Licensing Guide
Licensing Information
As a traveler, obtaining nursing licenses in multiple states can open up new opportunities for fulfilling assignments and higher pay rates. Maintaining multiple nursing licenses is an investment that will give you more choices when you are looking for your next travel assignment.
States with the highest-paying assignments, like California and New York, can take more than a month to process your application, so the sooner you start the process, the faster you can earn the pay you deserve.
USN is committed to fueling your ambition, and we offer licensing programs to help travelers become licensed in states they are not currently licensed in. Our team is well-versed in the various licensing systems and can help guide you through the process.
Search nursing license requirements by State:
Licensure Reimbursement Program
USN wants you to have the option of working in any state across the U.S. If you apply for a new or renewed state license, and accept and complete a USN assignment in that same state, we may reimburse your fees*.
To learn more about the qualifications, processing time and necessary information for specific state licensing, talk with your recruiter.
**Please Note: USN does not reimburse expenses such as transcripts, CEUs or associated license verifications. USN does not process licenses.*
What is the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)?
The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) allows any nurse who resides in one of the 40+ participating "compact" states to practice in another eNLC state without getting a separate nursing license.
To get your compact license, you must have proof of permanent residence in a compact state as well as a current, active RN license in that state. Once you hold a compact nursing license, you do not need to obtain licensure in any of the other participating states in order to work there, allowing you to easily travel and work within the nursing compact states.
States currently participating in the eNLC include:
Walkthrough States
"Walkthrough" states allow a nurse to be issued a temporary state nursing license within 24 hours, allowing you to get your license within a single day. This temporary travel nursing license is used to practice nursing while awaiting permanent licensure to be processed.
The temporary licenses obtained in walkthrough states are usually valid for 30 days to six months, depending on the state issuing the license. The following states are considered walkthrough states:
Other States (Licensure by Endorsement)
These states have various individual requirements and are neither a compact nor a walkthrough state:
American Samoa
District of Columbia
Mariana Islands
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