Smart to get licensed in compact state first?? Plz advise

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Hello everyone, I just graduated from my BSN program 2 days ago! I'm really excited right now, but I'm a little unsure of what exactly I should do next. The state I graduated in is a compact state, but the state we're moving to (Illinois) in July, is not a compact state.

My question to you guys is: should I go ahead and get licensed in my current compact state and then just attempt to transfer it to Illinois, or should I just try and get licensed in Illinois? I've heard you have to jump through lots of hoops to get licensed in non compact states. Is it hard to transfer your license from a non-compact state to a compact state?

I am stressed about this, because I can't even register for the nclex to take boards until I know which state would be best to apply to first.

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Specializes in SRNA.

If you're going to move to and work in IL, get a IL license.

Whether you get your license in another state or not, IL will make sure you meet all of their requirements to get licensed. I see no reason to get licensed somewhere else first unless you want to increase the cost and time to get licensed.

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Things may be different now, but I always understood it was easier to get your license in the state you graduated in, then get it transferred (however I am not sure what a "compact" state is).

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Thank you for both of your replys! A compact state means you can be licensed in one state, say Colorado, which is a compact state, and practice in Nebraska which is another compact state - you simply need to comply with the nurse practice act of the state in which you practice, rather than having to transfer your license over.

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Thank you for both of your replys! A compact state means you can be licensed in one state, say Colorado, which is a compact state, and practice in Nebraska which is another compact state - you simply need to comply with the nurse practice act of the state in which you practice, rather than having to transfer your license over.

You have to hold the license in the state of your primary residence. So if you moved to Nebraska you will need a Nebraska license. But if you live in one compact state and commute to another, you just need the license from your home state.

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I'm thinking of just attempting to get licensed in Illinois (which is not where I graduated) so as to avoid any delays or extra transfer fees. Please post if you don't think this is a good idea. I plan on applying to the state board of nursing soon.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

My understanding is a compact is only useful if your main residence is one state and you work in another that is on the compact list. If you plan on moving residence then you can not use compact but have to get a license in the state of your residence. So if planning on moving to IL then could either apply to state you are in now and once passed NCLEX and have a license endorse or apply straight away to IL

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For what it's worth, the endorsement process in Illinois is inexpensive and quite easy. But if you're moving there in July, there's no chance you'll be practicing in your home state. It takes almost no more effort to apply for licensure in a state other than your own. The only thing I can think of is that the fingerprinting process will be slightly different, but it's no big deal, and you can find all the details on the Illinois website easily.

Congratulations on your graduation, and good luck on the NCLEX. Where in IL are you moving to? Do you have a job lined up?

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I am so glad someone else had this question!! My question is what would you do if you know youre planning to move to a compact state but you dont live there now and you dont want to move until you have officially passed NCLEX. Can you still apply for that state?

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Hi there SDA. When you are applying to pay for the NCLEX, it asks which state board of nursing you want to apply for. So to answer your question, you would just need to select the state you plan to move to and work in, and also go to that state's board of nursing website and fill out an application for licensure.

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A license from a compact state only has "compact privileges" as long as you maintain your permanent residence in that state -- as soon as you move out of state, the license reverts to an ordinary nursing license with no compact privileges (if you move to a non-compact state) or, if you move to another compact state, you foreit the previous license and have to apply for licensure in your "new" compact state (you can only be licensed in one compact state at a time). So, there is no point in applying for licensure in a compact state unless you are going to live there.

I'm not sure how the compact state BONs handle it if you are applying from out of state with the intention of moving there.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Furthermore, although endorsing your license from one state to another is easy, it usually involves paying your current BON a fee to verify your license and fill out paperwork or completing Nursys verification, which is an added cost to the process.

Please, save yourself time and money and go to IL BON site and apply for your RN license by examination. Just so you know, when you get your approval to test, you may choose any testing center in the US, so if you haven't moved to IL yet, you can take the NCLEX wherever it's convenient to you and the results will be sent to IL if that's where you decide you want your license.

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