3 Steps to Take to Get a Multistate Nursing License
By Lee Soren, contributor
For travel nurses who take assignments throughout the United States, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) has been a blessing, saving time and money and making it easier to work across state lines. Through the NLC, a nurse who holds a multistate license can practice in any of the 34 compact states without securing an individual state license.
This multistate nursing license is ideal for travel nurses, those who work close to the border between two states or want to be available to help out in rapid-response deployments in regions impacted by natural disasters, and nurses working in the growing field of telehealth. Here are three steps you'll need to get the process started.
1. Determine your eligibility
Healthcare professionals who wish to secure a multistate nursing license must meet certain universal standards and requirements. Eligibility requirements include:
- Having a primary residence in a qualified compact state
- Meeting licensure requirements in your home state
- Graduating from a board-approved nursing program or an approved international education program — non-native English speakers must also pass an English proficiency exam
- Passing the NCLEX exam (or its predecessor)
- Holding or being eligible for an unencumbered state license
- Submitting to federal and state criminal background checks
- Having no felony convictions and no nursing-related misdemeanor convictions
- Not currently participating in an alternative program
- Holding a valid U.S. Social Security number
Additional information about these standards and requirements is available here.
RELATED:Top Nursing Compact Licensure FAQs Answered
2. Visit your state's Board of Nursing website
To initiate the application process, visit your state's Board of Nursing website, which should contain all the information you'll need to get started. From the homepage, find and navigate to the section that contains the application to apply for a new license. There, you should find an eNLC upgrade application or an option to apply for a multistate license, which you'll need to complete to get your compact license.
Be prepared to provide proof of residency, which may include an in-state mailing address or other documentation, such as a driver's license, a voter registration card or copies of federal tax returns.
3. Follow additional directions provided by your state
To secure your multistate license, you'll also need to complete a mandatory background check and fingerprinting. Your state's Board of Nursing website should list approved centers near you, and you'll need to visit in person. A moderate licensing fee is also required and can often be reimbursed by working with a travel staffing agency.
The review of your application takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Once it's approved, you should receive your new multistate nursing license by mail.
What should you do if you're a resident of a non-compact state?
Unfortunately, nurses who live in non-compact states aren't eligible for a multistate license. While it's likely that more and more states will continue to join the NLC, there are options for non-eligible travel nurses who wish to practice in more than one state.
Licensure by endorsement is one such option. Although the licensing process varies by state, licensure by endorsement should be available in your state of choice. This option eliminates the need for nurses to retake examinations, letting active nurses in good standing secure a license in another state by providing proof of their credentials. Nurses who haven't been actively practicing may be required to take a refresher course prior to being approved for a state license.
Asking for help
While applying for your multistate license is generally simple and straightforward, questions do come up. For travel nurses ready to embark on a new assignment and dealing with tight timelines, don't worry. Help is available.
The state Board of Nursing where your employer is located should be able to answer most of your questions. Recruiters are also knowledgeable about the NLC and the ins and outs of multistate licenses and can be a great resource for travel nurses who may be struggling to navigate the application process.
If you're ready to put your multistate nursing license to good use, visit TravelNursing.com's extensive database of jobs to find your next assignment.