Easiest States to Get an NP License

Posted on: May 2nd, 2023
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Barton Team

Have you ever considered getting a new nurse practitioner license and traveling to a state you have never been to before? It’s time to make it happen! Barton Associates has a dedicated licensing and credentialing team that will help you get a new license and will even pay for it. All you need to do is show up and work!

Search Our Open NP Jobs Now!

Each state has a different license process, and therefore license timeframes can vary from state to state.

What are the easiest states to get an NP  license? We’ll cover that below, but first a few common questions about NP Licenses.

How Do You Get a Nurse Practitioner License In Another State?

NP programs and degrees are designed to fulfill the requirements of national certification, making it fairly easy to achieve an NP license in multiple states. Additionally, most states offer NP-friendly processes for achieving temporary or permanent licensure. In the wake of COVID-19, many states loosened these restrictions even further and many of those programs still exist today.

To get an idea of what different states require, here’s a chart of the requirements for some of the quickest states: those that take 6 weeks, and those that take 8 weeks.

What are the Quickest States to Get an NP License?

Below you will find a list of some of the fastest states to obtain a permanent, NP license along with what they require:

5. Vermont

Time frame: 4-8 weeks

Important Details:

  • There are no fingerprint requirements.
  • National certification is required.

4. Kansas

Time frame: 4-6 weeks

Important Details:

  • Fingerprints are required.
  • National certification is not required.
  • Temporary licensure is available on a case-by-case basis.

3. Virginia

Time frame: 4-6 weeks

Important Details:

  • Fingerprints are required for the RN application. If NP already holds an active multi-state RN license, then fingerprints are not required for the VA NP license.
  • National certification is required.

2. New Hampshire

Time frame: 4-6 weeks

Important Details:

  • Fingerprints are required.
  • National certification is required.

1. Utah

Time frame: 4-6 weeks

Important Details:

  • Fingerprints are required.
  • National certification is required.

NP License Information of Note for Other States

Idaho

APNs who completed their educational programs January 1st, 2016 or later will receive prescriptive authority with their licenses.

Check out our open jobs now!

Indiana

The provider will need to supply a Collaborative Practice Agreement before the application for prescriptive authority as an APN license is issued. The APN needs to submit a new Collaborative Practice Agreement when there is a change of practice address and/or new collaborating physician. The collaborative agreement goes into effect as soon as it’s submitted to board – it does not need board approval. APN can practice on a National Certification on an Indiana RN license.

Sing Back Home Again in Indiana as you get off the plane and begin your new assignment! Check out our open jobs in Indiana now!

Iowa

Applications can only be completed online. If the provider lives in a compact state and has an NP license, it is possible to obtain the NP license typically within 2 weeks.

Never been to Iowa before? Check out our open jobs and see what it has to offer!

Kansas

The prescriptive authority form cannot be submitted until the NP license is active. Once it arrives, it processes the same day so the DEA is able to switch or issue. The collaborative agreement goes into effect as soon as submitted to the board – it does not need to be approved.

Browse our open jobs in Kansas today! Who knows, maybe you’ll meet Dorothy and Toto!

Nebraska

A temporary permit is available for both RN and APN, but an APN temporary permit or full APN license cannot be issued unless the nurse has a full Nebraska RN license or is licensed as an RN and resides in another compact state. The APN is allowed to apply for a DEA on an APN temporary permit.

Want to learn how to husk corn while on assignment? Now is your chance! Check out our open Nebraska jobs now!

North Dakota

A temporary license is available, but the APN cannot prescribe on a temporary license.

Take a look at our open North Dakota jobs today!


New Hampshire

Visit beautiful White Mountain National Park while on assignment in New Hampshire! View our open jobs now!

Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be small, but there is no shortage of opportunities! Check out our open jobs now!

Utah

Check out our open jobs in Utah and don’t forget your ski equipment!

Vermont

Vermont requires a graduate degree in nursing when applying for a new license. In order to be issued prescriptive authority without a collaborating physician, the NP has to have worked for 2 years non-consecutively under the supervision of another physician in Vermont or any other state. The 2 years have to be after they become nationally certified.

Cheese, ice cream, and maple syrup – need I say more? Pack your bags and take your next assignment in Vermont!

Want to learn more about locum tenens with Barton Associates? Fill out the form and one of our representatives will reach out to you!

Note: this blog was originally written in 2020 by Chris Keeley, and was updated with new information in 2023 by the Barton team.

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About Barton Team

We're Barton Associates, the Locum Tenens Experts. We work with thousands of hospitals, medical practices, and organizations across the United States and its territories that need talented providers for short- and long-term engagements. Inspired by the pioneering, humanitarian work of Clara Barton, the Barton Team recruits physicians, PAs, NPs, dentists and CRNAs in a wide variety of specialties, so that we can quickly place them in locum tenens assignments nationwide.

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