No, you do not have to take the NCLEX again to work in another state. This question is a common source of confusion for nurses considering a move, but the process of transferring a license does not require retesting. The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) serves as a national benchmark for entry-level nursing competence. While the exam is administered nationally, the actual license is issued and governed by the individual state Boards of Nursing (BONs). Once a nurse successfully passes the NCLEX, that result is permanently recorded, allowing the nurse to pursue licensure in any state without needing to repeat the examination.
The NCLEX and Its Role in Licensure
The NCLEX is a standardized examination developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to determine if a candidate is prepared for entry-level practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The exam utilizes computer adaptive testing (CAT) technology, which tailors the difficulty of questions based on the candidate’s performance. Successful completion of this rigorous assessment is a prerequisite for initial licensure across all states and territories in the United States.
Passing the NCLEX grants a nurse eligibility for licensure, but it is the state’s Board of Nursing that ultimately issues the physical license and holds the authority over the nurse’s practice within its borders. Because the NCLEX is nationally recognized and standardized, the score is accepted by every state board as proof of meeting the national competence standard. This national acceptance is the core reason a nurse never needs to retake the exam, even when moving across the country.
Working Across State Lines Using the Nurse Licensure Compact
The most streamlined method for a nurse to practice in multiple jurisdictions is through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which operates under a mutual recognition model. The NLC is an agreement between member states that allows a nurse to hold a single multi-state license (MSL) issued by their primary state of residence (PSOR). This MSL grants the nurse the privilege to practice physically or virtually in any other NLC member state, significantly simplifying interstate practice.
To qualify for an MSL, a nurse must reside in an NLC member state and meet the uniform licensure requirements, including passing the NCLEX and holding an unencumbered license. The determination of the PSOR is based on legal residency, typically verified through documentation like a driver’s license, federal tax return, or voter registration. The NLC model legislation facilitates this practice by ensuring a coordinated licensure information system is in place to track licenses and disciplinary actions across states.
The NLC greatly benefits nurses working in telehealth, travel nursing, or those who live near a state border, allowing them to cross state lines without applying for multiple single-state licenses. While the license is issued by the PSOR, the nurse must adhere to the nursing practice laws of the state where the patient is located. The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators governs the compact, ensuring a consistent legal framework for the regulation of multi-state practice.
Obtaining Licensure Through Endorsement
For nurses moving to or from a state that is not part of the NLC, the process of transferring a license is handled through a traditional method known as licensure by endorsement. Endorsement is the application process where a nurse requests a new state’s Board of Nursing to accept their existing license credentials from the original state. This is the standard procedure when a nurse holds a single-state license and is seeking a new single-state license in a non-compact jurisdiction.
The process typically begins with the nurse submitting a formal application and paying the required fee to the Board of Nursing in the new state. The receiving board then requests verification of the original license directly from the nurse’s initial licensing board, confirming the license is valid and free of disciplinary action. This verification is often facilitated through the Nursys platform, a national database that serves as a primary source equivalent for license information.
Unlike the multi-state license provided by the NLC, endorsement results in a new single-state license, which only permits practice within that specific state’s borders. If the nurse moves to a third state that is also outside the NLC, they must repeat the entire endorsement application process again. This method is generally more time-consuming than obtaining an MSL and requires the nurse to carefully track renewal requirements for each single-state license they hold.
Required Documentation and Processing Steps
Whether applying for an MSL upgrade or a single-state license via endorsement, nurses must submit a consistent set of documentation and complete several logistical steps. All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee, the amount of which varies significantly between state boards. A mandatory component of the application process in every state is the completion of a criminal background check, which often involves digital fingerprinting to screen for any history that might disqualify the applicant from licensure.
The most important step is the official verification of the original nursing license, primarily handled through the Nursys system, the centralized database managed by the NCSBN. Nurses use Nursys to generate an electronic verification of their license, which is then transmitted directly to the receiving Board of Nursing. The applicant may also need to provide documentation of continuing education (CE) hours or proof of recent practice hours, as specific requirements vary from state to state.
Maintaining Multi-State Eligibility
Once a nurse is practicing under a multi-state license, maintaining eligibility requires careful attention to the rules of the NLC, especially concerning the primary state of residence (PSOR). The nurse must continually meet all the licensure requirements of the PSOR, including timely license renewal and completion of any mandated continuing education or practice hours. Failure to meet these requirements in the PSOR can result in the loss of the MSL privilege across all compact states.
A fundamental rule of the NLC is that a nurse who moves their legal residency from one compact state to another must apply for a new MSL in the new PSOR. The nurse is required to surrender the MSL from the old state and apply for a license in the new state within 30 to 90 days of establishing residency, depending on the specific state rules. It is the nurse’s personal responsibility to verify that their new state is an NLC member and to proactively manage this transfer to avoid a lapse in their multi-state practice privilege.