I am going to school in one state but will be moving after I graduate and pass the NCLEX here. I will be moving somewhere that I will be right on a state line between 2 states. Is it possible to have 2 or 3 licenses at the same time? The state I am currently in and then get one in each of the other 2 since its on a state boarder? or will I have to choose just 1? What exactly is a "multi-state license" and how do I go about getting one? The state I am going to get my license in and the state I will be moving to are not compact states, but the 3rd one, just a walk over the state line is a compact state.
Remember the reciprocity fees are wide ranging. The individual states have various hurdles. When I applied for my CA license, I went thru two, yes two temp licenses before I had to call a state representative to expedite a solid license from CA. As a travel nurse I was working a contract in CA. The temp license was about to expire, and I could never get thru to the NSG Board due to no one answering the phone. I had to drive to Sacramento in person and sit in the waiting room for 2 hours to receive a second temporary license, for a second fee. When the second temp license was about to expire, I called a state congressman's office and told them my plight. At the time, CA need experienced nurses, but the state offices were at the mercy of the fingerprint FBI, or state equivalent. I told the state congressman that my provided fingerprints had been on file with the Fed since 1970 when I was in the military. All of a sudden, State BON was calling me! Finally got a certificate of licensure backdated 30 days.
1) You only have to get 1 license in 1 of the compact or multi-state licensure states to work in another compact state. No other tests required. You just apply and pay the fees.
2) If the state you want a licensure in is not a compact or multi-licensure state then you must pay for a specific license for that state with no further testing required, only an application and fee.
3) As long as you keep up your CEUs required by each state and the renewal process for your license to keep it up to date. You may have as many Nursing license as you can attain.
Personally I wish that all RN licenses were national, such as the AART for radiological technicians is national. Radiography techniques in New York would be the same in California, such as the same for IV therapy in one state would be the same as another. I can understand needing a different state's drivers license for a proper form of ID etc, but for practicing as an RN shoud be honored in all 50 states IMO.
Personally I wish that all RN licenses were national, such as the AART for radiological technicians is national. Radiography techniques in New York would be the same in California, such as the same for IV therapy in one state would be the same as another. I can understand needing a different state's drivers license for a proper form of ID etc, but for practicing as an RN shoud be honored in all 50 states IMO.
There are three problems that would first need to be resolved.
#1 Should a person practicing in a foreign State need professional punishment, does the home State do the investigation or does the State being practiced in do the investigation? Would the home State reprimand the Nurse even though the infraction did not occur in that State? What if the home State did not agree with the finding of the State being practiced in? Who pays for the extra communication and databases required for interstate communication?
#2 Educational standards need to be unified. Some States require a more stringent educational program, do all the States require a more strict educational program or do they lower the bar?
#3 Would there be a national board of Nursing for still State boards?
i'm licensed in 2 states...and, of course, the renewal is different for each. one state is even years, the other state is odd years. so i have a license renewal every year, as well as different ceu requirements for each renewal period. neither is a compact state...
GM2RN
1,850 Posts
Ok...thanks. :)