Getting a nurse license in a different state can be confusing due to differences in requirements, processes, and timeframes. Perhaps there will come a time when a single nurse license will enable nurses to work across state lines. We can dream, right?
With 39 current members of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), such a dream may soon become reality. However, currently, the majority of the United States still require individual licenses each with specific requirements and licensure timeframes.
We’ve created this state-by-state guide to explain the process and outline the estimated time frames for each state.
While it is true that each state has specific application requirements, there are basic commonalities between them all, including:
You may be wondering how BON determines “good moral character.” They first provide a set of questions, if a nurse answers “yes” to any of these questions, they’ll be required to submit further documentation.
1. Has any disciplinary action ever been taken against you by a professional and/or trade licensing/certification board located in the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territory, or any country/foreign jurisdiction, including removal from a long-term care nurse aide registry program?
2. Are you the subject of pending disciplinary action by a professional and/or trade licensing/certification board located in the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territory, or any country/foreign jurisdiction?
3. Have you ever applied for, and been denied, a professional and/or trade license/certification in the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territory, or any other country/foreign jurisdiction?
4. Have you ever surrendered or resigned a professional and/or trade license/certificate in the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territory, or any other country/foreign jurisdiction?
5. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territory, or any other country/foreign jurisdiction?
6. Are you the subject of any pending or open criminal case (s) or investigation(s), (including for any felony or misdemeanor) in a jurisdiction in the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territory, or any country/foreign jurisdiction?
Registered nurse licensure requirements change on a continuing basis. We’ve included the most up-to-date information in this guide. However, it is your responsibility to check with each state’s Board of Nursing for current information when it comes time for you to apply.
Once you’ve landed on a state’s Board of Nursing website you’ll notice two options for licensure - by exam or by endorsement. It’s important to know the difference and to apply to the correct option.
License by examination is for nurses who are seeking licensure for the first time. Nurses are required to obtain a nursing degree and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) prior to applying for licensure. The NCLEX is a standardized exam used by each state’s board of nursing to determine the preparedness of entry-level nurses; it is a national requirement.
License by endorsement is for nurses who are already licensed to work as Registered Nurses within the United States but, are applying for licensure to be eligible to work in another jurisdiction.
Take note that nurses who were trained in countries outside of the United States will need to take additional steps towards their licensure to be eligible to work in the United States.
Fortunately, many states have joined the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC.) since it was enacted in December 2018. eNLC is an agreement between participating states to honor each state’s RN licenses. Nurses residing in eNLC states are permitted to provide care both within their home state and also within other eNLC states. The eNLC increases access to care while maintaining public protection at the state level. Those with previous compact licenses will be grandfathered into the eNLC. As more states pass legislation to join the compact the process is becoming streamlined and more affordable while creating abundant job opportunities; the eNLC seeks to:
Nurses are eligible for a compact, or multistate nursing license if they meet the following criteria:
While licensure times vary greatly by state, a few states process temporary licenses within a day or two.
Of course, you do need to already have a license in another state. Temporary licenses do expire quickly, within 6 months. Make sure to apply for a permanent license as well to prevent any hiccups when your temporary license expires.
While many states grant temporary permits to nurses seeking licensure, some do not. A temporary permit may be granted to newly graduated nurses with pending NCLEX results who wish to work in a facility in a nurse-graduate program.
Temporary licensure may also be granted to nurses who apply for licensure by endorsement. Processing, stipulations and expiration times vary, be sure to check with the state’s Board of Nursing.
Whether you are a new graduate applying for licensure by examination or you are an experienced nurse applying for licensure by endorsement, you’ll eventually receive a permanent license. Once you receive your permanent license, it is your responsibility to keep it in good standing, protect it and follow the steps to keep it active.
Renewal time frames vary by state. For example, some licenses expire on the nurse’s birthday and others expire every 24 months from activation.
Requirements for renewal also vary by state. They may require a certain amount of continuing education units (CEU) or a set amount of clinical hours per given period.
Discipline on nurse licenses is less than 1%. However, violations of the Nurse Practice Act, an act to regulate and guide patient care, can occur. The board of nursing takes these violations very seriously and formal action may be taken if evidence shows that regulations were violated.
Once a complaint has been filed on a nurse’s license, the state board of nursing will typically take the following steps:
If action is taken against a nurse license, both the license and action against the license are publicly available on Nursys.com and the state database for nurse licensure.
Note that if you’ve had action taken against your license it is crucial that you share this information (and any supporting documents) with the board of nursing in the state you are applying. Whereas licensure may be granted if the BON knows about the disciplinary actions beforehand, it will not be granted if the information is withheld.
A few of the most common actions that cause nurses to lose their license include:
Inappropriate use of social media platforms can put a nurse’s license at risk for investigation, sanctions, and loss. While social media has made us all more connected it has also made it easy to share confidential information.
The Board of Nursing may be permitted to investigate reports of inappropriate disclosure or behavior on social media platforms based on:
Unethical posting on social platforms can lead to complaints, investigations and further disciplinary actions.
It is vital for nurses to not violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), state privacy laws or employer policies by taking photos or videos of patients without their written consent. Such violations can lead to civil lawsuits, criminal charges, and licensure discipline.
Furthermore, nurses should not denigrate either their employer or co-workers online. Not only is such posting improper but, it could also be considered cyberbullying and lead to further legal action. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing states, “Online comments by a nurse regarding coworkers, even if posted from home during non-work hours, may constitute lateral violence… Such activity causes concern for current and future employers and regulators because of the patient-safety ramifications…The line between speech protected by labor laws and the First Amendment and the ability of an employer to impose expectations on employees outside of work is still being determined. Nonetheless, such comments can be detrimental to a cohesive health care delivery team and may result in sanctions against the nurse.”
A nurse’s judgment or moral character could be questioned if it is found that they are engaged in such activities:
After investigations take place and if allegations are found to be true a nurse could face the following disciplinary action on their license:
While the licensing process can be very lengthy in some states common mistakes can make it even longer. Again, make sure to check with your state’s board of nursing before applying.
Fingerprints must be collected for every new license that a nurse applies to. Smudged or damaged fingerprints can put a hold on the process. Luckily, many states are offering an alternative to the traditional manual fingerprint card. Thanks to innovations in technology the Livescan service allows for fingerprints to be electronically submitted directly to the Board much quicker than manual fingerprint cards. There is a catch though, the Nurse must be within the State in which they wish to obtain licensure. Livescan cannot be completed from outside of the State, find a location nearest you here.
Due to the length of the licensing process, we recommend applying for licensure as far in advance as possible. There have been times when California licensure has taken up to 6 months to obtain. We have provided a chart of estimated license time frames by state but keep in mind that processing times could vary based on many factors and errors.
If you are applying for licensure by endorsement you’ll be asked to verify an active nurse license. We recommend using Nursys.com to complete this requirement. Nursys is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and PN/LVN licensed in participating jurisdictions, including all states in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). However, not every state utilizes this database. If your state does not participate, you’ll need to verify your license through the state’s BON.
It is never appropriate to submit non-official transcripts to the board of nursing. They will only accept sealed transcripts mailed directly from the college or university. This is another case where processing times can vary, make sure to order your transcripts far in advance.
Keeping important documents online in a cloud-based platform, such as Google Drive will help to maintain organization and facilitate easy application submission. We suggest creating a folder to include specific documents that will be requested at the time of licensure. These documents include:
There are a few options for submitting the license application. These include: in person, mail-in or applying online. It is generally faster to apply in person. However, if that is not possible, applying online will be quicker than mail-in. We also recommend contacting the BON in your state by phone to inquire about your license, especially if you need it fast.
While waiting to obtain either your temporary or permanent license, it is important to track its status. Many employers are unable to move forward with interviewing candidates until the candidate’s license is at least in “pending” status.
Nursys provides a database for nurses to track the status of their license. It will also alert you once your license is active. However, Nursys’ database collects data directly from the board of nursing for each state. While some states submit their data to Nursys on the same day it is received others can take up to three weeks to update Nursys. Therefore, it is recommended to both utilize Nursys services and also monitor your license on the State’s website.
Unfortunately, it is fairly common for license processing to be delayed. There are a number of reasons that cause delays, the most frequent include:
We suggest the following tips to avoid delays in licensure:
