Nursing board tests/Michigan

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Specializes in ICU.

Hello everyone,

I am considering going back to school to get my BSN (I am currently a dental hygienist). I have a questions about the boards that nurses take:

Once I take the nursing boards in Michigan and pass, does that mean that I can practice anywhere in the US? Currently with dental hygiene, you have to get licensed seperately in every state you practice in, and in many states, that means taking another clinical board test too. And each state will charge you a licensing fee (some are around $1000-$2000), and will make you take a legal type test of their dental "rules." The dental hygiene written boards cover the whole US, but clinical boards are different. This is becoming quite a hassle as I had to recently move out of Michigan to find a dental hygiene job.

I am curious to know what I will encounter regarding extra testing if I were to consider moving to different states. If I become a nurse I am planning on practicing in Michigan, but I want to be open to all possibilities.

Thanks!

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

Same as with dental hygienists (and any other occupation requiring licensure), in most cases, RNs must be licensed in the specific state in which they practice, and get a new license if they move to another state. There are a couple exceptions to that:

The federal government (VA hospitals & clinics, military hospitals, etc.) only require that you have a valid license in a US state, not necessarily the state in which you and the facility are physically located -- so a license from any state will do. The other exception is the Nurse Licensure Compact -- some states have agreed to recognize each other's licenses, and you can live in one state and work in another "compact state" with your license from your home state. That works best for travelers and people who live close to state borders and work in the neighboring state.

The good news is that the NCLEX licensure exam is nationally standardized, and you only have to pass it once. Although you still have to apply (and pay the fees, although they are nowhere near as high as the figures you quoted for DH licenses -- wow!) for a new license if you move to another state, you don't have to take the exam again.

Also, you are responsible (as an RN) for practicing within the guidelines/limits of "your" state's Nurse Practice Act, but I've never heard of a state testing you on the rules and details in advance -- you just get in trouble later if you don't follow them. :)

Best wishes for your journey!

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