Obtaining your state licensure is an important component when vying for a travel nursing job.  As you most likely know, the majority of states have different licensing requirements for RNs, so the timeframe to obtain nursing licensure can take anywhere from one to eight weeks.  There are also a handful of states that have formed the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows RNs to practice in any of these designated states, assuming they are a permanent resident of one of them.

Having the appropriate nurse licensure can often be your edge in getting the travel nursing job you truly desire. Hospitals with immediate needs will often lean towards the RN who can start quicker when choosing between similar candidates.  Thus, you should begin the licensure process as soon as you have decided where you want to go on your next travel nursing assignment.

When starting the licensure process for a new state, your travel nurse recruiter can often walk you through the process and provide you with all of the needed documentation.  In addition, many travel nursing agencies such as Onward Healthcare will reimburse you for the cost of your new nursing license upon your acceptance of a travel nursing job.

For a list of nursing licensure timeframes by state, visit Onward Healthcare’s directory.