quick question..

Specialties Travel

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I have a NYS RN license...in order to travel do I have to get certified in other states, or does it depend where your travel company is based out of? if you do have to get certified..does it involve just paying a fee, or do you have to take a test?

Specializes in ICU.

Educated Guess here...

Somewhere I remember reading that certain State registration with a passing NCLEX enabled you to work all states...California is one, I think NY is one as well. If you hook up with a travel agency I'm sure they will tell you more!

I have checked the travel thing out............To the best of my understanding you have to get a license with the state you are going to. Most of the agencies will reimburse you for the cost.

Specializes in OB.

You have to be licensed in each state in which you work. This is usually by reciprocity (pay a fee, have confirmation sent from your original state of licensure, some want a copy of a current license as well and more states are now asking for fingerprints as well) The exception to this is the "compact states". I think there are between 11 and 14 now. With these states, if you hold licensure IN YOUR STATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE in a compact state, you can work in other compact states on that license. I can't remember which states these now are (I know my home state isn't, darn it), but wil check on this and come back and post here later.

thanks! that is the one thing that is keeping me from seriously checking into traveling....i would hate to have to sit through that test again!! but now that i think about it...NCLEX is a national exam, isn't it??

Specializes in Everything except surgery.

You have to have a license in all the states you wish to travel to,...unless your "Home" state ( the state in which you are a resident...meaning where you vote and pay taxes) is a compact state and you're licensed there. Then you may travel to other compact states using your license from your "Home" Compact state.

Each state has a different way of doing "Endorsements". Some require you to be fingerprinted, and that is a cost along with the cost of the license that will be reimbursed to you by the agency you take an assignment with most of the time

Some agencies will not pay the total amount of the cost of getting your license, so you must ask up front, what exactly they will reimburse you, before concerning taking an assignment with them.

Some agencies say they will "assist" you with getting your license. Beware...this does not always mean they will reimburse you for the cost of getting a license. \

Aways save a receipt for everything you pay for, in the process of getting your license.

Some states verify your license thru NURSYS....which for thirty dollars will verfiy your license for any state it works with. I tried to get the form to show you what it looks like, but the site is down right now. Not all states use this form. If they don't use this form for license verification, you must contact your BON and asked how much it will cost for them to verfiy your license to another state.

The state you're applying to, (if you don't live in a compact state) will require a fee for license via endoesment, and if they offer a temp license. Some states it is very easy to get a license...as there are "walk thru" states, where you can get the license or permit the same day you apply by going to the BON in that state. Others can be a real pain to get. CA and FL are the worst to get a license in, and can take several months.

Some states require that you have made a certain score on NCLEX, and or have worked a certain number of hours. Some states also do background checks. I know this is a lot of info...but if you can get on the NCSBN...you will be able to find out more about what each state requires.

I hope I have been able to help you understand this a little better.

Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by bagladyrn

You have to be licensed in each state in which you work. This is usually by reciprocity (pay a fee, have confirmation sent from your original state of licensure, some want a copy of a current license as well and more states are now asking for fingerprints as well) The exception to this is the "compact states". I think there are between 11 and 14 now. With these states, if you hold licensure IN YOUR STATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE in a compact state, you can work in other compact states on that license. I can't remember which states these now are (I know my home state isn't, darn it), but wil check on this and come back and post here later.

OOps you beat me to it...:chuckle

how do i find out which states are "compact states"

duh i suppose i could check the link you gave me....

travel nursing is something i've thought about for a while, since i'm currently single and living on my own...thanks for all the info, i totally appreciate it.... :kiss

Check with some travel companies. A good place to start is healthcare traveler.com. There are roughly a million companies out there. I traveled for 5 years with Nursesrx and they were very helpful with addresses of state nursing boards,etc. I don't think New York is a compact state. As pointed out before,they accept nurses from other states as long as their home license is current,among these good states are Nebraska,Iowa, Wisconsin, Arizona,Texas and many more.Have fun.I found travel nursing to be very rewarding and would still be oput there but personal situation is keeping me home.

Hey Walmart. Try this link for compact states.

http://www.ncsbn.org/public/nurselicensurecompact/mutual_recognition_state.htm

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