Questions about licensure across state borders

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Telemetry.

So I have a few questions about licensure across states....I'm going to break down my questions into scenerios and number them to hopefully make it easier to answer.

1)

I recieved my license in Missouri, as I lived in Missouri when I graduated. I now have a permanent residence in Illinois, but I work in Missouri. Do I have to get an Illinois license just because I live in Illinois? Can I have a Missouri license with an Illinois residence?

2)

My parents live in Texas and one of them is ill enough that they are going to need help for a while (2-4 months). I have a Missouri license which is part of the compact states and so is Texas. I attempted to start travel nursing so that I could work while I was here caring for my family, but there are no travel positions in either of the agencies that I work for close enough to my family. I am thinking about doing work for a local agency in the Texas town where my family lives. Can I do this with my Missouri license? Will there be an issue with my license being in Missouri when my permanent residence is in Illinois but I'm working in Texas and not for a travel agency?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.
https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

tyvin is right: go to the source

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello,

I just moved from SD where I hold a multistate compact license, to KY with my family while my wife deploys with the USAF. It was explained to me by the KY BRN that whatever state you are claiming as "residence" will have to issue me a new compact license. We are a military family on top of all this and my acutaul state of residence is CA, but as I will be physically living in KY for a year it will be my residence for licensing purposes. I have thirty days to work on my SD compact license here in KY while I am applying for licensure by endorsement for my new compact license issued from KY. It would be nice if the compact license actually allowed an RN to work in every state in the compact on that license regardless of residence. In the end it just adds up to another $170 in fees for me, and some hoops to jump through. Certianly check with the states BRN for exact details. I hope this helps, and I pray everything works out for you and your family. God Bless.

Lee

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.

Thanks for all the responses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but interstate licensure is a big hassle. I am applying to jobs in many different states, but don't plan to apply for licensure until I have a job offer. I do write this in my cover letter (that I will seek licensure in that state) but many jobs require you to already have a current state license to apply. It makes no sense for me to apply for multiple licenses when I don't know in which state I'll end up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.

Alrightie, so here is a few points from the FAQ on the NLC website.

  1. "A nurse changing primary state of residence, from one party state to another party state, may continue to practice under the former home state license and multi-state licensure privilege during the processing of the nurse's licensure application in the new home state for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. (Statutory basis: Articles 4B, 4C, and 4D[1])"

What I would like clarified is the statement "primary state of residence". Is this similar to the definition of domicile? If so then what I get out of this website is as follows: If I declare Texas as my domicile and have a RN license in that state then I should be able to move to any of the other compact states, work with my TX license and reside there until I decide to go back to my home state. As long as my intention is to one day return to my home state then there is no need to get a license in another compact state that I intend to practice in irreguardless of how many months or years I practice in another compact state.

The 'rule' does not make sense unless "primary residence" means the same thing as domicile. Travel nurses with a license in a compact state work usually have contracts that last longer than 30 days. The whole idea of compact states seems absurd if this is not how it works.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment