The moving boxes are finally unpacked. Your scrubs are folded in a new closet, your favorite coffee spot has been replaced by a new local gem, and you’re still figuring out which drawer you put the measuring cups in. Moving is messy, exhausting, and full of tiny details that can feel impossible to keep track of, especially when you’re balancing a career in healthcare.
Between back-to-back shifts, tending to patients, and trying to set up life in a new zip code, it’s easy to forget the administrative stuff, like updating your multistate nursing license. But if you’re a registered nurse or nurse practitioner with a multistate license, that seemingly small oversight could come with big consequences.
At Mocingbird, we work with clinicians across the country to streamline their licensing and compliance. One recurring issue that we continue to see is registered nurses and nurse practitioners that have moved to a new state but forget, or simply don’t realize, they need to update their address and declare a new primary state of residence for their multistate compact license.
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and APRN Contract allow RNs and NPs to practice in multiple participating states under one multistate license, with the crucial requirement that you must live in the state that issued your multistate license. The state where you legally reside is known as your Primary State of Residence (PSOR). Once you move and establish residency in another compact state, your original license is no longer valid for multistate practice unless you update your licensure.
In order to remain compliant, you need to apply for licensure by endorsement in your new state and officially declare that state as your new PSOR. You also must inform your former state board you’ve moved. Simply changing your mailing address with the post office isn’t enough. Every board of nursing requires a formal update, and most have deadlines, usually within 30-60 days.
Failing to update your information can have serious consequences. It could mean you are practicing without a valid multistate license, even if you have the original one in your hand. This applies to both in-person care and telehealth. You may also face disciplinary action, experience delays in renewals, or risk losing employment opportunities due to a lapse in licensure status.
Moving is already stressful enough, don’t let a preventable compliance issue, like updating your multistate nursing license, add more to your plate. If you’re unsure about the steps you need to take, check your state board’s requirements or reach out to us at Mocingbird. We’re here to help you stay compliant so you can focus on providing exceptional care.
About Mocingbird
Mocingbird is a SOC 2 and HIPAA-compliant, physician-founded, cloud-based platform revolutionizing the way healthcare professionals and organizations manage medical licensing and Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements. By automating the entire licensing process—from initial applications to renewals and CME tracking—Mocingbird helps clinicians stay compliant and focus on patient care while reducing administrative burdens. With a team of licensing experts and a comprehensive, user-friendly dashboard, Mocingbird ensures that clinicians and healthcare organizations meet all regulatory requirements with ease. Trusted by medical professionals nationwide, Mocingbird is committed to improving clinician well-being and operational efficiency across the healthcare industry.
