Question about holding an RN license in multiple states

Nurses Professionalism

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I have been an RN for 6 months and am currently living and working in Michigan. My fiance is a millwright/fabricator who has been out of work for over a year and wants to move out of state asap, not just to improve the chances of finding a job but because he simply hates living here in MI. I am agreeable to moving, but am worried about my being able to find another job in another state, especially since I am still a new grad with

My question is this: can I apply for and receive licensure in other states while still working here in MI, or does my MI license become invalid once I receive the new license? Michigan is not a compact state, and Kansas is one of the places we are considering moving to, which is also not a compact state. So, for example, can I keep working in Michigan until I find another position out-of-state, and still receive licensure from Kansas, Kentucky, etc at the same time, so when I do apply for other positions I am already liscensed in those states?

Thanks in advance for any advice, I really appreciate it! :D

Specializes in Behavioral Health.
I am currently licensed in New York, Texas, California, Nevada, and Washington State and I haven't even lived in the US for the last 3 years. I did travel nursing before working for the Army and plan to do so again when I leave Germany. As long as you maintain your practice in good standing and pay your renewal fees on time, you can become licensed in as many states as you require.

Holy bananas, you've got more coverage than Verizon. I'm licensed in WA and OR and it costs me about $300 every 2 years. You must be making some good money to keep paying for all those licenses!

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Hi i was licensed in california and would like to renew and keep my license however i moved to texas how will i be able to renew if i dont live in california anymore? Do i put my texas address on my renewal? jus seems weird to hace a california nursing license with my texas address in the front of it. Or will i have to renew with a california address? i can however jus use my mothers california address. Any feedback from u or any one is appreciated. Long time nurse first time moved out of state.

I live in Oregon and have a Washington State license. They don't care where you live, or what address you use. Pay your money, do your background check, wait the ridiculous amount of time CA takes to process it, and they'll send you a license. I had a coworker who - probably as the result of head trauma - used to fly from Washington State to California once a month to work for three or four days (to keep her PRN job), and then fly back.

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Hi i was licensed in california and would like to renew and keep my license however i moved to texas how will i be able to renew if i dont live in california anymore? Do i put my texas address on my renewal? jus seems weird to hace a california nursing license with my texas address in the front of it. Or will i have to renew with a california address? i can however jus use my mothers california address. Any feedback from u or any one is appreciated. Long time nurse first time moved out of state.

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Specializes in Pedi.
Hi i was licensed in california and would like to renew and keep my license however i moved to texas how will i be able to renew if i dont live in california anymore? Do i put my texas address on my renewal? jus seems weird to hace a california nursing license with my texas address in the front of it. Or will i have to renew with a california address? i can however jus use my mothers california address. Any feedback from u or any one is appreciated. Long time nurse first time moved out of state.

Why does that seem weird? You live in Texas. If you want to keep your California license active, you pay the renewal fee to the California BoN and complete the necessary CEUs. You can live wherever you please, as long as you pay the renewal fee and complete the CEUs (if CA requires them), your license will remain active.

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thank you so much!!

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.
Holy bananas, you've got more coverage than Verizon. I'm licensed in WA and OR and it costs me about $300 every 2 years. You must be making some good money to keep paying for all those licenses!

Not only that, but Texas is a compact state. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Make sure you file a change of address with CA BON. Also make sure your CEU's meet CA requirements and then you just pay your renewal fee. If you don't ever plan on practicing in CA again, you may want to check to see if you can place it on inactive staus

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Yes, you are allowed to have as many active RN licenses in as many states as you want 😁

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