Work in TN using SC license ?

nakeia · May 26, 2009

they're both compact states... so yes.

Be_Moore · May 26, 2009

But of note is that if you are changing your residence to TN, you will need to get a TN license. The SC license is only good for a month...and some facilities may require an in-state license if you are being hired full-time as an employee (as opposed to a full time contractor / agency nurse) even if your current license is compact.

elkpark · May 26, 2009

If you are moving to another state, your license will lose its "compact privileges" when you move. You will need to apply for a TN license.

There is a lot of confusion about "compact" licenses. The easiest way to think about it is that it works the same as your driver's license. You can drive all over the country for as long as you want on your home state driver's license, but, if you move to another state, you have 30 or 45 days (or whatever the state law says) to apply for a driver's license in your new state. You can't just keep driving indefinitely on your old, previous state license (not legally, anyway! :)) "Compact" nursing licenses work the same way. As long as you maintain your permanent residence in your "home" (compact) state, you can use that state's license to work in other compact states. However, if you move to another state, the old license loses its privileges and you have to apply for a license in your "new" compact state.

The only reason we are able to drive cross-country without stopping at each state line to apply for an additional driver's license is because many, many years ago, all 50 states got together and signed a compact agreeing to recognize (temporarily) each other's driver's licenses. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) works exactly the same way, except that not all states have chosen to sign on so far.