Licensing guides
What you need to work in another state, in plain words: the compact, endorsement, the documents and the timing.
Licensing guides
How healthcare licensing works
A healthcare license belongs to a state. To work in a state you hold that state's license, or you practice under an arrangement the state recognizes. There are three routes, and which one applies decides how fast you can start.
- Compact license. For RNs and LPN/LVNs: one multistate license from a compact home state covers the other compact states.
- Endorsement. You hold a license in one state and apply to another to license you based on it. It is the standard route for non-compact states and for most other professions.
- Exam and initial license. New graduates sit the national exam and apply to their state board.
Allied health, therapy, pharmacy, laboratory and imaging licenses and certifications are state by state. Some states accept a national certification, others issue their own license. Always ask the state board what applies to your role.
Find your situation
I am a nurse taking a travel assignment
Check whether your home state and the assignment state are both compact states. If yes and your license is multistate, you can start sooner. If not, start endorsement early.
I am moving to a new state
Apply in the new home state when you move. Ask how long you may keep practicing on your former license while it processes.
I am a new graduate
Apply to your state board for an initial license after the exam, then use the compact or endorsement when you work elsewhere.
I am an allied health professional
Find your state board for your profession and ask about licensure by endorsement and about national certification. The nurse compact does not apply.
Documents to gather before you apply
- Government photo ID and your Social Security number.
- Proof of your current license and license number in every state where you hold or held one.
- Proof of education, such as transcripts, and exam results where the board asks.
- Fingerprints for the background check where required, and a plan for where to get them.
- Proof of certifications the role asks for, such as BLS or ACLS, and their expiry dates.
- Names and dates of recent employers for work history.
Nursing license by endorsement, state by state
| State | Board | RN endorsement fee | Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Board of Nursing | $125 | Compact |
| Alaska | Alaska Board of Nursing | $300 | Not in compact |
| Arizona | Arizona State Board of Nursing | $150 | Compact |
| Arkansas | Arkansas State Board of Nursing | $125 | Compact |
| California | California Board of Registered Nursing | $350 | Not in compact |
| Colorado | Colorado State Board of Nursing | — | Compact |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section (nursing licensure) | $180 | Pending |
| Delaware | Delaware Board of Nursing | $181 | Compact |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia Board of Nursing | — | Not in compact |
| Florida | Florida Board of Nursing | $110 | Compact |
| Georgia | Georgia Board of Nursing | $75 | Compact |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Board of Nursing | $186 | Not in compact |
| Idaho | Idaho Board of Nursing | $70 | Compact |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) | $50 | Not in compact |
| Indiana | Indiana State Board of Nursing | $50 | Compact |
| Iowa | Iowa Board of Nursing | $119 | Compact |
| Kansas | Kansas State Board of Nursing | $100 | Compact |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Nursing | $165 | Compact |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Board of Nursing | — | Compact |
| Maine | Maine State Board of Nursing | — | Compact |
| Maryland | Maryland Board of Nursing | $230 | Compact |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing | $275 | Pending |
| Michigan | Michigan Board of Nursing | — | Not in compact |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Board of Nursing | $105 | Not in compact |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Board of Nursing | $100 | Compact |
| Missouri | Missouri State Board of Nursing | $105 | Compact |
| Montana | Montana Board of Nursing | $200 | Compact |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Board of Nursing (DHHS Licensure Unit) | — | Compact |
| Nevada | Nevada State Board of Nursing | $100 | Not in compact |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | $116 | Compact |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Board of Nursing | — | Compact |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Board of Nursing | $150 | Compact |
| New York | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Nursing) | $143 | Not in compact |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Board of Nursing | $150 | Compact |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Board of Nursing | $150 | Compact |
| Ohio | Ohio Board of Nursing | $75 | Compact |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | $85 | Compact |
| Oregon | Oregon State Board of Nursing | — | Not in compact |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing | $120 | Compact |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education | $135 | Compact |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Board of Nursing | $100 | Compact |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Board of Nursing | $100 | Compact |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Board of Nursing | $150 | Compact |
| Texas | Texas Board of Nursing | $150 | Compact |
| Utah | Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) - Nursing | — | Compact |
| Vermont | Vermont Board of Nursing | — | Compact |
| Virginia | Virginia Board of Nursing | $190 | Compact |
| Washington | Washington State Board of Nursing | $138 | Not in compact |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses | $125 | Compact |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services) | $73 | Compact |
| Wyoming | Wyoming State Board of Nursing | $135 | Compact |
Fees and requirements come from each board's own website. Open a state for the steps, sources and date checked.
Compact status by state
Compact states (38)
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Enacted, not yet implemented (2)
Not in the compact (11)
Status as of October 15, 2026. Links open each state page with its licensing steps.
Common questions
How long does it take to get licensed in a new state?
It varies by board and profession. Verification of your existing licenses and background checks add to it, so plan on several weeks and start before you accept a start date.
Can I work while my application is processed?
Some boards issue temporary permits. Ask the board whether one exists for your role and whether it covers the assignment you are taking.
Does the nurse compact cover my profession?
Only RNs and LPN/LVNs. Other professions are licensed state by state.
Does Valorem Health help with licensing?
Your recruiter tells you which license each role needs and what the facility requires. You apply to the board, and our credentialing team helps with documents for onboarding.
Who do I contact to confirm a requirement?
The state board for your profession. Rules change, and the board is the final authority.
Moving states? See what RNs get paid near you.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your RN pay reportyour city · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Veterans Health AdministrationSan Antonio, TX · 5 postings$62.40/ hr$36–$87
- Military Treatment Facilities under DHAFort Hood, TX · 3 postings$55.88/ hr$47–$67
- BrightSpring Health ServicesIRVING, TX · 4 postings$50.00/ hr$44–$55
- Select MedicalDallas, TX · 3 postings$46.19/ hr$32–$53
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
124 RN postings with published pay in Texas, 105 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 124 RN roles
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care) - Education Debt Reduction Program AuthorizedPermanent$86k–$174k/ year
- Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory)Permanent$107k–$139k/ year
+ 122 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.