If you are dreaming about becoming a nurse then you should be aware of the states that can allow that to happen easily. Nursing is such an incredible, noble, and rewarding profession. It allows you to help people and make a positive change in the world. If you are in the USA, getting nursing licensure will depend on the state in which you are currently. In some states, it will only take a few weeks. On the contrary, in others, there is no definitive timeline for when you can receive your license to practice as a nurse. It is easier to be licensed in some states due to factors like streamlined processes, less stringent requirements, and the acceptance of the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) results without additional exams. This leads to the question, which state is easiest to become a nurse?
In this guide, we have considered the cost and processing time, salary, and other unique factors and compiled a list of the US states that make it easier to become a nurse.
When applying for a nursing license, you want the process to be quick so you can begin working. If you want to become a licensed nurse quickly, consider the following states.
North Dakota is at the top of our list of states where you can get your RN license quickly. Once you submit your complete paperwork, including your Criminal History Record Check, getting your license will take 7-10 business days.
If you want a temporary license, the BON issues it within 3-5 days.
You can get a temporary license on a walk-through basis from the Arizona Board of Nursing. It will take 48 hours in case of an emergency. However, to get this license, you must have a job offer letter with a start date within seven days. You must also carry your fingerprint card with you when making your application.
The state also issues a permanent nursing license. The processing time will take 2-4 weeks after you have made your application.
Nicknamed Yellowhammer State, Alabama is another state you should consider when choosing the easiest to become a registered nurse. The BON offers a temporary license that takes 24-48 hours to process.
For a permanent license, it will take between 2-4 weeks for it to be processed.
The state of Aloha is also one of the best places to get a nursing license quickly. According to the Hawaii Board of Nursing, it will only take 15-20 days to complete your application.
Hawaii does not issue temporary licenses to new graduate nurses. However, you can get a temporary permit if you are an RN applying for licensure by endorsement.
Pelican States is a great place for nurses or nurses-to-be to work and live because it boasts a reasonable cost of living and a thriving healthcare industry. A registered nursing license application timeframe is between 4-6 weeks.
However, if you need a temporary license, you can get it within the same day. You must submit your application and fingerprint it, and you will be given your license.
Louisiana is also a member of the Enhanced Licensure Compact (NLC). This means you can apply for the license, and once issued, you can practice as a nurse without needing to obtain a license in another state. NLC is a multistate license that allows holders to work as nurses in participating states without the need to apply for a new license.
Nevada is also a good place to apply for your nursing license; it takes only 1-2 weeks. The state also issues temporary licenses within a week after application. With her growing demand for healthcare workers, it is lucrative and easy to find jobs.
However, it is not an ideal place for those without a social security number because it is one of the requirements. If you choose to go ahead and apply, the process will take longer and probably be complicated.
The state issues a temporary license within 3-5 days after a complete application. However, for a permanent license, it will take 3-4 weeks once you complete and make your application.
Thanks to the thriving healthcare industry, Maryland is also one of the best places to work as a nurse,
Kentucky is also a good place to apply for a nursing license. According to the Kentucky Board of Nursing, it only takes 7-14 days for a nursing license to be processed and issued when you submit a complete application form. However, for incomplete applications, reviews will take up to three months.
South Carolina has also made it easier for applicants to receive permanent licenses. Once you make your application, it will only take 14 business days for it to be processed.
Additionally, South Carolina is a member of the NLC. This means that if you have a license from another state, you don't have to apply for a new license in South Carolina.
Georgia is another of the best states to offer quick processing time for licenses. Once you submit your application with all the requirements, it will take 20 days, excluding weekends and holidays, to process your application.
Moreover, the state offers temporary nursing licenses to those who have graduated from a government-approved nursing school. This means you can practice as a graduate nurse (GN) or a graduate practical nurse (GPN) as you wait for the license.
The NCLEX is an exam developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to test graduate nurses in the USA and Canada and determine whether they are competent to practice as nurses.
The NCLEX exam is different from the one you took in nursing school. This is because it is meant to test how well you can apply and analyze the knowledge you have gained in school. Please note that the difficulty of the exam is standardized across all 55 states of the USA. However, some states have lessened the strictness of the requirements needed for these exams. These are states with the easiest NCLEX requirements.
Considered a dream destination for most people, New York is a good place to sit for NCLEX. Whether you are looking to apply for the first time or renew your license, New York is one of the best places to do it because it does not have strict requirements for siting for NCLEX. This means that you won't be expected to have a social security number or sit for an English proficiency exam.
Additionally, you won't be required to have any experience. In addition, here are some other information you should know:
For foreigners, New York offers the fastest and cheapest IPASS processing. The processing time will take 6-7 months with fewer requirements.
Click here to learn more about licensing requirements for registered nursing in New York,
Connecticut has the easiest NCLEX requirements, especially if you are a foreign student. This is because it doesn't require you to sit for an English exam or have a social security number to apply for or renew your nursing license.
To sit for NCLEX in Connecticut, you must fulfill the following requirements:
Before registering, you must determine whether you qualify to sit for the NCLEX exams in your state. Some states will require you to sit for English proficiency exams (IELTS) or have a social security number before taking the NCLEX exams.
Another state that you should consider sitting for your NCLEX exams is Montana. Apart from not requiring a social security number or English proficiency exams, it takes only 30 days to process the exam upon receiving your application.
If you are a foreigner licensed in your country as a nurse and meet all the NCLEX requirements, you can receive your license to practice in Illinois. Illinois is a single state and does not require you to have a social security number to sit for the NCLEX. However, if you don't have one, you must declare the status of your social security number.
Texas is considered the second-largest state in the United States, both geographically and in terms of population. It also has the second highest demand for nurses after California. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) accepts NCLEX applications from foreigners without having an SSN or sitting for the English proficiency exam.
Becoming a nursing assistant is one of the fastest ways to become a nurse. Nursing assistance programs are also considered nursing aides; nursing assistants are technically not nurses. However, they are mostly on the front line between healthcare workers and patients. Most of the roles they perform serve as a starting point for those looking for a career in nursing.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is the next step after completing a nursing assistance program. Please note that you do not have to be a nursing assistant to take an LPN.
Completing an LPN takes only 12 months or one year in a community college or technical school. From there, you must sit for and pass the NCLEX exams.
You need to consider a lot when choosing the best to work as a traveling nurse. These factors include job opportunities, lifestyle, cost of living, and the overall quality of life. Some of the best states to work in as a foreign student are:
California has the highest demand for travel nurses. While there are upsides to living in California, the state offers various advantages to its nurses. For starters, when it comes to salaries, the state has a commanding edge over others.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a registered nurse in California earns an average of $60.26 per hour compared to the national average salary of $37.31 per hour. The high salary is attributed to the high cost of living and the strong labor protection laws.
In addition to the salary, there is a high demand for nurses in the Golden State. According to recent data, the state is facing a shortage of nurses. In fact, by 2023, some hospitals in Southern California reported a 30% shortage of nurses.
A report by the National Center for Health Workforces Analysis showed that by 2030, there will be a 28.4% increase in nurse demand from the current 2.8 million to 3.6 million. California is expected to have 110,500 registered nurses by 2030.
The Bay State is also an ideal location for travel nurses. According to zip recruiters, 993 travel jobs in Massachusetts are currently paying up to $69 per hour.
What's more, Massachusetts is known for its top medical facilities and is ranked as one of the best states for healthcare. There are great places for your travel nursing assignment with great hospitals like Brigham and Women's Hospitals, Beth Israel, New England Baptist Hospital, etc.
Besides being the state with the easiest NCLEX requirement, Texas is also an ideal place for travel nurses.
According to Kathryn Tart, dean and professor at the University of Houston College of Nursing, it is facing a high demand for nurses. Because of the high population growth, the state is expected to experience a shortage of about 60,000 nurses, particularly in locations such as Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
This is an ideal place for travel nurses because the Lone Star has a lower cost of living and a thriving healthcare industry. This means it is a good option if you want to gain experience and flourish as a nurse.
Considered the epicenter of health care due to its exceptional health facilities and thriving industry, New York is also a good place to work as a foreign nurse. Pursuing a nursing profession in New York opens various doors of opportunity.
The downside is that the state has a high cost of living, but the good side is that the pay is good compared to other states. The Big Apple pays its registered nurses an average of $67.69 per hour, which is 19% more than the national average.
A lot of foreign nurses are drawn to Florida not because of its warm climate but because of the thriving healthcare industry. The state is considered one of the top employers for nurses nationwide. According to the BLS, Florida ranks number 3 as the state with the highest nursing employment rates. It is also among the states with the highest retirement rates, contributing to the high nurse demand.
Florida is also experiencing a population increase. Due to this increase in population, it is expected by 2035, there will be a shortage of more than 59000 nurses. This means that, as a foreigner, you can easily get employed in the state.
The Keystone State is also another state with the best job outlook. In fact, according to BSL, Pennsylvania has 9,280 job opportunities for nurses each year. This means that you can apply for a nursing position.
With its thriving healthcare industry, Pennsylvania opens its doors to foreign nurses. Cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Hershey, Scranton, and others provide a conducive environment for nurses to thrive.
Even though the pay is not as high compared to New York and California, the cost of living is relatively lower. This makes it a good place to start your career as a nurse.
According to the Arizona Board of Nursing (AZBN), there is a shortage of nurses, and it is ranked in the top five among the states with the highest demand for healthcare workers. By 2025, it is expected that there will be 28100 nurses and 81000 by 2030, according to the data from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. This means that whether you are a foreign nurse or not, you can easily get a job as a nurse if you have the credentials with you.
North Carolina is one of the best places to work as a travel nurse, thanks to its status of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact. This means once you acquire your nursing license, you can work in different states as long as they (the states) are participants in the (NLC).
NLC simplifies the paperwork and costs needed to apply for a nursing license and gives you the flexibility to choose your preferred state to work in by considering factors such as the best job opportunities and cost of living.
Generally, you should consider two main factors when looking for a nursing license in the USA.
Verification of licensure- Verification of licensure is done by Nursys, the only database responsible for verifying R.N.sR.N.s, LPN/VNs, and APRNS licensees in the participating states, including the NLC states.
Criminal Background Checks (CBC). When applying for a nursing license, some states will require you to undergo criminal background checks. Out of the 55 states, only 40 states conduct state and federal criminal background checks.
A background check verification will take as little as an hour or several days, depending on your state.
The following states don't require background checks:
In some states in the US, the BON allows you as a nurse to practice at the top of your license. This means nurses are allowed to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience. In other words, you are given more autonomy and authority to care for patients without being supervised by a physician.
Some of the ways you can practice at the top of your license include diagnosing diseases, treating patients, managing patient care, and prescribing medication under the exclusive license authority of the state board of nursing, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Not all states in the US allow you to practice at the top of your license. The states that allow this include:
When considering a state to work as a nurse in, think of the states that are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses to practice in multiple states with a single license. You should also consider states that allow you to obtain licensure via endorsement, which makes it easy to be a nurse. Lastly, check the state-specific requirements such as background checks, continuing education, or specific clinical experience.
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Getting your nursing license after completing your nursing program can be challenging, but knowing which states to choose for your nursing license will make the process easier for you. By following the above guide, you can understand the states to avoid and choose to get your nursing license and practice as a nurse.
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