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Nurses Moving
Beyond State Borders
by Shelly
Field
Summary Necessary licensure info for nurses who move from state to state
Moving is a way of life for many people today. For nurses, whether crisscrossing the
country or just moving over state lines, obtaining licensure in the new state is usually
essential.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers a program called
the mutual recognition model. This interstate compact
allows nurses licensed in a state that is part of the program to practice in other states
within the program and have their current licenses be recognized. There are, of course,
rules and regulations that must be adhered to depending on the specific state.
The problem with this particular plan is that currently only a handful of states have
entered into the nurses' licensure compact. These include Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa,
Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
Maine passed the compact but must still hold public rule hearings.
More states are expected to pass legislation for the compact shortly. This will make it
much easier for nurses to practice across state borders. If you are interested in finding
out if and when your state might take part in the program, contact your local state board
of nursing. To learn more about the program, visit the National Council Boards of
Nursing Web site.
If you don't live in one of the states covered by the new compact, don't despair. It
might take some time to research another state's nursing license requirements, and perhaps
some additional classes or tests to get licensed, but it will be worth it.
Let's say you fulfilled your lifelong dream of becoming a registered nurse. You're
living and working in Manhattan at a great teaching hospital. But after a long winter, you
decide you love your job, but you really don't like the cold weather, ice and snow.
Florida starts to look very good. What's better, you checked out the job situation, and
you'll have no trouble finding employment.
Your state nursing license is from New York, but you want to work in Florida. What do
you have to do?
Generally, to obtain licensure in another state, nurses must meet the requirements of
the specific state in which they are interested in working and then obtain another license
from that state. There are a number of ways to go about this.
- Check with the specific state board of nursing. Your current state board of nursing can
usually give you the contact information for other state boards.
- Obtain information from your potential employer. With the current nursing shortage, many
employers are happy to provide assistance on getting licensed to new employees.
- Do research on the Internet. Search for information on specific state licensing
requirements, license periods, fees, continuing education requirements, etc.
In the end, you'll have a nursing license to do what you love in another
state!
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