License

I can tell you about CA licenses: it would be active as long as you paid the renewal fee. To keep it active you would have to pay the renewal again and submit whatever CEU's required by NJ. Also, you can place your license on the INactive status on the next renewal, so that it still exists should you want to return to NJ in the future.

Your NJ license is active in the state of NJ. If you want to continue to keep it (and many people recommend keeping active in the state of your original licensure), you will have to meet their requirements and pay the renewal, same as always. But you could let it lapse if you know for sure you're not moving back.

Even if NJ were compact, moving to AZ wouldn't relieve you of the need to get an AZ license. The compact only works if you maintain a permanent address in one state and go to work in another compact state. Let's say you came from Delaware, a compact state. The minute you make AZ your permanent home, not only do you have to get an AZ license, but you have to give up your Delaware license. You're not allowed to have a license in two compact states at the same time. I'm honestly not sure who the compact really benefits other than travel nurses.