was my use of the word "transfer". Suggesting that someone go to the state's BNE website to find out the proper information is a very, very correct response.

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Compact license means that it is good in all of the states that are covered under that consortium, if the state is a member of it. That was the whole reason behind establishing the consortium in the first place. The nurse would not need to go thru the licensing process in each state.

If the state is not a member of the consortium, then yes, the nurse needs a separate license for that state.

When you get a license in a compact state, and you have a legal residence in that state, then the actual license that you receive, will list that is good in all Compact Consortium states. And it will also state that if you move out of that state, the compact rulings becomes null and void.

Sorry, but I am sticking to what I wrote.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

How about if I remain a Virginia resident? (The hospital is just right over the state line). Then should I still apply for a TN license even though I am a resident of Virginia? Additionally, if I then move to TN at a later date would that change anything?

Sorry for the confusion:confused:

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