Transferring from Utah to Colorado after graduation?

[futureRNlexi]

Hello!
I am looking to move from Utah to Colorado after graduation, my fiancé who is in the program with me and I are originally from California, and we do not really like Utah and its very religiously run state. He and I have fallen in love with the seasons and beautiful scenery, but we do not get along with the people very much (no offense to any LDS members). Any advice for switching licensure when it comes time to take the NCLEX? Will it be difficult to get a new grad job coming from out of state with no job experience previously? I should also mention that our school is ABHES and CCNE accredited, will this affect our transfer?

Thank you!

[chare]

Are you, and or your fiancé still legal residents if CA? Or have you established legal residency in UT? This is an important distinction as both UT and NM are member states of the enhanced Nurse License Compact (eNLC).

You do not need to apply for initial licensure in the state in which you attend school. Aside from the residency requirements of the eNLC, you can apply for initial licensure in any state, as long as you meet the educational requirements of that state. What this means is this: If you are still a legal resident of CA, you can apply for initial licensure by examination in CO.

If, however, you are a legal resident of UT, you can not apply for initial licensure in CO, or any of the member states of the eNLC. If you are a legal resident of an eNLC state you can not apply for licensure in another eNLC state, and must apply for licensure in your state of residency. However, if you are licensed in any eNLC state, and your license grant’s you multi-state privileges, when you relocate to another eNLC state and apply for licensure you can work on your previous state’s license while your application is processed.

And, to clarify. When you apply for licensure in another state you don't transfer your license, you apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state. What happens to your previous license depends upon whether one, or both, states are members of the eNLC. If you are licensed in a non-eNLC state and apply for licensure in any other state your original license remains active. If you are licensed in an eNLC state and apply for licensure in another eNLC state, when you receive your new license you original license will be placed on inactive status as you call only hold one multi-state license. If you are licensed in an eNLC state and apply for licensure in a non-eNLC state you previous license will revert to a single state license, good only in the state of issue as you must be a resident of the state for the license to grant multi-state privileges.

Best wishes.