Licensure in other states???

[Meg2007]

I'm graduating in August. I currently am attending school in Michigan. I assume that I have to take the NCLEX here in MI and get my licensure in MI. What happens if I get a job in another state? How do I go about getting licensure in the other state? Do I have to be licensed in MI first? Any information you can give me would be great. This is all clearly new to me. I know I could get a job in MI if I wanted to work just anywhere but I want to work in the NICU and we only have 2 decent ones in the state that I'm aware of. The local one isn't hiring right now and the other one is on the other side of the state and I don't care to live there....the job market sucks so my husband wouldn't be able to get a job real easily. Anyways, I was just wondering how I would go about dealing with the licensure issue.

[TazziRN, RN]

You can apply to take the NCLEX in any state, and you only have to pass it once. If you move to another state, you just apply for a license. You have to provide proof of graduation and licensure but that's it.

In some regions there are groups of states that will recognize licenses from any state in that group, but that's not everywhere.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Hi

Best bet is endorse your license

[suzanne4, RN]

You can apply for licensure in any state, you must select only one to go thru for initial licensure. Then once you hold that license with a number, you are able to endorse to any other state.

The Compact License that was mentioned above is only good if you are a legal resident of the state, and remain there. If you move out of that state, then the license is onyl valid for the one state, the Compact License fails to exist.

Beat of luck to you.

[Meg2007]

Thanks ladies. What do you mean when you say endorse your license?

[suzanne4, RN]

That is the process that you need to follow. That is what it is called.

When you go for initial licensure and need to take the NCLEX exam; you will be applying for Licensure by Examination.

When you already hold a an active RN license in the US, and wish a license in another state or states, you will need to use the application called

Licensure by Endorsement in any of the new states from their BON.

There is no such thing as transferring a license, as you may hear it called.

If you go for initial licensure in MI, and then wish to work in another state, you will keep the MI license until it expires if you do not renew it. It will be your choice as to what to do.