Licensure?

Specialties Government

Published

Specializes in Med/surg.

I'm about to graduate and I'm in the Navy's NCP. Can I apply for licensure through my state, or should I do it through the state that will be my first duty station?

Thanks!

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Excellent question...I've always wondered how that works.

Many RNs only have a license in the state that they live in/passed their boards in. So what about the people who go to school in and pass their boards in one state, but then comission into the service and move to another state to practice as a nurse? Does the military accept you as long as you're licensed in at least one state?

How exactly does this work?

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The military only requires that you have an active/valid/unrestricted RN license. It doesn't matter what state it is from. For example, for the majority of my career I have only carried my original Montana license even though I've been stationed in Texas, Washington DC, and overseas.

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Specializes in Med/surg.

Thank you! Would you know also if I would say yes when asked if I am active duty? I'm not quite yet active until I graduate...but I'm just not sure what they want me to answer. I've been trying to ask people from my school, the nurse director through the navy that I spoke with (he's out of the office), and I have not heard back.

This makes my anxiety go down a lot. Now I can go ahead and apply here in Texas like I have planned.

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The military only requires that you have an active/valid/unrestricted RN license. It doesn't matter what state it is from. For example, for the majority of my career I have only carried my original Montana license even though I've been stationed in Texas, Washington DC, and overseas.

I've always wondered about that and now I know! Thanks

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

Not directly R/T the OP's topic, yet the following may be helpful to others;

  • My original & current nursing license is from TX BNE. Therefore, since moving to WA d/t PCS to Ft Lewis I need to notify the TX BNE about my address change. I will retain & keep current my TX RN license during my AD Army Nurse Corps career [less than 13 yrs to go, LOL]
  • Susan, my wife, also an RN, took all the required steps to gain a WA nursing license, yet she will also maintain her TX RN license, too. So, she, too, needs to notify the TX BNE of her address change.
  • Both of us will need to keep up with the TX BNE CE requirements. Plus, Susan will maintain her WA RN license as long as I'm stationed in WA.

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Just another FYI - some states will waive your license renewal fee while you are on Active Duty. Make sure you ask your state board of nursing (they don't often volunteer that information)!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Just another FYI - some states will waive your license renewal fee while you are on Active Duty. Make sure you ask your state board of nursing (they don't often volunteer that information)!

ANC_Maj - Mine expires APR 2007, yet I will definitely remember to ask BNE of TX for license renewal fee waiver at that time. THANKS!

BTW, my wife & I love it here in the PNW. I found an excellent apartment complex in Tumwater, which is less than 20 miles from Madigan. I started In-Processing this week. Then, start my critical care phase 2 course on the 23rd.

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