Travel Healthcare Licensing Guide
Licensing can be tricky—we’re here to make it easier.
Contact a recruiterLicensing isn’t always simple—and we get it. Every state has its own rules, timelines, and acronyms, and just figuring out where you qualify can feel like a full-time job. That’s why we created this guide: to give you a quick look at what matters, help you avoid last-minute surprises, and show you how FlexCare supports you through every step. Whether you’re travel-curious or ready to submit, we’ll help you understand your options so you can move forward with confidence.
Chat with a FlexCare recruiter to get clear on licensure and next steps
Before you dive in, know the difference:
- License: Your legal permission to practice, issued by the state. No license = no assignment.
- Certification: Specialty credentials (like CCRN or CEN) that boost your skills and market value, but don’t replace a license.
Best case? You’ve got both. It opens doors to better pay and more job options.
2. State-by-State Licensing Rules
Every state runs its own licensure process—and they don’t always play nice.
- Paperwork, fees, background checks, and continuing ed requirements vary widely.
- A shortcut in Texas might be a dead end in New Jersey.
- Always check the latest info on the state board’s website, or ask your recruiter for the most current checklist.
NLC, PT Compact & OT Compact Explained
If you’re eligible, compacts are the best travel hack in the game.
Quick Tip: Quick Tip: Make sure a state is active—not just enacted—before you sign an offer.
Read our in-depth guide to compact states here.
3. Proven Licensing Game Plan
Research first. Check each state board or lean on your recruiter for updated forms and fingerprint details.
Work backward from your start date. Some states can take 6-8 weeks to process your paperwork; California and New York often run longer.
Keep digital copies handy. Save PDFs of every license, CEU certificate, background‑check receipt, and transcript so you can upload them in seconds.
Leverage your network. Use traveler forums to stay updated on processing delays or quirks.
Pro Tip: The FlexCare App lets you store all your paperwork in one spot. Checkout our platform.
Let's Talk
Licensing isn’t one-and-done—especially with new contracts.
- Most facilities require assessments (Relias, med math, dysrhythmia) before you can start.
- Think of them as mini-renewals: block out study time, ask for prep tools, and treat them seriously.
Latest Licensing Updates for 2025
Keep your eye on these changes:
- Nursing: Connecticut and Pennsylvania have both enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. Connecticut will start issuing and accepting multistate licenses on October 1 2025 once its rollout is complete. Pennsylvania is still building the systems needed to issue multistate licenses to its resident nurses, with full implementation expected later in 2025.[1][2]
- Physical Therapy: The proposed States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act would require the FBI to process background checks more quickly for PT Compact applicants. If it passes, six states awaiting activation, Alabama, Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, could go live sooner.[3][4]
Chat live with a FlexCare recruiter and we’ll start your next state license today, no paperwork surprises. Or download the free FlexCare app to upload every credential once, set renewal alerts, and see in real time where you can work next.
Sources
[1] "Connecticut Enacts Nurse Licensure Compact," NCSBN, June 6 2024. https://www.ncsbn.org/news/connecticut-enacts-nurse-licensure-compact
[2] "Nurse Licensure Compact FAQ," Pennsylvania Department of State, accessed June 2025. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/nlc.html
[3] "Telehealth, PT Compact Legislation Reintroduced in U.S. Congress," APTA, April 9 2025. https://www.apta.org/article/2025/04/09/telehealth-pt-compact-legislation-reintroduced-in-u.s.-congress
[4] S. 1101, SHARE Act of 2025, Congress.gov, 119th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1101