Moving (not permanently) to another compact state?

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jan 8, 2014

If you live there and have your vehicle licensed there you have to declare it as your primary. At least that is how it worked when I moved to Texas 10 years ago.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2014

I'm from Texas, moving to Maine for the next 3 years (and will probably move back to Texas after.) Since I'll be in Maine for 3 years, do I have to declare that as my primary residence and therefore apply for a Maine license? Is that different from getting my license "endorsed" by Maine?
Or can I keep Texas as my primary residence?
I want to continue working as a school nurse which complicates things a bit because in Maine you have to have certification from the Maine Department of Education to work in any school, and their website states nurses must have a Maine nursing license. If I declare Maine as my primary residence, will I then be issued an actual Maine license? (And if I kept Texas as my primary, then I wouldn't ... right?)

Most states say that if you are there for more than a year, that's your primary residence. Some say less. Ask Maine what they say. You would call the Maine Secretary of State office. Call the Texas one too, and ask them, while you're at it. That's not a nursing question, it has more to do with taxes and voting. I wouldn't be surprised if you would have Maine as your primary residence. If you are moving because you are a military dependent (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?), there may be other rules that would apply; ask the relocation officer.

You will get your Maine license by endorsement or reciprocity from Texas, the terms mean the same thing. If you want to work as a school nurse you'll have to do that anyway. You get (I think) 30 days to get the new license when you move from one Compact state to another.

You can keep your Texas license active for the three years (you'll have to pay whatever fees they want there) and drop your Maine license when you leave Maine if you think you're never going back there. It's not like driver's licenses where you have to surrender the old one when you get the new one they require you to have in your new state. I have licenses in 8 states (I think), some of which I have never lived in.

Hope that helps.

elkpark · Jan 8, 2014

Most states say that if you are there for more than a year, that's your primary residence. Some say less. Ask Maine what they say. You would call the Maine Secretary of State office. Call the Texas one too, and ask them, while you're at it. That's not a nursing question, it has more to do with taxes and voting. I wouldn't be surprised if you would have Maine as your primary residence. If you are moving because you are a military dependent (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?), there may be other rules that would apply; ask the relocation officer.

You will get your Maine license by endorsement or reciprocity from Texas, the terms mean the same thing. If you want to work as a school nurse you'll have to do that anyway. You get (I think) 30 days to get the new license when you move from one Compact state to another.

You can keep your Texas license active for the three years (you'll have to pay whatever fees they want there) and drop your Maine license when you leave Maine if you think you're never going back there. It's not like driver's licenses where you have to surrender the old one when you get the new one they require you to have in your new state. I have licenses in 8 states (I think), some of which I have never lived in.

Hope that helps.

Often it matters whether or not you have a residence somewhere else. You can live physically in one state, but if you own a home, maintain your vehicle residence, etc., somewhere else you may still be a legal resident of the other state. Best to clarify what the requirements/definition of "residency" is in any particular state.

OP, if you're moving to ME for three years, are you going to be maintaining a permanent residence in TX during that time, or are you going to be cutting all ties with TX for the time being?

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2014

When I moved from CO to ND, my CO license expired since I cut all ties to CO.

NurseEllie13 · Feb 4, 2014

GrnTea, thanks for that info! Sorry, I didn't see that people had replied until today! That's very helpful, I think I will call and ask like you suggested.

NurseEllie13 · Feb 4, 2014

elkpark, I will probably cut ties with TX for the time being... the only thing I "own" registered to TX is my car... sounds like I should just declare residency in ME?

kaufer01 · Feb 9, 2014

When I moved from WI to ME (both compact states) I had to give up my Wisconsin license. You'll have 30 days to transfer your license and it should be a fairly similar process when moving back. I think that say if your moving for more than a year your supposed to change residency anyway unless it's for school or military.

NurseEllie13 · Feb 10, 2014

When I moved from WI to ME (both compact states) I had to give up my Wisconsin license. You'll have 30 days to transfer your license and it should be a fairly similar process when moving back. I think that say if your moving for more than a year your supposed to change residency anyway unless it's for school or military.

Thank you! I think I will do that. :)