If you’re a nurse moving to Ohio, whether you plan on helping patients via telehealth or through in-person practice, it’s crucial that you meet the licensing requirements set out by the Ohio Board of Nursing. A failure to adhere to the Board’s licensing and residency requirements could result in disciplinary action––and even place your nursing license at risk. Even a small misstep, such as your old license expiring before the Board issues a valid OH license, could be devastating for your career.
The good news is that, although licensing requirements can seem overwhelming, our Professional License Defense Team can ensure that you fully understand what’s required of you to practice as a nurse in Ohio and beyond. Contact us now on 888.535.3686 or tell us about your case online to learn more about our services, but in the meantime, here’s an overview of the main issues you may encounter as a nurse moving to Ohio from another US state and how you may overcome them.
Ohio and Nursing Compact States
Ohio is a “compact” state, meaning it’s part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC allows nurses to practice in any compact state––not just a single state––without applying for multiple single-state licenses. So, if you’re a resident of a compact state, you can practice in any other compact state if you have a valid multistate license. But if you’re moving from a non-compact state, or you intend to practice, for example, telehealth, the rules can be nuanced. Let’s consider the general principles of moving to Ohio either from a compact state or non-compact state and how you might benefit from the LLF National Law Firm Ohio Nursing License Defense Services.
Compact State to Compact State
Even if you’re moving from another compact state to Ohio, you’ll still need a new multi-state license issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing. This is because your “Primary State of Residence” (PSOR) has changed. And you must obtain this license from OH within 60 days of establishing residency in the state, or else you risk working with an expired license. This so-called “60-Day Rule” prevents nurses from working indefinitely with an expired or outdated license; however, you can continue working with your old state license––so long as it’s still valid––while your application with OH is processing.
How do you establish residency in Ohio? There are a few steps involved, but primarily, you should:
- Establish a physical presence there, e.g., update your home address
- Register to vote in your new home county
- Obtain an Ohio Driver’s License or ID Card
- File an Ohio tax return (if applicable)
- Register any vehicles with the OH Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Residency rules can be complicated, but the most crucial step is applying for licensure with the OH Board of Nursing as soon as practical. You can even start your application before you physically move states if you’ve otherwise met the residency requirements.
It’s highly recommended that you apply for your license sooner rather than later. Otherwise, there’s a risk your application could be delayed, and you face a period of non-licensure, which affects your ability to work.
Noncompact State to Compact State
If you’re moving from a noncompact state, then you need a multistate license issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing before you can practice there. Your existing license––if it’s still valid––is unaffected, meaning you can still hold a license in your old home state while it’s valid.
Should you wish to return to your old state, you’ll possibly need to apply for a new single-state license if you’re returning there permanently and the license has expired.
Travel and Telehealth Nursing
If you move to Ohio and you plan on helping patients elsewhere in the US via telehealth, then you will need:
- A multi-state license issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing within 60 days of establishing residency there; and
- A single-state license issued by the state(s) where your patients are based, if they’re based in non-compact states.
So, even if you never see a patient in Ohio, you’ll still need a valid license issued by the state Board to support patients around the US because your PSOR has changed.
Federal and Military Nurses
If you’re a military nurse, VA nurse, or federal nurse practicing in a federal facility, such as a veteran’s hospital, you’re typically exempt from the usual licensing residency rules. Meaning, you can practice in OH so long as you hold a valid license issued by any other U.S. state. But if you intend to practice in a civilian facility, you’ll need either a multi-state license or a single-state license to treat Ohio-based patients.
For most military and federal nurses, it’s best to simply obtain a multi-state license, if you don’t already have one, from the OH Nursing Board. This ensures you can seamlessly move between federal and civilian health facilities without raising questions regarding your license validity.
Military Spouses
Nurses moving to Ohio from another state face their own challenges if they’re also military spouses.
- If you’re moving to OH from another compact state, and you already hold a multi-state license, you can work in OH as a nurse while your spouse is stationed there, while you maintain legal residency in your home state. You’ll still need to follow the 60-day rule, i.e., apply to the Ohio Board of Nursing for a new multi-state license.
- If you’re moving from a non-compact state, you’ll need an OH single-state license to work there, and you’ll need to establish residency, e.g., by registering to vote in Ohio, maintaining a physical presence in the state, and registering your car(s) with Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Should you have any concerns about establishing residency in Ohio as a military spouse or obtaining a valid license, the LLF National Law Firm Team is standing by to help you through the transition.
Temporary Nursing
If you’re only moving to OH for a short time (less than 60 days) and you’re moving from another compact state, you do not need to apply for a license in OH. Your current multistate license will allow you to practice for up to 60 days. Beyond this point, you may need to establish residency to continue working in OH, and you’ll need a license issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing, or else you face working with an expired license.
If you’re moving to OH from a non-compact state, even if it’s only for a short time, you must apply for licensure in OH. Otherwise, you risk practicing without a valid nursing license.
It’s not uncommon for employers or staffing agencies to misunderstand the rules here and to insist upon nurses in compact states applying for licenses in other compact states. If your employer or agency insists that you need an OH state license and refuses to honor your contract or allow you to transfer until you do so, then our Professional License Defense Team can help you swiftly resolve your nursing license issues.
Advance Practice Registered Nurses
The NLC only allows Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) to work in other compact states without obtaining single-state licenses. If you intend to work at the advanced level, as an APRN, then you may need a separate OH nursing license–even if you’re already registered in a compact state. This is because there’s no automatic right to work as an APRN under the NLC.
It’s easy for nurses to get confused here because the rules are nuanced. But a failure to obtain sufficient licensure to cover your practice could lead to disciplinary action, accusations of working without a license, and even license suspension or revocation. Our Professional License Defense Team is on hand to help you understand the rules, your rights and obligations, and how you may liaise with the OH Nursing Board in the event of any confusion or misunderstandings regarding licensure.
Pitfalls of Moving to Another State for Nursing
No matter which US state you’re moving to, OH, from, it’s crucial that you’re aware of certain major pitfalls that could delay (or even derail) your right to practice nursing in the state or elsewhere. The most common stumbling blocks nurses moving to Ohio from another state may encounter are:
- Confusion over residency requirements
- Failure to comply with the 60-day rule
- Failure to obtain a new multistate license
- Accidentally working with an expired license before the new one takes effect
In any scenario, you could face disciplinary action, up to and including license revocation, purely because you misunderstood the license application requirements in Ohio. If you’re facing disciplinary action, it’s crucial you act fast and effectively to clear up the situation and resume working as soon as possible. Our Professional License Defense Team will support you throughout the disciplinary process with the OH Board, standing in your corner and giving you the advice you need and deserve to protect your professional standing.
How the LLF National Law Firm Can Help
Whatever your reason for moving to Ohio, there’s one thing that every working nurse needs, and that’s an OH nursing license issued by the state board. Whether you need multiple single-state licenses or a single multi-state license depends entirely on where you’re moving from and where your patients are based. To ensure you retain a valid nursing license, and to avoid any unnecessary delays––or even professional penalties––you need support from the LLF National Law Firm. Our Professional License Defense Team will guide you through the licensing process and help you respond to any Ohio State Board of Nursing queries. We can also support you if there are licensing delays, concerns around an invalid or expired license, and advise you if the Board, for whatever reason, refuses to grant you a nursing license in Ohio. To discuss your case and how we can help, reach our Professional License Defense Team online or call us at 888.535.3686.