Nursing license by endorsement: how to apply in a new state

Licensure by endorsement is the process an RN uses to obtain a license in a new state based on an existing license rather than retaking the NCLEX. If you’re moving, starting a travel contract, or accepting a job offer in a state where you’re not yet licensed, endorsement is the standard path.

Quick answers:

• If you live in a compact state and hold a multistate license, you can work in all 40 NLC compact member states without filing a new application – endorsement is not required
• If you live in a non-compact state (California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and a handful of others), you must apply by endorsement for each state where you want to practice
• If you live in a compact state but hold a single-state license, you must either convert to a multistate license or apply by endorsement individually
• Processing time varies by board, and most boards publish no standard figure. The California BRN lists 10–12 weeks for US endorsement applications, and the Florida BON says its application process may take two to six months
• Nursys verifies RN and LPN/VN licenses electronically from every US board of nursing (all 58 boards on its participation list, checked October 27, 2026). APRN licenses from 15 RN boards, including California, Connecticut and New York, must be verified with the board directly

Which path is yours?

Before applying anywhere, identify which scenario applies to you. The correct action is completely different depending on your license type and your home state’s compact status.

For a full breakdown of compact membership, who qualifies, and how to convert a single-state license, see the nursing compact license guide.

When you need endorsement vs. when you don’t

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), allows qualifying nurses to hold one multistate license valid across all member states. As of 2026, 40 states have implemented the NLC, covering most of the country.

The critical rule: your primary state of residence (PSOR) determines whether you hold a compact license, not the state where you want to work. If your PSOR is Texas (compact member), your license is valid in Florida, Ohio, Arizona, and 36 other compact states. You never file an endorsement application for those states.

When you do need endorsement:

• Your target state is a non-compact state – California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington state, or DC
• You hold a single-state license (issued by either a compact or non-compact state) and want to add practice privileges in another state
• You’re moving to a new state and won’t be establishing residency quickly enough to transfer your home license

When you don’t need endorsement:

• You hold a current, unencumbered multistate license and your target state is an NLC member
• You already hold a license in the target state from a prior endorsement application (renew it, don’t re-apply)

One common source of confusion: if you are endorsed into a compact state but you don’t live there, you receive a single-state license – not a multistate license. The compact benefit only applies when that state is your PSOR.

For a deeper look at the full initial licensing process including NCLEX requirements, see the nursing license overview.

Step-by-step endorsement process

The endorsement process follows the same general sequence in every state, though fees, timelines, and specific requirements vary. Here is the standard path:

Step 1 – Confirm the target state’s requirements

Go directly to the state board of nursing website. Requirements can change, and third-party aggregators sometimes publish outdated fee or document information. Note: the target state’s board site will list which license verifications it needs and whether it takes them through Nursys.

Step 2 – Complete the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (if required)

Several states, most notably Texas, require applicants to pass a state-specific jurisprudence exam covering that state’s nursing practice laws before a license is issued. Texas’s exam is online and takes approximately 2 hours. In Texas you take it after the BON has had your application for fifteen business days, and you must pass it before the permanent license is issued. It is not a prerequisite for the Texas temporary license.

Step 3 – Initiate Nursys license verification (or direct board verification where Nursys does not cover the license)

Nursys is the national license verification database operated by NCSBN. You initiate the process at Nursys.com and pay the verification fee ($30 per license type, per board where you’re applying). NCSBN says the verification is then available to the receiving board immediately.

Every US board participates for RN and LPN/VN licenses. On the Nursys verification participation list checked October 27, 2026, all 58 boards – including Connecticut, New York and Iowa, which are sometimes wrongly described as non-participants – showed “RN/PN participating: YES”. The gap is advanced practice: 15 RN boards, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, do not send APRN licenses through Nursys verification. If you are endorsing an APRN license from one of those boards, ask that board for its own verification. Nursys also notes that licenses which expired before 1985 may not be in the database, so a very old license may need direct verification too.

Step 4 – Submit the endorsement application and pay the fee

Most states use an online portal. You’ll submit:

• Completed application form
• Endorsement fee (varies by state – see the table below)
• Nursys verification request (or direct board verification, where needed)
• Fingerprint/background check authorization
• Any supplemental disclosures (criminal history, prior disciplinary action, prior substance use issues)
• Proof of additional requirements where applicable (child abuse reporting training in NY, jurisprudence exam in TX)

Step 5 – Complete fingerprinting and background check

Every state requires a criminal background check. Most use a Livescan electronic fingerprinting system. Some states (California notably) require fingerprinting through their own state-authorized vendors. Background check processing is often the rate-limiting step – it runs on law enforcement timelines, not board timelines. Illinois requires fingerprints within 60 days of application submission.

Step 6 – Wait for license issuance or apply for a temporary permit

Once all documents are received and the background check clears, the board issues the license. How long that final step takes varies by board. If you need to start working before your permanent license arrives, apply for a temporary practice permit at the time you submit your main application (see the temporary permits section below).

Step 7 – Verify your license in Nursys QuickConfirm

Once issued, your license will appear in Nursys QuickConfirm. This is what employers, staffing agencies, and healthcare facilities use to verify your credentials. Confirm the license is active and accurately reflects your license number, expiration date, and any encumbrances before your start date.

State processing times, fees, and Nursys participation

This table covers the most common destination states for nurse relocations and travel contracts. The fee and processing columns show a figure only where the state board publishes one (both checked October 27, 2026). Fees are each board’s RN endorsement application fee; fingerprinting and Nursys verification are usually extra. Most boards publish no standard processing time, and staffing-agency estimates disagree with each other, so we leave those cells as “not published” instead of guessing. Times fluctuate with application volume, board staffing, and fingerprint processing speeds. Always check the state board’s own page before planning a start date.

Notes on this table:

• “NLC compact? Yes” means endorsement into that state gives you a single-state license (not a multistate license) unless that state is your PSOR
• The Texas BON says criminal history issues “may lengthen these time lines substantially” because they are referred to its Enforcement Department
• California processes endorsement applications in date order. On its 10/22/2026 update, the BRN was working on US endorsement applications received September 16–30, 2026
• Pennsylvania recently joined the NLC in July 2025; compact benefit applies only if PA is your PSOR

Nursys verification: when it covers you and when it doesn’t

Nursys runs two services that are easy to confuse. QuickConfirm is the free public lookup employers use. Nurse License Verification is the $30 service you buy when applying for endorsement, and it sends the receiving board a verification from every participating board where you hold or have held a license.

RN and LPN/VN licenses: Every US board participates. On October 27, 2026, the Nursys participation list showed all 58 boards (50 states, DC, four territories, and the separate RN and PN boards in California, Louisiana and West Virginia) as “RN/PN participating: YES”, with data submitted within the previous week. That includes Connecticut, New York and Iowa, three states that older guides list as paper-only. NCSBN says the verification is available to the endorsing board immediately after you buy it.

APRN licenses: 15 RN boards do not participate for advanced practice licenses: American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin. (The list marks 18 entries without APRN participation; the other three are practical-nurse boards that issue no APRN licenses.) An NP or CRNA endorsing a license from one of them must request verification from that board directly, and the board sets its own turnaround.

Practical implication: If you were previously licensed as an RN in New York and are now applying in Texas, one Nursys request covers the New York license. If you also hold a New York NP certificate and are endorsing as an APRN, request the NP verification from NYSED as well, and do it the same day you file.

The participation list changes, so check it at nursys.com before you pay, especially for APRN licenses.

What is a temporary nursing license?

A temporary nursing license – also called a temporary permit, temporary practice permit, or temporary authorization to practice – is a short-term credential that lets you work as a nurse in your target state while your full endorsement application is still being processed. It is not a separate license type you apply for on its own; it is issued alongside, or shortly after, your standard endorsement application in states that offer one.

How long a temporary nursing license typically lasts: Validity is set by each state’s law or rule: 60 days in Washington (renewable once for 30 days if FBI results are still pending), 120 days in Texas, 180 days in Ohio, six months in California and Illinois, and up to 12 months in Arizona. Most also end early once the permanent license issues or the board signals a denial. Most temporary permits cannot be renewed – if your permanent license is still pending when the temporary permit expires, you must stop practicing until the full license is issued.

What a temporary nursing license allows you to do: In the states that offer them, a temporary permit generally grants the same scope of practice as a full RN license in that state, letting you begin or continue a job or travel contract without waiting out the entire endorsement timeline. It is tied to the specific endorsement application in progress and is not a general-purpose license you can use independently of that application.

Which states commonly offer temporary nursing licenses for endorsement applicants: California, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, and Washington are among the states that issue temporary permits to endorsement applicants, each with its own fee, validity period, and prerequisites. Requirements differ significantly by state – some require an initial background check clearance first, others require a state-specific exam. Always confirm current rules directly with the target state’s board of nursing before relying on a temporary permit for a start date. See the state-by-state table and full permit details below.

Temporary practice permits

A temporary practice permit (also called a temporary license or temporary authorization to practice) lets you work as a nurse while your permanent endorsement application is being processed. Not every state offers them, and the rules vary significantly.

States that offer temporary permits for endorsement applicants:

• California – temporary license valid 6 months; apply at the same time as your endorsement application; requires FBI/DOJ fingerprint clearance before issuance; apply through BreEZe portal
• Texas – the BON issues a one-time, 120-day temporary license, if you are eligible, within fifteen business days of receiving the completed application and fee; the jurisprudence exam is required before the permanent license
• Arizona – temporary license carries its own fee (check the AZBN fee page); valid for a maximum of 12 months unless extended for good cause (A.A.C. R4-19-304); applicants with a criminal history are not eligible without Board approval. Third-party licensing guides describe a walk-in emergency temporary license for nurses with an imminent start date, but we could not confirm it on the Board’s own site, so ask AZBN directly before planning around it
• Illinois – temporary permit costs $25 on top of the endorsement fee; requires a completed endorsement application with all supporting documents, fees and fingerprints submitted; the statute requires the permit to be issued no later than 14 working days after the Department receives the application, unless it finds grounds to refuse within that window, and the permit expires 6 months after issue or when the Illinois license issues (225 ILCS 65/60-11)
• Ohio – nonrenewable temporary permit for applicants who hold a current, valid and unrestricted license elsewhere; it expires at 180 days or when the Ohio license issues, whichever comes first (Ohio Revised Code 4723.09(E))
• Washington – temporary practice permit for applicants who meet every requirement except the fingerprint-based national background check; it expires after 60 days (180 for military spouses) or on a decision, and can be renewed once for 30 days if FBI results are still pending (WAC 246-840-095). The board publishes no issue time

States that do not offer temporary endorsement permits:

Florida does not issue a standard temporary certificate for most endorsement applicants. New York has a limited-circumstances temporary permit but it is not routinely available for standard endorsements. Michigan and Minnesota do not offer temporary permits for endorsement applicants.

Common temporary permit pitfalls:

• Temporary permits in most states cannot be renewed. If your permanent license is still pending when your temp expires, you must stop practicing.
• Some states require a state-specific jurisprudence exam before the permanent license is issued (Texas does), so schedule it as soon as the board allows.
• California’s temporary license requires fingerprint processing from both the DOJ and the FBI before it is issued – submit fingerprints immediately when you submit your application.

Travel nurse multi-state licensing strategy

Travel nurses face a unique licensing challenge. A standard travel contract is 13 weeks. With the California BRN publishing a 10–12 week endorsement window, you may spend the first half of a contract waiting for a license if you don’t plan ahead. The strategies below reduce that risk.

Option 1 – Convert to a multistate compact license

If your primary state of residence is an NLC compact member, converting to a multistate license eliminates endorsement requirements for all 40 compact states. This is the highest-leverage single action a travel nurse can take. You pay the conversion fee once, get fingerprinted once, and gain unrestricted practice privileges across most of the country.

The limitation: non-compact states (California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and others) still require separate endorsement applications regardless of your compact license status. Many of the most lucrative travel contracts are in these high-cost-of-living, high-demand states.

See the nursing compact license guide for conversion steps.

Option 2 – Pre-license key non-compact states before your first contract

Travel nurses frequently pre-license for California and New York 3–4 months before they want to work in those states. This is standard practice because of the long processing timelines. A travel nurse who wants a California contract in October should apply for the CA endorsement no later than July – earlier is better given the BRN’s published 10–12 week window.

For travel nurses without a California or New York license, prioritizing these two applications early in your travel career pays dividends repeatedly. Agencies assign more contracts to nurses who hold more licenses.

Suggested pre-license targets for travel nurses

The following states represent the combination of high travel nurse demand, high pay rates, and/or long endorsement timelines that make advance application worthwhile:

A practical rule: if a state is not in your compact coverage and you want to work there regularly, apply for that license proactively during a slow stretch. Waiting until an agency offers you a contract is the pattern that leads to start-date delays.

For salary benchmarks by state as you evaluate travel contracts, see the travel nurse salary guide.

Stacking endorsement licenses vs. compact

If your home state is non-compact (CA, NY, IL, and others), you will build a portfolio of individual state licenses over time. This is normal and manageable. The key maintenance task: track renewal dates for every license. Each state has its own renewal cycle (typically biennial) and its own continuing education requirements. Letting a license lapse creates re-endorsement delays and, in some states, requires reapplication as if for the first time.

Foreign-trained nurses: endorsement with international credentials

Nurses educated outside the United States face additional steps before they can apply for endorsement in a new state. The process differs from the standard domestic endorsement pathway in three significant ways.

1. CGFNS credential evaluation

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) evaluates whether your nursing education is equivalent to a US-accredited nursing program. Most states require a CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report as part of the endorsement application. The CGFNS evaluation takes approximately 12 weeks from receipt of all required documents; your nursing school must send transcripts directly to CGFNS.

2. English language proficiency

If your nursing education was conducted in a language other than English, most states require scores from an approved English language proficiency test (typically IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT) before issuing a license. CGFNS incorporates this requirement into the CES report process for states that mandate it.

3. NCLEX requirement

Internationally educated nurses who have not yet passed the NCLEX cannot obtain a US nursing license regardless of their country-of-origin license. If you hold a nursing license from another country but have never been licensed in the US, you must pass the NCLEX before endorsement is possible. Endorsement applies to nurses transferring an existing US nursing license – it is not a route around the NCLEX.

For nurses who are currently licensed in a US state and want to transfer that license to a new state, the process follows the standard endorsement pathway described above, even if your original education was international.

Common delays and how to avoid them

Most endorsement delays trace back to the same recurring causes. Knowing them in advance eliminates the majority of avoidable holdups.

1. Verifications Nursys cannot send

Nursys covers RN and LPN/VN licenses from every US board, but not APRN licenses from 15 RN boards (including California, Connecticut and New York), and possibly not licenses that expired before 1985. If any license you need verified falls into one of those gaps, request direct verification from that board immediately – before you submit your new application. Don’t wait for the receiving state to ask for it. The sending board sets its own turnaround, and the clock doesn’t start until you submit the request.

2. Fingerprints not submitted promptly

Fingerprint processing is often the single longest-running element of the background check. Submit your fingerprints the same week you submit your application. In California, fingerprints must be processed by both the DOJ and the FBI before your temporary license is issued – any delay in submitting prints pushes back your authorization to practice.

3. Name mismatch between documents

If your legal name has changed since your original nursing license was issued (marriage, divorce, legal name change), every document in your endorsement packet must reflect the same name or include legal documentation of the change. A mismatch triggers a manual review and can add weeks to processing. Update your home state license first if needed, then begin the endorsement application.

4. School transcript held or delayed

New York specifically requires a Certification of Professional Education (Form 2) submitted directly by your nursing school to the NYSED. If your school is slow to process this form, your NY endorsement cannot advance – and there is no workaround. Contact your school’s registrar as early as possible and confirm they have the correct NYSED Form 2 address.

5. Undisclosed history requiring review

Affirmative answers to background questions (criminal history, prior license discipline, substance use treatment) trigger a manual review by the board. This is not automatically disqualifying, but it adds review time. The Texas BON, for example, says criminal history issues “may lengthen these time lines substantially” because they go to its Enforcement Department. Disclose everything accurately. Attempting to omit reportable history and having it surface in the background check creates a much more serious problem than the underlying issue.

6. Incomplete application submission

Many boards process applications in date order and will not begin review until the application is complete. A single missing document (missing fee, missing disclosure, missing verification) holds your place in line without advancing your application. Review the state board’s checklist before submitting. After submitting, log into the board’s portal weekly to check for outstanding requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Can I hold licenses in multiple states at the same time?

Yes. There is no limit on how many state nursing licenses you can hold simultaneously. Each license is independent, with its own renewal cycle and continuing education requirements. Travel nurses routinely maintain 3–6 active licenses. The administrative task is tracking renewal dates – create a spreadsheet or calendar reminders for every license expiration date.

How long is an endorsement license valid?

The same as any other nursing license in that state. Most states issue two-year licenses, though some use annual renewals. The license is not marked as an “endorsement license” after issuance – it is a full, unrestricted RN license identical to one obtained by initial application.

Can a CNA license be transferred by endorsement?

CNA license transfers use a different process from RN endorsement. The process varies more significantly by state and is often called reciprocity rather than endorsement. See the CNA license transfer guide for that process.

What if my license is encumbered (probation, restrictions)?

An encumbered license creates complications for endorsement. Most state boards will not issue a full license to an applicant with an encumbered home license. Some will issue a license with the same restrictions; others will deny the application and require the home state matter to be resolved first. Disclose encumbrances accurately on every application – attempting to omit them will likely result in denial and possible additional disciplinary action.

For related guides, see how to get a nursing license, the nursing compact license guide, and travel nurse salary data by state.

References

1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC),” nursecompact.com, 2026.
2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Nurse License Verification: participating jurisdictions” (58 boards, all RN/PN participating YES; APRN not participating for 18, three of them PN-only boards), nursys.com/NLV/NLVJurisdictions.aspx, and “License Verification (Nursys.com)” ($30 per license type per board; available immediately to the endorsing board), ncsbn.org/nursys.htm, both accessed October 27, 2026.
3. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Nursys QuickConfirm License Verification,” nursys.com, 2026.
4. California Board of Registered Nursing, “Licensure by Endorsement,” rn.ca.gov, 2026.
5. Texas Board of Nursing, “Licensure by Endorsement and Temporary Authorization to Practice,” bon.texas.gov, 2026.
6. New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, “Nursing License Requirements and Endorsement,” op.nysed.gov, 2026.
7. Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International), “Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report,” cgfns.org, 2026.
8. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “NCLEX Examination,” ncsbn.org, 2026.
9. California Board of Registered Nursing, “Processing Times” (updated 10/22/2026: licensure by endorsement, US, 10–12 weeks; temporary license 2–3 weeks), rn.ca.gov/times.shtml, accessed October 27, 2026.
10. Texas Board of Nursing, “Licensure” (processing time for licensing services is 15 working days from receipt of all required documents; criminal history may lengthen it substantially) and “Temporary Update to Licensure Processing Timeframes” (temporarily extended to 20 business days), bon.texas.gov/board_services_licensing.asp.html and bon.texas.gov/Temporary_Update.asp.html, accessed October 27, 2026.
11. Texas Board of Nursing, “Licensure by Endorsement” (one-time 120-day temporary license within fifteen business days of a completed application and fee; jurisprudence exam before permanent license), bon.texas.gov/licensure_endorsement.asp.html, accessed October 27, 2026.
12. Florida Board of Nursing, “Licensing: Processing Times” (application process may take two to six months; deficiency letter within approximately 30 days; applications processed in date order), floridasnursing.gov/licensing/, accessed October 27, 2026.
13. Texas Board of Nursing, “Initial Licensure and Recognition Forms – Schedule of Fees” (endorsement $150, NJE fee included; Chapter 223 lists the FBI/DPS criminal background check fee as “Varies”), bon.texas.gov/forms_fees.asp.html, accessed October 27, 2026.
14. RN endorsement fees from each board’s own page, accessed October 27, 2026: California BRN “Fee Schedule” ($350), rn.ca.gov/consumers/fees.shtml; NYSED “Registered Professional Nursing: License Requirements” ($143; limited permit $35), op.nysed.gov; IDFPR “(041) Registered Nurse User Guide” ($50; temporary permit $25), idfpr.illinois.gov; Florida BON “Licensed Practical Nurse & Registered Nurse” (MOBILE endorsement $110), floridasnursing.gov/nurse-rn-lpn/; Ohio Revised Code 4723.08(A)(1) ($75, effective December 29, 2023), codes.ohio.gov; Pennsylvania Department of State “Registered Nurse Licensure Requirements Snapshot” ($120), pa.gov; Washington State Board of Nursing “Nurse License Fees” ($138 single-state, $203 multistate), nursing.wa.gov; LARA “Nursing Licensing Guide and FAQs” ($212.90), michigan.gov/lara; Minnesota Board of Nursing “Fees” ($105, effective January 1, 2019), mn.gov/boards/nursing. The Arizona State Board of Nursing fee page (azbn.gov) refused automated retrieval, so no Arizona fee is listed.
15. Temporary permit rules, accessed October 27, 2026: Illinois 225 ILCS 65/60-11 (issued no later than 14 working days after receipt of the application; expires 6 months after issuance) and IDFPR “(041) Registered Nurse User Guide” ($25 temporary nursing permit); Ohio Revised Code 4723.09(E) (nonrenewable; 180 days); Washington WAC 246-840-095 (60 days, 180 for military spouses, one 30-day renewal); Arizona A.A.C. R4-19-304 (maximum 12 months; criminal history requires Board approval); California BRN “Temporary Licenses” (valid six months; DOJ and FBI results required first), rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-temp.shtml.