Is Texas a compact state for nursing? Yes! Graduating from a nursing school in Texas, passing the NCLEX and obtaining a multistate license will open job opportunities for you and enable you to work across states.
A nursing career is rewarding, and registered nurses (RNs) have many specialties, environments, and locations to choose from. Thanks to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), you can practice in multiple states.
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at the University of St. Thomas Houston (UST) will help you prepare for your dream career and licensure.
Learn about the benefits of being an NLC nurse, how to earn a compact license and how an ABSN program like UST’s can help.
What Are the Benefits of Being an NLC Nurse?
NLC nurses can work in telehealth, travel to other states for jobs and aid in disaster situations. They can also move between locations easier, as nurses licensed in an NLC state like Texas can work in another NLC state without having to apply for multiple licenses.
Holding a compact license is helpful if you:
- Reside on the other side of the state border from your workplace
- Work as a travel nurse
- Work as a nurse offering disaster relief assistance
- Deliver remote healthcare services to different states
How to Earn a Texas Compact License
After you graduate from nursing school, you must pass the NCLEX and obtain your license. Because the University of St. Thomas is in Texas, graduates of our 12-month ABSN program who pass the NCLEX qualify for a multistate license.
Steps to earning a compact nursing license include:
- Earn a nursing degree
- Apply for licensure from a compact state
- Pass the NCLEX
- Receive your license
1. Complete an ABSN Program
The first step in earning your compact nursing license is graduating from an accredited ABSN program like the one at the University of St. Thomas. UST’s comprehensive curriculum prepares students to become confident nurses through a blended model, which includes:
- Online courses
- Skills and simulation labs
- Clinical rotations at top healthcare facilities around Texas
You are not required to apply for your nursing license in the state where you attended school unless you plan to work there after graduation. Although, Texas is an NLC state, so it could benefit you to apply for the multistate license while residing there.
Check out these seven nursing school resources.
2. Choose a Compact State
When you choose to get licensed in a state that’s part of the NLC, you’re making an excellent choice for your future as a nurse.
What states are compact states for nursing? The National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s NLC map shows the most up-to-date list of more than 40 nursing compact states, as well as non-compact states.
You must apply in your legal state of residence, so you’ll need documentation to show where you vote and hold a driver’s license.
3. Complete Your Exams
Once you meet the licensure requirements in your state of residency, you can start submitting your application.
As a recent nursing school graduate, you must apply for licensure by exam and approval to test (ATT). This means you’ll need to take the NCLEX to earn your license.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the process:
- Apply for licensure from the state.
- Be granted eligibility by the state’s board of nursing.
- Take your exam.
- Pass and receive your nursing license from that state.
4. Pass the NCLEX and Receive Your License
You may take the NCLEX in any state after submitting your application for licensure by exam and ATT. You do not need to take the exam in the state where you submit your license application. You will earn your nursing license after being notified that you passed the exam.
Wondering what it’s like to be a nurse? Check out this blog article that walks through a day in the life of a nurse.
Upon passing the NCLEX, you’ll receive your initial nursing licensure. If you applied for a multistate license in a state that is part of the compact agreement, you are also eligible to work as a nurse in any other compact state.
Learn More about Nursing School at UST
If you’re considering nursing, earning your BSN from the University of St. Thomas is a perfect place to start. Our 12-month accelerated program in Houston offers three start dates each year so you can finish sooner.
Contact an admissions advisor to learn more about starting your nursing education through the accelerated nursing program at UST.