How to hold a license in multiple states once I graduate

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Specializes in ICU.

Hey everyone! I don't graduate until August of 2011, but I am trying to figure out my plans after graduation. I live in Washington, and definitely want to end up in WA at some point, but was thinking for the first couple years after graduation I might try out living in California or Oregon. How does that work, do I take the NCLEX in WA, and in OR, and in CA, or do I just have to take it once and apply for the licenses in different states?

Sorry if this seems like something I should know, I just don't know where to look for the answer! Thanks!

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You take the NCLEX once for the state where you want your initial license. Then after that, endorse that license into any other state where you want an additional license. If you want a license from one of the compact states, that particular license will bide you in the compact states. You maintain all of these licenses by paying the renewal fees for the ones you want to keep.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thank you!!! So helpful :)

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If you want a license from one of the compact states, that particular license will bide you in the compact states. You maintain all of these licenses by paying the renewal fees for the ones you want to keep.

Be aware, though, that a "compact license" only benefits you if you are a permanent resident of the compact state in which you are licensed. You must be a permanent resident of a compact state in order to get a license with "compact privileges" which will be recognized by other compact states. If someone applies for licensure in a compact state from outside that state, you will get a license, but it will just be a "regular," traditional license without compact privileges, same as from a non-compact state.

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Specializes in ICU.

Good to know. Does anyone know how long it can take to endorse a license into a different state? i.e. How long for the paperwork to go through and everything, until I can work in that state?

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Good to know. Does anyone know how long it can take to endorse a license into a different state? i.e. How long for the paperwork to go through and everything, until I can work in that state?

It varies from state to state -- some are v. quick, some take forever (and some are in between :)).

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