Reciprocity

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Specializes in HOSPICE,MED-SURG, ONCOLOGY,ORTHOPAEDICS.

I am an Indiana registered nurse considering moving to the Fort Campbell, KY area with family. I have researched the possibilities but am lacking the answers to the following questions:

1. What is the job market like on the KY/TN border? I have oncology,med-surg and hospice experience.

2. I know that KY and TN are reciprocity states, if I reside now in Indiana, I can get a Kentucky endorsement. Does that KY endorsement give me reciprocity in the other NLC states (TN being one of thos states)?

3. Is the endorsement different than a licensure and can I just apply for a KY license or do I have to be a resident of KY?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!:wink2:

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I am an Indiana registered nurse considering moving to the Fort Campbell, KY area with family. I have researched the possibilities but am lacking the answers to the following questions:

1. What is the job market like on the KY/TN border? I have oncology,med-surg and hospice experience.

2. I know that KY and TN are reciprocity states, if I reside now in Indiana, I can get a Kentucky endorsement. Does that KY endorsement give me reciprocity in the other NLC states (TN being one of thos states)?

3. Is the endorsement different than a licensure and can I just apply for a KY license or do I have to be a resident of KY?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!:wink2:

I can only guide you with a couple of answers. You can apply for endorsement which would give you a KY license, based upon your original state of licensure, Indiana. Now, if you do move to KY, you could apply with the state BON in TN to practice there as well...by living in KY and being licensed there, you'd be able to apply the nursing compact status. But the NLC status is only good if you live in a compact state, which KY is. If you don't live in a compact state, ( ie you decide NOT to move to KY and continue to reside in Indiana) you must apply for endorsement to each state you wish to practice in.

All that being said, you'd still need to check in with the other compact BON's to find out what they need for you to practice. Sometimes, you only need to show proof of residence with licensure from another compact state; some states require an additional minimal fee. Again, you'd need to check with that particular state's BON.

Endorsement is licensure, it's based upon your original BON license (where you took your NCLEX at). You will need to apply for licensure by endorsement now or when you move to KY, you don't have to live there first to do it. (I applied to NC well before I moved there and got my permanent license.) You actually may want to make your application before you move in case you need to get more info from your current BON in Indiana. (some states requires things like fingerprinting, school transcripts and the like. might be easier to gather your info while you're still in state)

Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Whoops forgot the link I was going to give you:

https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm explains a bit more about compact status and what states it applies to. Good luck

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when you change states of residency you do not get an "endorsement" from the state to which you move, you are issued a license by endorsement. if you think that you will be re-locating to kentucky you should contact the kentucky board of nursing as soon as possible to determine what is required to obtain kentucky licensure. you can apply for licensure in kentucky while you reside in indiana; however you will be issued a single state, non--compact license for kentucky. if you contact the kentucky board of nursing, someone there should be able to tell you what is required to convert your license to a multi-state license after establishing residency. the kentucky board of nursing also has a nurse licensure compact plan for kentucky page on their website.

kentucky and tennessee are not "reciprocity" states; they are both party states to the nursing licensure compact. the nursing licensure compact allows a nurse to possess a multi state license, and works much like a driver's license. as of july 2008 there were 23 states participating in this compact.

once you have a multi-state license, and as long as you maintain residency in the state in which the license was issued, you can work in any other compact state on that license. if you relocate to another compact state and change your legal residence to that state, then you must obtain a license in the state to which you moved, and your previous compact state license will be voided. if you relocate to a non-compact state and change your legal residence to that state, then you must obtain a license in the state to which you moved, and your previous compact state license will convert to a single state license for that state only.

in the situation you described in your original post, if you are licensed in and your state of residence is kentucky, then you will be able to work in tennessee on your kentucky license.

i hope this information was helpful.

good luck in your future plans.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Just a follow up point: to practice in another compact state, if you reside in a compact state and are licensed to practice there, you still must contact the BON in the other compact state you wish to practice in. Some of them still require a minimal fee to practice....so it's best to keep up with the new BON. Compact is nice, you don't have to go through the paperwork again but it's still a good idea to check out the BON webpage for the compact state you wish to practice in. Being extra vigilent never hurts.

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From reading the posts above. I assume that if i have NY license and wants to apply for reciprocity in New Jersey. I have to

A. establish residency there and

B. can not practice in both states because NY and NJ are not compact states.

Is that correct? I really appreciate your responses.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.
From reading the posts above. I assume that if i have NY license and wants to apply for reciprocity in New Jersey. I have to

A. establish residency there and

B. can not practice in both states because NY and NJ are not compact states.

Is that correct? I really appreciate your responses.

No, this is NOT correct.

If you want to get a New Jersey license and remain in New York, you may do that. You do NOT have to live in a state to be licensed there.

You may have both a New Jersey AND a New York license. As of this minute, neither NY nor NJ are compact states.

You may live in any state and have have a license in all 49 others.

BUT you can only have a compact license and practice without a new license in the compact states IF you live in a compact state.

For example, I live in a NON compact state. I have a license in my home state, in another NON compact state AND a license in compact state. BUT I cannot use my compact state license to work in other compact states because although my main nursing practice is in a compact state, I don't LIVE in the compact state.

Now is that clear as mud, or what???

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Thank You, it is very clear. :up:

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I found the link to apply for reciprocity for licensing in NJ

http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nursing/endor_app.pdf

The other one posted on this website in 2007 has moved. I hope this helps others who are looking into NJ reciprocity.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
From reading the posts above. I assume that if i have NY license and wants to apply for reciprocity in New Jersey. I have to

A. establish residency there and

B. can not practice in both states because NY and NJ are not compact states.

Is that correct? I really appreciate your responses.

Honestly, it's best to get the term reciprocity out of the way, IMHO. You're looking at licensure by endorsement and if you use that term it may be easier to find that information onthe BON's website for the state you are interested in. What the other poster says is true...you can apply for licensure in all 49 states if you want..gets a bit expensive but you can do it.:-) Long as you meet the state BON requirements for licensure, and follow the state practice act, you can hold licensure in both states. Compact status is a whole different thing and wouldn't apply in your example as neither NY or NJ are compact states.

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I hope you guys can help me with this one.

My brother is in the Philippines. He is a RN. He has a valid Vermont license. He passed the NCLEX when he was here few years back. License is valid until early 2011.

A nursing home from New Jersey offered him a job and is willing to sponsor him.

Question:

1. Can we proceed with the filing of Green card from Philippines given his license is from VErmont and the sponsoring company is from NJ?

2. What should he do? What are the steps he should take?

3. Should he get reciprocity before filing for Green card?

Thanks.

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