Nursing compact licensure

Published

I am a newly licensed nurse in Wi. Was very excited to find a job but nothing here in Wi. I have also applied in Ga. And have been able to get a great job back home close to family. The hospital that I got a job in says I must get a Ga. License before my start date. I totally agree that if I am going to be living and working there I should have a Ga. License but from what I understood about the nursing license compact was that my Wi. License was valid in states that are part of the nursing license compact..until I can get a Ga. License, I am being told by the Ga. Board of nursing that could take months. Can anyone educated me on the compact and any options?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

As I understand it, you can only work as a nurse in George with your Wisconsin license if your permanent residence is in Wisconsin. If you're moving to Georgia, you must obtain a Georgia license. Also from Googling, it appears that there is something going on with Wisconsin: Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) Interstate Commission Sets Jan. 19, 2

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When you relocate to GA, and apply for licensure there, you can work using your WI license while your GA application is being processed. When you receive your GA license your WI license will become inactive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.
When you relocate to GA, and apply for licensure there, you can work using your WI license while your GA application is being processed. When you receive your GA license your WI license will become inactive.

This isn't fully correct. The WI license doesn't go inactive. The OP would just have both a WI and GA license. But only the GA license would be a compact license. The WI license would end up being a 1 state only license until it expires.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From the National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Final Rules (Adopted Dec 12, 2017; Effective Jan 19, 2018)

403. CHANGE IN PRIMARY STATE OF RESIDENCE

(1) A nurse who changes his or her primary state of residence from one party state to another party state may continue to practice under the existing multistate license while the nurse's application is processed and a multistate license is issued in the new primary state of residence.

(2) Upon issuance of a new multistate license, the former primary state of residence shall deactivate its multistate license held by the nurse and provide notice to the nurse.

[...][/Quote]

From the Wisconsin board of nursing

The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators - Final Rules:

If you were actively licensed in Wisconsin on July 20, 2017 and also held a multi-state designation on July 20, 2017, then you are grandfathered into the eNLC. You are able to practice nursing in the eNLC similar to what you were doing when the NLC was in effect. Please note (and this is important) should you in the future change your primary residence from Wisconsin to another State, you will lose your eNLC grandfathering designation. In the future, when you declare a new eNLC State as your primary residence, your Wisconsin license will become inactive if you obtain a multi-state license in that new eNLC state. If you declare residency in a non-compact state, or do not obtain a multi-state designation in the new eNLC, then your Wisconsin license will revert to a single state designation. ...[/Quote]
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow! thank you so much for everyone's input. I am glad there is a nurse license compact between states but the rules are pretty in depth! Thanks for the clarification.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion