Obtaining a temporary registered nurse (RN) license can be complicated, considering the complexity of the licensure process overall. Nurse licensure can be one of the most nerve-racking parts of your nursing career, often requiring you to fill out numerous forms and obtain several records. Luckily, many states offer new nurse graduates and/or licensed nurses the ability to obtain a temporary RN licenseto quickly start working while completing a full license application.
To help simplify the temporary nursing license process, we provide an overview highlighting key requirements and associated costs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.). We also include how long a state’s temporary license, permit or work authorization is valid so RNs understand the timeframe for obtaining full licensure. Whether you’re a recent graduate, relocating as a staff nurse or seeking to expand your professional reach through travel nursing contracts, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to secure your temporary RN license in any state.
General Info on Temporary Permits
Most temporary RN licenses, often called temporary permits, provide provisional authorization to work as a nurse until the state grants you full licensure. Generally, nurses wanting a temporary permit must also apply for a full license. Previously, some states offered temporary licenses without an application for full licensure to combat COVID-19 surges, but those special policies have now mostly expired. Most states issue temporary permits once and don’t offer renewals; however, we’ve noted the exceptions in the chart below.
Acquiring a temporary nursing license usually has similar requirements no matter the state, but details, such as the cost and timing, can vary. You can typically find information about requirements, application forms and fee schedules on the website of the state’s Board of Nursing (BON) or an equivalent regulating body. We included official links in the chart below for both nurse graduates and licensed RNs.
States generally require applicants to have a social security number and prove U.S. citizenship, green card status or the right to work in the United States. Many states also require you to send photographs or copies of your state-issued ID or passport. For new nurse graduates, every state but Utah requires graduation from an approved nursing program. Utah provides temp permits in the last semester of education.
Many states allow your nursing education to be foreign or domestic. However, we focused on the requirements for applicants educated through U.S.-based nursing programs. Many states, especially on the northern border, have similar requirements for nurses educated in Canada so long as they receive their education in English. Applicants educated in other countries and Puerto Rico should check state BON websites for additional requirements, including English fluency tests, evaluation of your academic and professional credentials and any extra fees.
If a state doesn’t offer a temporary permit for nurse graduates or licensed RNs, we indicate that in the chart below. However, you can still click the applicable links to learn more about the full licensure process in these states.
Multistate Enhanced Nurse License Compact Holders
If you hold a multistate license from a state that participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and are applying to work in another state that’s part of the NLC, you usually don’t need a new permanent or temporary RN license. Multistate licenses are available to nurses who meet the 11 uniform qualifications and declare a Compact as their primary state of residence (PSOR). It’s the easiest route for travel nurses looking to jump quickly from state to state.
You must apply for a single-state license if you don’t have a multistate license or plan to work in a non-participating state. Be advised that temporary permits are only valid in the state issuing your new license, even if you’re applying for a multistate license. A temporary RN license only allows you to work in the state of issuance, regardless of whether it participates in the NLC.
Licensing and Temp Permits for New Nurse Graduates “By Exam”
Exam applicantsare new nurse graduates who haven’t taken the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) yet. Prospective RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN to become licensed, but many states offer a temp permit to nurse grads waiting to take the exam or receive their results.
Generally, applicants by exam must first prove that they completed a board-approved nursing program and request the program to send official transcripts, especially if the program was out-of-state. Once received, along with a completed application and any other required documentation, the state BON grants them an Authorization to Test (ATT) for the NCLEX. Most states also conduct fingerprinting and background checks, and a few states require passing a proprietary exam.
In addition to the combined fees for application processing, licenses, temporary permits and background checks listed in the chart below, applicants should also expect to pay $200 to Pearson VUE to register for the NCLEX exam. In most cases, temporary RN licenses expire immediately if the applicant fails the NCLEX but are automatically upgraded to a full license if they pass. While practicing with a temporary permit, nurse grads must work under the direct supervision of a licensed RN and are prohibited from taking on charge responsibilities.
Licensing and Temp Permits for Licensed RNs “By Endorsement”
Endorsement applicants are nurses already licensed in one state but want to work in another, and a multistate license doesn’t apply to their situation. If the nurse’s new work state is part of the NLC, they can apply for the multistate license if they declare the new state as their PSOR and meet the other requirements for a multistate license. Those going to work in a compact state temporarily can only apply for a single-state license.
Most states offer temporary permits to nurses already licensed in one state and apply for a new state’s licensure by endorsement. However, some states require you to have a verifiable job offer in their state before they offer a temp permit. Unlike nurse graduates working on temp permits, licensed RNs working on a temp permit are usually allowed to practice the full range of patient care without supervision.
Applications by endorsement require license verification. Most states participate in the Nursys nursing license database, which lets you verify your existing nursing license(s). However, some states prefer verification directly from the BON that issued your license. In addition to standard application fees, expect to pay an additional $30 fee for Nursys verification.
Some states also require endorsement applicants to have worked a certain number of nursing hours in nursing in the past 2-5 years. Applicants who don’t meet the state’s work hours threshold must typically engage in a set number of state-approved continuing education (CE) hours or a refresher course. Some states also require additional proprietary training, even if you’ve worked recently, such as training to spot child abuse or human trafficking.
Guide to Temporary RN Permits in All 50 States
Most states provide websites or informational PDF documents about application steps and requirements for nurse graduates applying for licensure by exam (click Nurse Graduate) and already licensed nurses applying for licensure by endorsement (click Licensed RN). We summarized each state’s requirements and fees in the following table. For more detailed information, click each state name to read Vivian’s nurse licensure guides.
Click on your state below to learn the temporary licensure requirements for RNs.
Temporary permit available to applicants from states that require NCLEX
Verification of license
Those licensed in states that don’t require NCLEX must meet the requirements for licensure by exam as if a new nurse graduate, and can’t get a temporary permit.
$180
120 days, not renewable
Issued within 15 business days of application
Temporary permits not available As of December 2023, full licenses were being processed in 6-8 business days, negating the need for a temp permit for most applicants.
Although legislation has authorized temporary permits, the Board appears to only offer them to licensed Canadian nurses who are waiting to pass the NCLEX.
Licensed applicants from five states where paper verification of license is required (California, Hawaii and Louisiana for Practical Nurses only, and Oklahoma and Pennsylvania)
Or nurses licensed in select neighboring states: Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts
Applicants for full licensure can request Authorization to Practice Letters 10 business days after the BON receives application
Email requests to [email protected] with Endorsement Applicant: Request ATP letter in the subject line and attach copies of Nursys license verification receipt and/or current license for non-Nursys participating states and Fieldprint fingerprinting appointment confirmation receipt
All information was accurate as of January 1, 2023
Michael Hines
Michael Hines is a freelance researcher and writer based in Brooklyn, New York. For 20 years, he's written on various healthcare topics, including healthcare employment, telemedicine, healthcare legislation, obesity, immunotherapy and genomics. He also writes about technology and AI, public policy, finance and investing, consumer products and corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
