Travel Nursing License Processing Timeframes by State

Click below to see the average license processing timeframes for traveling nurses.

Licensing boards continue to face staffing and workload challenges across the country. Our team has continued to see processing and response delays across all boards. We encourage all candidates to apply for licensure as soon as possible and allow extra time for processing.

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Please select a state/states
Click above to see the average license processing timeframes for traveling nurses.
Alabama
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

1 week

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Alaska
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

Board will decide if needed

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Arizona
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

48 hrs walk-in/30 days mail

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Arkansas
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

California
California

Visit State Website
LPN  |  RN

Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

RN: 3-4 weeks with LiveScan

LPN: 3-4 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

RN: LiveScan in CA required for temporary permit

LPN: LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Colorado
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Temp license only issued if license verification is delayed from CA, MI, or PA.

Connecticut
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3 weeks

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Delaware
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Florida
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4-5 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required; online application

Georgia
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4-6 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Hawaii
Timeframe - Permanent License

1-3 Months

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Idaho
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3-5 days

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Illinois
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4 weeks

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Indiana
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Iowa
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Kansas
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2+ weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Kentucky
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Louisiana
Louisiana

Visit State Website
LPN  |  RN

Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

RN: Same day

LPN: 1-2 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

RN: Yes

LPN: No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Maine
Timeframe - Temporary Permit

No Temp Permit, 2-3 Weeks for Full License

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Maryland
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Massachusetts
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3-4 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

License processed through PCS in Tennessee

Michigan
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

6-8 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Minnesota
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

5 days

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Border state recognition registration available

Mississippi
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

5-7 days

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Missouri
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Montana
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required

Nebraska
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Nevada
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

New Hampshire
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4-6 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan and application drop of req'd for temp permit

New Jersey
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

8-10 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

New Mexico
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

New York
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4-6 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

North Carolina
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

North Dakota
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Ohio
Timeframe:

2-3 Weeks for temp, 30-45 days for perm

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Oklahoma
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required (online application)

Oregon
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4-6 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required

Pennsylvania
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

5 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Rhone Island
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

No Temp Permits

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

South Carolina
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

Same day or 2 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

Yes

Notes:

LiveScan (same day) or fingerprint cards (mail-in)

South Dakota
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Must use fingerprint cards from the Board

Tennessee
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

4-6 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Texas
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Utah
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3-4 weeks (no temp permit)

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Vermont
Timeframe - Temporary

3-5 days for provisional license

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Permanent license takes 2-3 months

Virginia
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

10 business days

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Online application

Washington
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required

West Virginia
West Virginia

Visit State Website
LPN  |  RN

Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Wisconsin
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-4 weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Wyoming
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

2-3 Weeks

Compact:

Yes

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required

District of Columbia
Timeframe - Temporary Permit:

3 weeks

Compact:

No

Walkthrough:

No

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required

Please note that timeframes for verifications, transcripts, and background checks can affect the processing times for travel nurses, and each person’s situation may vary slightly. Please check with your recruiter to get more detailed information. Please note: time frames are subject to change!

Verifications: All state boards require verification of your original state of nursing licensure; some boards will also require your most recent state of licensure and/or an active state license. Most state verifications can now be ordered through the Nursys website – www.nursys.com. If your state is not listed, you will need to obtain the required form and submit it to your state. We recommend that you check with those state boards to find out the mailing address and fee for verifications.

Transcripts: Some states require original transcripts delivered directly from your school. Please read through the application carefully to see if this situation applies. If transcripts are required, the application package may contain a request form you can use to submit to your school. Always check with your school to confirm where these requests are to be sent and find out if they charge a fee for this service.
Important: State boards will not accept copies of transcripts that you might already have received. They must be originals sent directly from the school.

CEUs: Some states require the completion of CEUs for travel nursing licensure. Please read through the application carefully to see what CEUs, if any, are required for initial licensure.

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