Out of the Compact States, which one has the fastest application process for new grad

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I'm relocating from my state because I know I will never get a job with the stiff competition here. I won't say which state but it's on the West Coast. I'm young, single, with no kids so I want to relocate anywhere in the US. And when I mean anywhere, I mean anywhere. I rent month-to-month, have wads of money, have a car, leech off Internet from library, neighbor, or Starbucks, and only have clothes with luggage and a laptop. That's it. I'm completely mobile. ;)

Since I'm a new grad, I need to sit for my NCLEX-RN soon and I'm not really a test taker person (forget stuff if I don't review everyday easily) so I would like to apply to a state BON that has a relatively fast application process for US grads with no criminal history, minimal fees (less than

The compact state I was looking at was AZ but their fee was $350 for the application alone along with a slew of other requirements. That made me shudder a bit.

Any suggestions my fellow nurses? It's ok to be bias towards your state, just try to be honest with your application experience. :)

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Specializes in ICU.

Just saying - it's not compact, but it is very cheap to endorse to GA. I'm a new grad and I got hired in GA with no experience. I think the endorsement fee was something like $60, another $50 (maybe, don't remember) for the background check, around $10 per card for fingerprint cards, and then if your state participates in Nursys for licensure verification, $30 (I think) for that. Total of somewhere around $150 for everything.

Sorry, just noticed you're looking to take boards... their application fee to take the NCLEX is $40 according to the GA BON. That does not include the cost of the NCLEX.

I hope that helps!

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I'm in NC. The application process here was pretty quick. Honestly what took the longest was waiting on our school's program director to send the graduation verification stuff. The application fee was $75. They do require a passport photo with your application, and you have to get it notarized, but I did all that in one day and dropped it in the mail and it didn't take them long to process it...maybe a few days.

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IIRC, states only issue compact licenses to people who are residents of that state.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
IIRC states only issue compact licenses to people who are residents of that state.[/quote']

If you are not a permanent resident of the compact state, you will be issued a single state license.

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JustBeachy and meandragonbrett are correct. You can't get a license from Compact State 1 and use to to practice in Compact States 2-24 unless your primary (legal) residence is in Compact State 1. I have licenses from several Compact states, but I have to buy them all a la carte because my legal residence is in a nonCompact state.

Otherwise.... the Compact state that was the fastest for me to get a license was Nebraska, two weeks. I asked how long it would take and they said, "When do you need it?" God bless 'em, nice people in that office.

* 24 Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) States (current)COMPACT STATES / IMPLEMENTATION DATE

Arizona 7/1/2002

Arkansas 7/1/2000

Colorado 10/1/2007

Delaware 7/1/2000

Idaho 7/1/2001

Iowa 7/1/2000

Kentucky 6/1/2007

Maine 7/1/2001

Maryland 7/1/1999

Mississippi 7/1/2001

Missouri 6/1/2010

Nebraska 1/1/2001

New Hampshire 1/1/2006

New Mexico 1/1/2004

North Carolina 7/1/2000

North Dakota 1/1/2004

Rhode Island 7/1/2008

South Carolina 2/1/2006

South Dakota 1/1/2001

Tennessee 7/1/2003

Texas 1/1/2000

Utah 1/1/2000

Virginia 1/1/2005

Wisconsin 1/1/2000

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This is gonna sound really stupid... But what is a compact state? I'm still pre nursing and can usually figure out unfamiliar words on my own, but this is a new one for me :)

Thank you !

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Look up nursing license compact on the NCSBN website. I'd link but I'm on my phone

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
This is gonna sound really stupid... But what is a compact state? I'm still pre nursing and can usually figure out unfamiliar words on my own, but this is a new one for me :)

Thank you !

Example: I live in MD, and work in Virginia. I did not have to acquire another license in order to work in Virginia because they are both compact states. Now, if I were to get a job in DC, I would need a DC license, because DC is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Edited to add: the application fee for MD is $100. However you have to fill out a declaration of state form and show ID in order to verify your residence in MD.

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Ooo! Thanks!

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Anyone have experience with Colorado? There's a $88 fee and not many requirements, though, I'm not sure it's as fast of a process compared to states like Nebraska for instance.

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If you call any BoN they'll tell you how long it takes to get your papers processed. Find them all here:

https://www.ncsbn.org/contactbon.htm

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