Which state should I apply for licensure in?

[ML504]

Hello. I just made my AllNurses account today, so I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post in. 

 I am currently about halfway done with nursing school in DePaul University's Master's Entry into nursing program. In addition to studying, I am currently trying to set myself up to move to Tennessee upon graduation. 

Unfortunately, figuring out how and where to get licensed is proving challenging. If I take the NCLEX in Illinois, I will have to transfer the license by endorsement. If I take it in Tennessee, I will be licensed in the state I want to go to, but I will have to wait longer to take the NCLEX and be licensed. Most people are advising me to get the license in Illinois first, as some have told me as long as I have a license, I may still be eligible for jobs in other states. Have others heard this? Are there any good resources for helping me make an informed decision regarding which state I should apply to? 

[chare]

If you know you are going to relocate to TN after you graduate, you should apply for licensure by examination there.  Applying for licensure in IL, if you are not planning on working there will be an unnecessary expense.

[PollywogNP, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, NP]

Illinois has legislation pending to become a compact state. What is your graduation date? If Illinois becomes a compact state before graduation date it would solve your problem since Tennessee is a compact state.

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

Illinois has had active legislation for the Nurse Licensure Compact for about ten years. Most years the NLC bill passes quickly and easily through the State Senate, but does not move through the State House of Representatives. Illinois now has new leadership in the House, so conditions may be more favorable for the bill to pass, but Illinois nursing unions still strongly oppose the NLC.

How much longer will you have to wait  to take the NCLEX in Tennessee? If you take the test in Tennessee, but aren't a legal resident of Tennessee your license will still only be a single state license. Where you take the NCLEX should probably be based on where you are living when you plan to take the test, unless you live relatively close to the Tennessee border. In the long run, a hundred dollars for an extra license shouldn't be too much of a financial burden to most future nurses. 

Even if Illinois does pass the NLC next Spring, it will still take the Board of Nursing 6-12 months to implement it. New Jersey passed the NLC two years ago, and the NJ BON still hasn't fully implemented it; New Jersey residents all have single state licenses.

Good luck.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

On 9/23/2021 at 4:30 PM, ML504 said:

If I take the NCLEX in Illinois, I will have to transfer the license by endorsement. If I take it in Tennessee, I will be licensed in the state I want to go to, but I will have to wait longer to take the NCLEX and be licensed.

NCLEX is a national exam. It doesn't matter where you take the test. You can take NCLEX in Illinois and apply for a license by exam in Tennessee. You do not need to wait until you move to Tenn. before taking NCLEX there.