eNLC HELP!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Surgical Oncology.

Help!

I received my RN license in Texas (compact state) in 2016. I moved to Arizona (compact state) in October 2017. Applied for a job and got hired no problem. I recently renewed my Texas RN license the beginning of 2019 because I had not made Arizona my permanent state of residence yet...until August of 2019. I recently looked up my Texas license and it currently says that it is only a single state license. After freaking out and doing major research, I found a clause saying that those who held a license in a compact state would be "grandfathered" in to the new eNLC. Could this be an error on TBON?? I have contacted TBON, and customer service over the phone had no answers for me. He advised me to email a specific email to get clarification, however, it is taking WEEKS for them to get back to me on this issue. I'm currently desperate for any and all answers I'm able to get. Please help!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Once you change your state of residence, you must change your compact license to your new state. By having an Arizona residence, you no longer qualify to hold a compact license from Texas. You need to endorse your license to Arizona. This is not a new requirement and is why your Texas license is only valid to be used in Texas. You need to notify your employer ASAP as you are not currently licensed to work in Arizona.

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Specializes in Surgical Oncology.

I have already applied for my license endorsement, however have not received anything back yet. Should I have applied for my endorsement before changing my state of residence? Is my timing just off? Is there a way to find out through TBON when they changed my license from multistate to single? ...what's the point of having a compact license when this is the case? Sorry for so many questions.

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1 hour ago, RNNicole said:

...Should I have applied for my endorsement before changing my state of residence? ...

You should have applied for licensure when you relocated to AZ. Had you done so then you would have been allowed to work on your TX license until you received your AZ license. When your AZ license was issued it should have granted you multi-state privileges, and your TX license would have been placed in either an expired or inactive status.

1 hour ago, RNNicole said:

...Is there a way to find out through TBON when they changed my license from multistate to single? ...

When you relocated to AZ did you change your address with the TX BON? If so, this is most likely when the TX BON converted your license to a single state license, as you must meet TX residency requirements for your license to grant multi-state privileges.

1 hour ago, RNNicole said:

...what's the point of having a compact license when this is the case?

Two quickly come to mind. First, it prevents nurses living near the border of two compact states from having to maintain multiple licenses. It also allows a nurse to take a temporary travel nurse position in any of the compact states. It was never intended to allow a nurse to continue to work on the previous state's license when the relocate to another state.

Best wishes.

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