Do I have to get a separate license for each state?

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Hi, I'm trying to get into nursing. I have just start the application process for nursing school. I was wondering can I get my license in one state and move to another state and get a job or do I have to get a license for that state?

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

For most states, you have to get a license for that specific state. This is not a hard process - once you are licensed in one state, you can apply for a license in any state. It usually costs between 50-100 dollars for the fee, and you may have to take some continuing education (Washington state requires 7 hours of HIV training - took me about an hour online to complete the requirement). Six weeks later, you have a license :D

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I just wanted to add to the previous post that some states are "compact licensure states", meaning that one license can be used in any of those states. Otherwise, you need a separate license for each state, as the previous poster stated. I just found this on the Virginia Board of Nursing Website:

"The states currently participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact are: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin."

http://www.dhp.state.va.us/nursing/nursing_compact.htm

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

raina2891, In addition, to the previous post, in most states you can also get what is called " The Reciprocity law" meaning just like your driving license you would loose the present nursing license & gain the new state license wherever you may be. Therefore, hopefully in the near future one license will cover all the states :yeah:

P.S. good luck in school~

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raina2891, In addition, to the previous post, in most states you can also get what is called " The Reciprocity law" meaning just like your driving license you would loose the present nursing license & gain the new state license wherever you may be. Therefore, hopefully in the near future one license will cover all the states :yeah:

P.S. good luck in school~

Can you clarify this? It sounds like you are saying if you got a new license in a new state, you would no longer have a valid license in the old state. Nurses can carry valid licenses in more than one state at the same time as long as they pay for it and keep up the CEUs.

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hi, i'm trying to get into nursing. i have just start the application process for nursing school. i was wondering can i get my license in one state and move to another state and get a job or do i have to get a license for that state?

the nclex rn is a national standard examination used by all states for initial rn licensure. this means that once you have passed it, you do not need to test again to obtain licensure in another state. all that is necessary is to submit an application and necessary fee for licensure by endorsement. however, there might be an additional education requirement for that state: the jurisprudence examination required for texas licensure is one example. the state board of nursing's website should contain all necessary information regarding licensure by endorsement.

the nursing licensure compact works similar to a driver license. if you are a resident of a compact state, then your license will grant you multi-state privileges. for example, i live in north carolina and have a nc license with multi-state privileges. if i wanted to work in either virginia or south carolina i would be able to do so.

… meaning just like your driving license you would loose the present nursing license & gain the new state license wherever you may be.

this depends. if you relocate from a state that is a member of the nursing licensure compact, to another compact state you will be allowed to work for 30 days on your license. this allows you time to apply for licensure in your new state and at least be issued a temporary permit. at this time your original multi state license will be cancelled as you are only permitted to possess one multi-state license.

if you relocate from a state that is member of the of the nursing licensure compact, to a non-compact state you will be required to obtain licensure in your new state prior to working as an rn. you cannot (unless specifically stated in your new states nurse practice act) work on your out of state license. at this time your original compact state will not be voided, however this license will lose its multi-state privileges and be a single state license only for the state issues. for example, if i were to relocate from north carolina to georgia (a non-compact state) i would be required to obtain licensure in georgia before being allowed to work there. in addition, when i notified the nc state board of nursing of my new address, my north carolina license would lose its multi-state privileges and be valid only in north carolina.

i hope this information was helpful. :specs:

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Can you clarify this? It sounds like you are saying if you got a new license in a new state, you would no longer have a valid license in the old state. Nurses can carry valid licenses in more than one state at the same time as long as they pay for it and keep up the CEUs.

You are correct, other than if you live in a compact state and have a license granting you multi-state privileges you licensure in as many states as you wish.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Evidently, I was misunderstood, April, RN.... yes you can acquired a nursing license in several states, however it could get costly & trust me I love to travel, I have lived in 12 states & for each state I do have a license. Lastly, I do hope that in the near future there would be only one license period! :yeah::yeah::yeah:

Romano RN,BSN,MSN

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