Nurse Licensure Changes by State in Response to COVID-19

The entire country’s medical system is continuing to adapt to the shifting demands of COVID-19. Keeping track of it all can be tricky, since the various states are modifying their arrangements in different ways. To make things more convenient, here is a quick summary of changes in nursing licensure, organized by state.

Segments will evaluate a state’s support of a Nurse Licensure Compact (or a multi-state license that allows nurses to practice in other states), changes in licensure wait time and a host of other miscellaneous rule changes.

For further information, each section ends with a link to the respective state’s Board of Nursing website.

‍Alabama

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 48 hours

• Nurse Licensure Compact : Yes

• Alabama Board of Nursing

Alaska

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 10-15 days; potentially expedited

• Due to COVID-19, 14 days of quarantine may be required before working following inter-US travel

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Alaska Board of Nursing

American Samoa

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• American Samoa Board of Nursing

Arizona

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 30 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Arizona Board of Nursing

Arkansas

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if sufficient time to process application (see wait time)

• Licensure wait time: 2 weeks; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Arkansas Board of Nursing

California

• Nurses must have an active CA nursing license.

• Licensure wait time: 8-10 weeks

• As of December 18, 2020 - Continuing education requirements for current healthcare licensees and reactivation requirements for inactive, retired, or canceled licenses have both been waived.

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• California Board of Nursing

Colorado

• Any active license from a compact license (multi or single-state) accepted

• Licensure wait time: 8 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Colorado Board of Nursing

Connecticut

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 15 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Connecticut Board of Nursing

Delaware

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 7 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Delaware Board of Nursing

Washington, D.C.

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 3-6 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Washington, D.C. Board of Nursing

Florida

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 10-30 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Florida Board of Nursing

Georgia

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process application(see wait time)

• Licensure wait time: 15 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Georgia Board of Nursing

Guam

• Submitted 1135 waiver; any active nursing license can apply with the state's BON

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Guam Board of Nursing

Hawaii

• Any active nursing license

• Licensure wait time: 1 day

• Note: 14 days of quarantine may be required before working following inter-US travel

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Hawaii Board of Nursing

Idaho

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 7-10 days; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Idaho Board of Nursing

Illinois

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications. (current emergency application)

• Licensure wait time: 2-4 weeks; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Illinois Board of Nursing

Indiana

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 2 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Indiana Board of Nursing

Iowa

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process application (see wait time)

• Licensure wait time: 5 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Iowa Board of Nursing

Kansas

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if sufficient time to process application (see wait time)

• Licensure wait time: 2-4 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Kansas Board of Nursing

Kentucky

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 2 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Kentucky Board of Nursing

Louisiana

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized

• Licensure wait time: <1 day

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Louisiana Board of Nursing

Maine

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 7 days; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Maine Board of Nursing

Maryland

• Any active nursing license

• Licensure wait time: 5 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Maryland Board of Nursing

Massachusetts

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 2-4 weeks; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Massachusetts Board of Nursing

Michigan

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 3-5 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Michigan Board of Nursing

Minnesota

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 1-2 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Minnesota Board of Nursing

Mississippi

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 7-10 days

• Note: temporary license FAQ

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Mississippi Board of Nursing

Missouri

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 7-10 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Missouri Board of Nursing

Montana

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 10 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Montana Board of Nursing

Nebraska

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 2-3 weeks

• Note: 14 days of quarantine may be required before working following inter-US travel

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Nebraska Board of Nursing

Nevada

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 7-10 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Nevada Board of Nursing

New Hampshire

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications. (current emergency license)

• Licensure wait time: 1-2 days (after criminal background check); potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• New Hampshire Board of Nursing

New Jersey

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 8-12 weeks; potentially expedited

• Note: Partially implemented nurse licensure compact — nurses holding compact licenses will find their licenses valid in New Jersey (for at least 180 days)

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• New Jersey Board of Nursing

New Mexico

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 5 days

• Note: 14 days of quarantine may be required before working following inter-US travel

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• New Mexico Board of Nursing

New York

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 4-6 weeks; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• New York Board of Nursing

North Carolina

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 2-3 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• North Carolina Board of Nursing

North Dakota

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 3-5 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• North Dakota Board of Nursing

Northern Mariana Islands

• Submitted 1135 waiver; any active nursing license can apply with the state's BON

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Northern Mariana Islands Board of Nursing

Ohio

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 1-2 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Ohio Board of Nursing

Oklahoma

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 1-5 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Oregon

• Any active nursing license

• Licensure wait time: 3-6 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Oregon Board of Nursing

Pennsylvania

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 1-2 weeks; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Pennsylvania Board of Nursing

Puerto Rico

• Submitted 1135 waiver; any active nursing license can apply with the state's BON

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Puerto Rico Board of Nursing

Rhode Island

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 4 weeks

• Note: 14 days of quarantine may be required before working following inter-US travel

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Rhode Island Board of Nursing

South Carolina

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time <1 day; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• South Carolina Board of Nursing

South Dakota

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 2 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• South Dakota Board of Nursing

Tennessee

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 6 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Tennessee Board of Nursing

Texas

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized.

• Licensure wait time: 15 days

• Note: 14 days of quarantine may be required before working following inter-US travel

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Texas Board of Nursing

Utah

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 3 weeks

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Utah Board of Nursing

Vermont

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 5 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Vermont Board of Nursing

Virgin Islands

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Virgin Islands Board of Nursing

Virginia

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 10 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Virginia Board of Nursing

Washington

• Nurses must initiate their licensure applications.

• Licensure wait time: 3 weeks; potentially expedited

• Nurse Licensure Compact: No

• Washington Board of Nursing

West Virginia

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 7 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• West Virginia Board of Nursing

Wisconsin

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 30 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Wisconsin Board of Nursing

Wyoming

• Any active nursing licenses will be recognized, if there is sufficient time to process your application (see wait time).

• Licensure wait time: 15 days

• Nurse Licensure Compact: Yes

• Wyoming Board of Nursing