I can't understand how compact licenses work!

[Purdicialle, BSN, RN]

I just graduated from a BSN program in Texas on 12/16. Because I graduated from Texas and was planning on staying here, I applied for a Texas Compact License. I unexpectedly got an offer for my goal specialty at a hospital in Louisiana though and accepted, so now I'm trying to figure out the intricacies of compact licensure and it is so unclear. My school just told us that with a compact license we'd be able to work in any compact state, but I'm not sure that's true. The Louisiana BON told me over the phone that I'll be fine working in LA under a TX compact license. I can't get through to the TX BON over the phone, but from what I can tell, I won't be able to just work under my TX license and that I'll instead need to transfer my license to a LA license. I'm so confused at this point- does anyone have any advice? My start date at this job is 01/29, and I really don't want to risk pushing it back or losing the job before I even have it.

[chare]

After you relocate to LA you will need to apply for licensure by endorsement, and should do so as soon as possible.  If your TX license grants multi-state privileges, you can work on it while your LA license is being processed.  After your LA license is issued, your TX license will be placed on inactive status.

Best wishes with your upcoming relocation and new job.

[klone, MSN, RN]

You can work in any compact state with a compact license. However, your compact license needs to originate from the state you currently reside in. If you are planning to move to LA, you will need to apply for a Louisiana license once you are there (and they will grant you the same multi-state type of license that Texas did). The benefit to the compact license is you do not need to apply and receive your LA license before you can practice there; you can practice under your Texas compact license.

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

This should help (a tutorial flow chart from the National Council Of The State Boards Of Nursing):

https://www.nursecompact.com/files/licensebyendorsementv2.pdf

 

[Mahafaly]

You can work with it

[klone, MSN, RN]

??

[SpEdtacular, MSN, RN, EMT-P]

Think of it like a driver's license. I live in NC, but I can drive in all 50 states with my NC driver's license. If I move to another state, I need to give up my NC driver's license and get a new one from my new state of residence. My NC driver's license becomes invalid, but I can still drive in NC using my new state's driver's license.