Career Corner >> Nursing Specialization >> Travel Nurse Licensing
Travel Nurse Licensing
388 posts back to top |
Posted almost 6 years ago How do nurses get licensed to be a travel nurse? Can you use a license from any state or is there a specific license for travel nurses? |
27 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 6 years ago There is not a specific license for travel nurses. However, there is what they call a nurse license compact. States participating in this compact will accept nursing licenses from any other state in the compact without getting an additional license in their state. That sounded confusing, but here is a link to the national council on state boards of nursing (NCSBN) that has more information: https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm For a travel nurse to work in a non-compact state they have to become licensed in the state they wish to travel to. Travel Nurse Companies help with this and often pay the fees for you. Hope this was helpful. |
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388 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 6 years ago Thanks boogle760 - it's interesting that only 23 of the 50 states have compacts implemented or pending implementation. What seems to be the hang up that the other states have. It seems like most of the states that have not joined the compact are some of the larger states with stronger unions (NY, CA, IL, MA). Does this play a part? |
604 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago I have read that some of the states don't join because they are concerned with disciplinary measures. If a nurse needs to be disciplined which state will take the action. Please don't pay any attention to my misspelled words or typos. Sorry I'll try harder next time. |
33 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago Boogle 760 answered this question fairly clearly. My only addition is that if you want or plan on travel nursing, make sure you ask the agency whether or not they reimburse for nursing licensure in the states you plan to work in. Some do and some don't. It can save you hundreds of dollars a year to go with an agency that reimburses your cost of licensure, if you are not in compact states. My recommendation is to just say no to agencies that do not offer licensure reimbursement, and make sure you tell them why. That way, they develop an incentive to begin to offer the reimbursement. After all, they make a ton of money from your work. (And I do mean a ton!) |
