The process of actually getting licensed in different states either can be relatively simple or it can be quite arduous depending on the state. If a state participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, then obtaining a license from that state means that you can take assignments in other compact states without having to get another license. Here is a list of the phone, fax, and website for each state’s licensing authority (compacted states are so marked) along with an estimated timeframe to receive the license.
Alabama
Website
Phone: 800.656.5318 Fax: 334.242.4360
(Temp) 14 Days (Perm) 4-6 Weeks
Alaska
Website
Phone: 907.269.8161 Fax: 907.269.8196
(Temp) 10 Days (Perm) 6-8 Weeks
Arizona (Compact)
Website
Phone: 602.889.5150 Fax: 602.889.5155
(Temp) Walk-Thru-48 Hours 1-2 weeks by mail (Perm) 2-3 Months
Arkansas (Compact)
Website
Phone: 501.682.2700 Fax: 501.686.2714
(Temp) 3-4 Days (Perm) 10 weeks upon completion of back check
California
Website
Phone: 916.322.3350 Fax: 916.574.7697
(Temp) Same day if walk through - 4-6 wks by mail - (Perm) 6 Months
Connecticut
Website
Phone: 860.509.7603 Fax: 860.509.8457
(Temp) 5 Days (Perm) 10 Days
Delaware (Compact)
Website
Phone: 302.744.4500 Fax: 302.739.2711
(Temp) 1 Week (Perm) 2 Weeks
District of Columbia
Website
Phone: 202.724.4900
(Temp) Application 2 Weeks Prior to Walk Through (Perm) 3 Weeks Upon Receipt of all Docs
Florida
Website
Phone: 850.245.4125 Fax: 850.245.4172
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 30 Days
Georgia
Website
Phone: 478.207.2440 Fax: 478.207.1354
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 10-15 Days Upon Receipt of Verifications
Hawaii
Website
Phone: 808.586.3000
(Temp) 10 - 15 Days (Perm) 10-15 Days Upon Receipt of Verifications
Idaho (Compact)
Website
Phone: 208.334.3110 Fax: 478.207.1354
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through - 2 days if by mail - (Perm) 6-8 Weeks
Illinois
Website
Phone: 217.785.0800 Fax: 217.782.7645
(Temp) 14 business days upon receipt of all docs (Perm) 2-4 Weeks
Indiana
Website
Phone: 317.234.2043 Fax: 317.233.4236
(Temp) A few days, can walk-thru same day (Perm) 4-5 Weeks-Depends Upon Receipt of all Docs
Iowa (Compact)
Website
Phone: 515.281.3255 Fax: 515.281.4825
(Temp) 5-10 Days Upon receipt of docs (Perm) 5-10 days Upon Receipt of All Completed Docs
Kansas
Website
Phone: 785.296.4929 Fax: 785.296.3929
(Temp) 1 Week Upon Receipt of Application (Perm) 3-10 days Upon Receipt of Verifications
Kentucky (Compact)
Website
Phone: 502.429.3300 Fax: 502.429.3311
(Temp) 10-14 Business Days (Perm) 4-6 Weeks
Louisiana
Phone: 225.755.7500 Fax: 225.755.7584
(Temp) Same Day if Walk Through - 10 Bus. Days by mail - (Perm) 4-6 Weeks
Maine (Compact) (Paperless)
Website
Phone: 207.287.1133 Fax: 207.287.1149
(Temp) 7-14 Days (Perm) 1 Week Upon Receipt of Verifications
Maryland (Compact) (Paperless)
Website
Phone: 410.585.1993 Fax: 410.358.3530
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through - 2 wks via mail - (Perm) 4-6 Weeks
Massachusetts
Website
Phone: 617.973.0800 Fax: 617.973.0984
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 4 Weeks Upon Receipt of All Docs
Michigan
Website
Phone: 517.335.0918 Fax: 517.373.2179
(Temp) 6-8 weeks (Perm) 6-8 weeks
Minnesota
Website
Phone: 612.617.2270 Fax: 612.617.2190
(Temp) 1-2 days (Perm) Varies - Depends Upon Receipt of Verifications
Mississippi (Compact)
Website
Phone: 601.987.4188 Fax: 601.364.2352
(Temp) 5 days upon receipt of all docs (Perm) 2-3 Weeks
Missouri
Website
Phone: 573.751.0681 Fax: 573.751.0075
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through (Perm) 2-3 weeks Upon Receipt of All Docs Completed
Montana
Website
Phone: 406.841.2300 Fax: 406.841.2305
(Temp) 2-3 Days Upon Receipt of Verifications (Perm) 10 Days Upon Receipt of All Docs
Nebraska (Compact)
Website
Phone: 402.471.4376 Fax: 402.471.1066
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through - 5-10 days mail - (Perm) Varies from 2 weeks to 2 months - Upon Receipt of all Docs
Nevada
Website
Phone: 702.486.5800 Fax: 702.486.5803
(Temp) 7 days (Perm) 7 days
New Hampshire (Compact) (Paperless)
Website
Phone: 603.271.2323 Fax: 603.271-6605
(Temp) 8 weeks (dependent on when back check clears) (Perm) 8 weeks (dependent on when back check clears)
New Jersey
Website
Phone: 973.504.6430
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 4-6 Weeks
New Mexico (Compact)
Website
Phone: 505.841.8340 Fax: 505.841.8347
(Temp) 2 Weeks (Perm) 2 Weeks Upon Receipt of All Documents
New York
Website
Phone: 518.474.3817 Fax: 518.474.3398
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 6-8 Weeks Upon Receipt of All documents
North Carolina (Compact) (Paperless)
Website
Phone: 919.782.3211 Fax: 919.781.94612
(Temp) Weeks Upon Receipt of Application (Perm) 6-8 Weeks
North Dakota (Compact)
Website
Phone: 701.328.9777 Fax: 701.328.9785
(Temp) 2 Weeks (Perm) 2 Weeks
Ohio
Website
Phone: 614.466.3947 Fax: 614.466.0388
(Temp) 7-14 days (Perm) 2 Weeks
Oklahoma
Website
Phone: 405.962.1800 Fax: 405.962.1821
(Temp) 14 Business Days (Perm) 14 Business Days Upon Receipt of All Docs
Oregon
Website
Phone: 971.673.0685 Fax: 971.673.0684
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 3-4 weeks Upon Receipt of Verifications
Pennsylvania
Phone: 717.783.7142 Fax: 717.783.0822
(Temp) 7-10 business days upon receipt of docs (Perm) 6-8 Weeks upon receipt of Docs
Rhode Island (Compact)
Website
Phone: 401.222.5700 Fax: 401.222.3352
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through - 1-4 wks via mail - (Perm) 8 Weeks
South Carolina
Website
Phone: 803.896.4550 Fax: 803.896.4525
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through (Perm) 6-8 Weeks
South Dakota (Compact)
Website
Phone: 605.362.2760 Fax: 605.362.2768
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through (Perm) 3-6 Weeks
Tennessee (Compact)
Website
Phone: 615.532.3202
(Temp) 4-6 Weeks (Perm) 6-8 Weeks
Texas (Compact)
Website
Phone: 512.305.7400 Fax: 512.305.7401
(Temp) 10 Business Days (Perm) 10 Business Days Upon Receipt of Verifications
Utah (Compact)
Website
Phone: 801.530.6628 Fax: 801.530.6511
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 10 Days Upon Receipt of All Docs
Vermont
Website
Phone: 802.828.2396
(Temp) Same Day If Walk Through (Perm) 3-4 Weeks- Dependant Upon Receipt of Verifications
Virginia (Compact)
Website
Phone: 804.367.4515 Fax: 804.527.4455
(Temp) 3-5 Days (Perm) 2-6 Weeks - Dependent Upon Receipt of Verifications
Washington
Website
Phone: 360.236.4700
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 4-6 Weeks
West Virginia
Website
Phone: 304.558.3596 Fax: 304.558.3666
(Temp) 3-5 Business Days (Perm) 7-10 Days Upon Receipt of all Docs
Wisconsin (Compact)
Website
Phone: 608.266.2112
(Temp) 5-6 Weeks (Perm) 5-6 Weeks
Wyoming
Website
Phone: 307.777.7601 Fax: 307.777.3519
(Temp) 7-10 Bus Days - Must Apply for Perm also - (Perm) 2 Weeks Upon Receipt of Verifications
Virgin Islands
Website
Phone: 340.776.7397 Fax: 340.777.4003
(Temp) No Temp License (Perm) 3-5 Days Upon Receipt of all Docs