No Primary Residence...License State??

[AUMPsychRN]

I am new to this travel nursing experience and have so many questions. I was reading through the post about "taxable housing/meal allowance".

If you do not have a primary state residence how do you establish your license state? Do you have to get a license for each state that you work in as a travel nurse?

This is posing more problems than solutions at this moment because the recruiter does not provide this information to you. I guess they just assume you will maintain a primary residence.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Your recruiter should know how to discuss this with you or direct you to the proper department in the agency. If they can't, you might want to find another one.

As a general rule, you must get a license in every state in which you work. The exception is if you are licensed AND MAINTAIN A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE in a "compact" state. If you are, you can practice in any other "compact" state, without additional licensure. You would however have to get a license to work in noncompact states.

If you will not have a legal permanent resident state, you cannot take advantage of "compact" licensure. Even if you are licensed in a compact state, unless your legal permanent (tax) residence is there, you must still be licensed in each state that you work in.

Most travelers keep a legal (tax) permanent home. There are serious tax advantages to this, and it serves as a home for voting, auto licensure, driving licensure. It cannot be a mail service or a PO Box. You must also have some financial stake (home ownership, ties to community, pay adequate rent, bills, etc) there.

There is a list of "compact" states on this BB in some threads.

[AUMPsychRN]

:thankya:

I have not posed this question to my recruiter as I am still working out all the details of the contract at this point. However, will make sure to address this with him tomorrow morning.

Thanks again for the information. I have the website for the compact states and a website where it provides a list of all the states with their websites (very handy).

[LadyNASDAQ]

I think you're Intinerant and you have no tax base. You can go that route or be looking to get a cheapo apt. somewhere. My pick would be Panama City, FL. because I know that rent is cheap and the area is beautiful and low priced. Many apts. there go for some really good rents and you will always have a home which will help at tax time.