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A Quick Guide to State Licenses for Medical Travelers

September 15, 2022

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Megan Bebout

Quick-guide-to-licensing-minHey, you, professional medical traveler, you! If you’re reading this, then that means you’re nearly ready to embark on your next travel assignment. And who knows, maybe this next contract will be your dream job, otherwise known as your unicorn assignment! But, before you can officially pack your bags and hit the road for your next med travel job, you need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s to get licensed in the state you’re going to next.

 

 

A Quick Guide to State Licenses for Medical Travelers

 

 

Whether you’re a travel nurse, travel therapy professional, travel labbie, or another allied health expert, chances are you’ll need a state license before you can start working your medical magic. To help you get to where you’re going next, we created this quick guide to state licensing! Check out the state licensing requirements for:

 

How to get your nursing license

You became a travel nurse for a reason. Whether that’s to improve the lives of those you touch, to adventure through every national park in the country, to eat your way through the states, or take your status as coffee connoisseur to the next level, there’s a reason you chose the travel nurse life. So, where to next, travel nurse?

Your answer may depend on state licensure. Luckily, many states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows you to practice nursing in multiple states with one handy dandy license. And then there are those states that qualify as walkthrough states, which streamlines the process to obtaining temporary licensure. Let’s take a look and learn the difference between NLC states and walkthrough states and find out which may be the best fit for you.

NLC vs walkthrough nursing license

Can you imagine having to get a new nursing license for each state you wanted to work in? Neither could the U.S. government and that’s why they created the NLC. The Nurse Licensure Compact is a multi-state license that allows registered nurses (RNs) to practice their skills in all participating states. So, instead of applying for a license in every state you wish to work in, might we suggest opting for an NLC?

To qualify for your NLC, you must have proof of residence in a compact state, plus a current and active RN license in said state. If you don’t happen to have a permanent home in a compact state, you can apply for a license in a compact state by endorsement, but that will only allow you to practice nursing in that single state. Depending on the state licensure you’re applying for, there’s also a chance you’ll need to take and pass the Jurisprudence (JP) Exam, which tests your nursing knowledge and skills.

Then, there’s a walkthrough nursing license. Walkthrough states give nurses the option to get a temporary license that allows them to practice medicine while they wait for a permanent state license. Typically, walkthrough licenses are valid for one to six months, depending on the state.

If the state you want to work in doesn’t participate in the NLC and isn’t a walkthrough state, then odds are that state operates independently from these license options. So, to get licensed in one of these states, you’ll need to apply with the specific state itself.

 

Nursing licenses by state

Wondering which license is the best fit for you? Find out with the below nursing license chart to see NLC states, walkthrough states, how long it takes to get licensed, plus additional state licensing information!

State

NLC participant

Walkthrough state

Length of time to get licensed

State licensing deets

Alabama

✔️

Temp: 48 hours

 

Perm: Varies

How to get nursing license in Alabama

Alaska

Temp: 10 business days

 

Perm: 10 business days

How to get nursing license in Alaska

                        

Arizona

✔️

✔️

Temp: 48 hours

 

Perm: 1 to 2 months

How to get nursing license in Arizona

Arkansas

✔️

Temp: 3 to 5 business days

 

Perm: 3 to 5 business days

How to get nursing license in Arkansas

California

Temp: 8 to 10 weeks

 

Perm: 10 to 12 weeks

How to get nursing license in California

Colorado

✔️

Temp: 4 to 5 weeks

 

Perm: 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Colorado

Connecticut

Temp: 2 to 3 weeks

 

Perm: 5 to 7 business days

How to get nursing license in Connecticut

Delaware

✔️

Temp: 4 to 6 weeks

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Delaware

Florida

✔️

Temp: 30 days

 

Perm: 30 days

How to get nursing license in Florida

Georgia

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 15 business days

How to get nursing license in Georgia

Hawaii

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 15 to 20 business days

How to get nursing license in Hawaii

Idaho

✔️

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: Varies

How to get nursing license in Idaho

Illinois

Temp: 2 weeks

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Illinois

Indiana

✔️

Temp: 2 weeks

 

Perm: 2 to 4 weeks

How to get nursing license in Indiana

Iowa

✔️

Temp: 5 to 10 business days

 

Perm: 2 to 8 weeks

How to get nursing license in Iowa

Kansas

✔️

Temp: 7 to 10 business days

 

Perm: 2 to 4 weeks

How to get nursing license in Kansas

Kentucky

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 2 weeks

How to get nursing license in Kentucky

Louisiana

✔️

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Louisiana

Maine

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get nursing license in Maine

Maryland

✔️

Temp: 48 to 72 hours

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Maryland

Massachusetts

Perm: Varies

 

Temp: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Massachusetts

Michigan

Temp: 4 to 6 weeks

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Michigan

Minnesota

Temp: 1 business day

 

Perm: 2 weeks

How to get nursing license in Minnesota

Mississippi

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 7 to 15 business days

How to get nursing license in Mississippi

Missouri

✔️

✔️

Temp: Same day in person or 2 weeks by mail

 

Perm: 10 to 12 business days

How to get nursing license in Missouri

Montana

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 30 to 60 days

How to get nursing license in Montana

Nebraska

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 4 to 5 weeks

How to get nursing license in Nebraska

Nevada

Temp: 7 to 10 business days

 

Perm: 2 to 4 months

How to get nursing license in Nevada

New Hampshire

✔️

Temp: Varies


Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in New Hampshire

New Jersey

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 6 to 8 weeks

How to get nursing license in New Jersey

New Mexico

✔️

Temp: 2 to 3 weeks

 

Perm: Varies

How to get nursing license in New Mexico

New York

Temp: 6 to 8 weeks

 

Perm: Varies

How to get nursing license in New York

North Carolina

✔️

Temp: 1 to 2 weeks

 

Perm: 6 to 8 weeks

How to get nursing license in North Carolina

North Dakota

✔️

Temp: 3 to 5 business days

 

Perm: 7 to 10 business days

How to get nursing license in North Dakota

Ohio

✔️

Temp: 4 to 6 weeks

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Ohio

Oklahoma

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get nursing license in Oklahoma

Oregon

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 3 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Oregon

Pennsylvania

✔️

Temp: 10 to 14 business days

 

Perm: 8 to 10 weeks

How to get nursing license in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 1 week

How to get nursing license in Rhode Island

South Carolina

✔️

✔️

Temp: 1 day

 

Perm: 10 to 14 business days

How to get nursing license in South Carolina

South Dakota

✔️

Temp: 2 to 3 business days

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in South Dakota

Tennessee

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Tennessee

Texas

✔️

Temp: 2 weeks

 

Perm: 2 weeks

How to get nursing license in Texas

Utah

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 2 to 4 weeks

How to get nursing license in Utah

Vermont

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 3 to 5 business days

How to get nursing license in Vermont

Virginia

✔️

Temp: Varies

 

Perm: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get nursing license in Virginia

Washington

Temp: 3 weeks

 

Perm: 3 to 4 weeks

How to get nursing license in Washington

West Virginia

✔️

Temp: 7 to 10 business days

 

Perm: 7 to 10 business days

How to get nursing license in West Virginia

Wisconsin

✔️

Temp: 10 to 15 business days

 

Perm: 10 to 15 business days

How to get nursing license in Wisconsin

Wyoming

✔️

Temp: 10 to 14 business days

 

Perm: Up to 90 days

How to get nursing license in Wyoming

 

 

How to get your therapy license

Like nurses, therapy professionals such as physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) need to be licensed by the state before they can begin treating patients. If you’re one of these therapy pros, check out how you can quickly get licensed before your next travel job.

Compact vs non-compact therapy licenses

Similar to nursing licensure, there are compact therapy licenses you can apply for to help you do what you do best in any participating state in the U.S. To qualify for any of the therapy compact licenses, you must hold a current and valid therapy license in your home state, plus a valid driver’s license proving your home state. In addition, you may be required to pass the JP Exam, depending on the state. These are the different type of compact therapy licenses:

 

 

 

Although most U.S. states participate in some kind of therapy compact licensure, there are a handful of states who don’t. And those would be non-compact states. To work in a non-compact state, you’ll need to apply for your therapy license with that specific state. Since the length of time to get licensed varies by state, we’d recommend you start the process early so you’re ready to hit the road for your next travel therapy assignment.

 

Therapy licenses by state

Not sure which states are compact and which aren’t? Don’t worry! We’ve done the hard work so you can reap the benefits. Take a gander at the chart below to find out how to get your therapy license in every state:

State

PT Compact participant

OT Licensure Compact participant

ASLP Compact participant

Length of time to get licensed

State licensing deets

Alabama

✔️

✔️

PT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

OT: 1 week

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Alabama



How to get OT license in Alabama

 

How to get SLP license in Alabama

Alaska

PT: 3 to 5 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in Alaska

 

How to get OT license in Alaska

 

How to get SLP license in Alaska

Arizona

✔️

✔️

PT: Varies

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: 60 days

How to get PT license in Arizona

 

How to get OT license in Arizona

 

How to get SLP license in Arizona

Arkansas

✔️

PT: 1 week

 

OT: 2 weeks

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Arkansas

 

How to get OT license in Arkansas

 

How to get SLP license in Arkansas

California

PT: 5 to 7 weeks

 

OT: 60 days

 

SLP: 5 months

How to get PT license in California

 

How to get OT license in California

 

How to get SLP license in California

Colorado

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Colorado

 

How to get OT license in Colorado

 

How to get SLP license in Colorado

Connecticut

PT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Connecticut

 

How to get OT license in Connecticut

 

How to get SLP license in Connecticut

Delaware

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 4 to 8 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Delaware

 

How to get OT license in Delaware

 

How to get SLP license in Delaware

Florida

PT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 5 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 30 days

How to get PT license in Florida

 

How to get OT license in Florida

 

How to get SLP license in Florida

Georgia

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 5 to 7 weeks

 

OT: 6 to 8 weeks

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Georgia

 

How to get OT license in Georgia

 

How to get SLP license in Georgia

Hawaii

PT: 4 to 5 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 20 to 30 days

How to get PT license in Hawaii

 

How to get OT license in Hawaii

 

How to get SLP license in Hawaii

Idaho

✔️

PT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Idaho

 

How to get OT license in Idaho

 

How to get SLP license in Idaho

Illinois

✔️

✔️

PT: 6 to 8 weeks

 

OT: 6 to 8 weeks

 

SLP: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get PT license in Illinois

 

How to get OT license in Illinois

 

How to get SLP license in Illinois

Indiana

✔️

PT: 2 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 4 weeks

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Indiana

 

How to get OT license in Indiana

 

How to get SLP license in Indiana

Iowa

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 2 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 3 to 4 weeks

How to get PT license in Iowa

 

How to get OT license in Iowa

 

How to get SLP license in Iowa

Kansas

✔️

PT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 8 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Kansas

 

How to get OT license in Kansas

 

How to get SLP license in Kansas

Kentucky

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Kentucky

 

How to get OT license in Kentucky

 

How to get SLP license in Kentucky

Louisiana

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 6 to 10 weeks

 

SLP: 60 days

How to get PT license in Louisiana

 

How to get OT license in Louisiana

 

How to get SLP license in Louisiana

Maine

✔️

PT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Maine

 

How to get OT license in Maine

 

How to get SLP license in Maine

Maryland

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: 2 to 5 weeks

How to get PT license in Maryland

 

How to get OT license in Maryland

 

How to get SLP license in Maryland

Massachusetts

PT: 5 to 6 weeks

 

OT: 5 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Massachusetts

 

How to get OT license in Massachusetts

 

How to get SLP license in Massachusetts

Michigan

PT: 6 to 8 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Michigan

 

How to get OT license in Michigan

 

How to get SLP license in Michigan

Minnesota

✔️

PT: 5 days

 

OT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

SLP: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get PT license in Minnesota

 

How to get OT license in Minnesota

 

How to get SLP license in Minnesota

Mississippi

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in Mississippi

 

How to get OT license in Mississippi

 

How to get SLP license in Mississippi

Missouri

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 6 weeks

 

OT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

SLP: 30 days

How to get PT license in Missouri

 

How to get OT license in Missouri

 

How to get SLP license in Missouri

Montana

✔️

PT: 2 weeks

 

OT: 1 week

 

SLP: 30 days

How to get PT license in Montana

 

How to get OT license in Montana

 

How to get SLP license in Montana

Nebraska

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 7 to 10 days

How to get PT license in Nebraska

 

How to get OT license in Nebraska

 

How to get SLP license in Nebraska

Nevada

PT: 3 to 8 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Nevada

 

How to get OT license in Nevada

 

How to get SLP license in Nevada

New Hampshire

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: Varies

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in New Hampshire

 

How to get OT license in New Hampshire

 

How to get SLP license in New Hampshire

New Jersey

PT: 4 to 8 weeks

 

OT: 8 to 10 weeks

 

SLP: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get PT license in New Jersey

 

How to get OT license in New Jersey

 

How to get SLP license in New Jersey

New Mexico

PT: 1 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 30 days

How to get PT license in New Mexico

 

How to get OT license in New Mexico

 

How to get SLP license in New Mexico

New York

✔️

✔️

PT: 4 to 8 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in New York

 

How to get OT license in New York

 

How to get SLP license in New York

North Carolina

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in North Carolina

 

How to get OT license in North Carolina

 

How to get SLP license in North Carolina

North Dakota

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in North Dakota

 

How to get OT license in North Dakota

 

How to get SLP license in North Dakota

Ohio

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Ohio

 

How to get OT license in Ohio

 

How to get SLP license in Ohio

Oklahoma

✔️

✔️

PT: Varies

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: Varies

How to get PT license in Oklahoma

 

How to get OT license in Oklahoma

 

How to get SLP license in Oklahoma

Oregon

✔️

PT: 2 to 3 days

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in Oregon

 

How to get OT license in Oregon

 

How to get SLP license in Oregon

Pennsylvania

✔️

PT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Pennsylvania

 

How to get OT license in Pennsylvania

 

How to get SLP license in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

PT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get PT license in Rhode Island

 

How to get OT license in Rhode Island

 

How to get SLP license in Rhode Island

South Carolina

✔️

✔️

PT: 4 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 4 to 6 weeks

How to get PT license in South Carolina

 

How to get OT license in South Carolina

 

How to get SLP license in South Carolina

South Dakota

PT: Varies

 

OT: Varies

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in South Dakota

 

How to get OT license in South Dakota

 

How to get SLP license in South Dakota

Tennessee

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 3 to 6 weeks

 

OT: 4 to 6 weeks

 

SLP: 6 weeks

How to get PT license in Tennessee

 

How to get OT license in Tennessee

 

How to get SLP license in Tennessee

Texas

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 3 to 6 weeks

How to get PT license in Texas

 

How to get OT license in Texas

 

How to get SLP license in Texas

Utah

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 2 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 2 to 3 weeks

 

SLP: 2 to 3 weeks

How to get PT license in Utah

 

How to get OT license in Utah

 

How to get SLP license in Utah

Vermont

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: Same day

 

SLP: 5 to 7 weeks

How to get PT license in Vermont

 

How to get OT license in Vermont

 

How to get SLP license in Vermont

Virginia

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 30 days

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in Virginia

 

How to get OT license in Virginia

 

How to get SLP license in Virginia

Washington

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 6 to 8 weeks

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in Washington

 

How to get OT license in Washington

 

How to get SLP license in Washington

West Virginia

✔️

✔️

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in West Virginia

 

How to get OT license in West Virginia

 

How to get SLP license in West Virginia

Wisconsin

✔️

PT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

OT: 6 to 10 weeks

 

SLP: 60 days

How to get PT license in Wisconsin

 

How to get OT license in Wisconsin

 

How to get SLP license in Wisconsin

Wyoming

✔️

✔️

PT: 3 to 4 weeks

 

OT: 1 to 2 weeks

 

SLP: 1 to 2 weeks

How to get PT license in Wyoming

 

How to get OT license in Wyoming

 

How to get SLP license in Wyoming

 

 

Find your next assignment!

How to get your clinical lab license

Life as a travel labbie can take you to scenic destinations across the U.S. But where you take your next adventure could depend on the state’s lab licensing requirements. Let’s look at what licensing is needed to work in the lab so you can choose your next travel job destination!

Personnel licensure

Whether you’re a medical lab scientist (MLS), histotechnologist, or another lab professional, you may need a personnel state license to practice your skills, depending on the state. A personnel lab license is a legal permit that gives you permission to provide medical care and currently, only 11 states have enacted licensure for clinical lab professionals like MLSs, medical lab technicians (MLTs), cytotechnologists, and more.

To obtain licensure in one of these states, most require fingerprint scans and documentation of certification, education, training, and competency. Plus, some states require documentation of a specific set of contact hours before you’re able to get licensed. Before you embark on your travel journey, check out the state’s specific requirements to ensure you meet them.

But what if you want to work in a state that doesn’t require licensure? Good news, you can! In fact, it might be even a smidge easier to work in a state that doesn’t require lab licensing because there are no extra hoops to jump through, just your casual compliance and then you’re off to the races. And lucky for you, Fusion Medical Staffing’s kick-ass Compliance Team is here to help you navigate the complex world of compliance on all days that end in “y.”

 

Clinical lab licenses by state

Ready to hit the road for your next travel lab assignment? Check out lab requirements by state to find out what you need to do to before your first day on the job.

State

Requires licensure

Length of time to get licensed

State licensing deets

Alabama

Varies

How to work in the lab in Alabama

Alaska

Varies

How to work in the lab in Alaska

Arizona

Varies

How to work in the lab in Arizona

Arkansas

Varies

How to work in the lab in Arkansas

California

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in California

Colorado

Varies

How to work in the lab in Colorado

Connecticut

Varies

How to work in the lab in Connecticut

Delaware

Varies

How to work in the lab in Delaware

Florida

✔️

30 days

How to get lab license in Florida

Georgia

✔️

6 to 8 weeks

How to get lab license in Georgia

Hawaii

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in Hawaii

Idaho

Varies

How to work in the lab in Idaho

Illinois

Varies

How to work in the lab in Illinois

Indiana

Varies

How to work in the lab in Indiana

Iowa

Varies

How to work in the lab in Iowa

Kansas

Varies

How to work in the lab in Kansas

Kentucky

Varies

How to work in the lab in Kentucky

Louisiana

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in Louisiana

Maine

Varies

How to work in the lab in Maine

Maryland

Varies

How to work in the lab in Maryland

Massachusetts

Varies

How to work in the lab in Massachusetts

Michigan

Varies

How to work in the lab in Michigan

Minnesota

Varies

How to work in the lab in Minnesota

Mississippi

Varies

How to work in the lab in Mississippi

Missouri

Varies

How to work in the lab in Missouri

Montana

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in Montana

Nebraska

Varies

How to work in the lab in Nebraska

Nevada

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in Nevada

New Hampshire

Varies

How to work in the lab in New Hampshire

New Jersey

Varies

How to work in the lab in New Jersey

New Mexico

Varies

How to work in the lab in New Mexico

New York

✔️

10 to 12 weeks

How to get lab license in New York

North Carolina

Varies

How to work in the lab in North Carolina

North Dakota

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in North Dakota

Ohio

Varies

How to work in the lab in Ohio

Oklahoma

Varies

How to work in the lab in Oklahoma

Oregon

Varies

How to work in the lab in Oregon

Pennsylvania

Varies

How to work in the lab in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Varies

How to work in the lab in Rhode Island

South Carolina

Varies

How to work in the lab in South Carolina

South Dakota

Varies

How to work in the lab in South Dakota

Tennessee

✔️

8 to 10 weeks

How to get lab license in Tennessee

Texas

Varies

How to work in the lab in Texas

Utah

Varies

How to work in the lab in Utah

Vermont

Varies

How to work in the lab in Vermont

Virginia

Varies

How to work in the lab in Virginia

Washington

Varies

How to work in the lab in Washington

West Virginia

✔️

Varies

How to get lab license in West Virginia

Wisconsin

Varies

How to work in the lab in Wisconsin

Wyoming

Varies

How to work in the lab in Wyoming

 

How to get your radiology license

You don’t need us to tell you that you’re rad, radiology professional, you—you already know that. But what we can tell you is how radiology and radiography licensing work across the U.S. states. Let’s learn more.

ARRT vs state licensing

When it comes to radiology licensing, there are two routes you can take: Licensing through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or licensing through the specific state you want to work in. But here’s the kicker: Some states require either ARRT or state licensing, some states require both, and some states require neither! Don’t worry, we list the state requirements below, so you don’t have to figure that one out on your own.

Spoiler alert: A lot of states require both ARRT and state-specific licensure, so it may be a good idea to move forward with ARRT licensing either way. To get licensed through the ARRT, you must meet the three requirements of education, ethics, and examination. The first step towards ARRT credentialing is education where you’ll complete an ARRT-approved educational program in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, radiography, or sonography. Once step one is complete, you’ll learn about the ARRT Standards of Ethics. Here, you’ll receive the governing documents and learn the do’s and don’ts of working in radiology. Lastly, there’s the ARRT exam. The ARRT exam evaluates your radiology and patient knowledge, so all you have to do is ace that, pass go, and collect your radiology ARRT license.

Like other modalities like nursing, therapy, and lab, radiology state licenses differ depending on the state you want to work in. That means that requirements in Arizona may not be the same as requirements in Texas, so before you embark on your rad travel adventure, look into the state’s requirements to ensure you’re set up for success on your assignment. For a quick view on state licensing requirements for radiology, check out the chart below!

 

Radiology licenses by state

It can be tough to keep up with licensing requirements, especially when the details change depending on the state you work in. That’s why we created this handy dandy licensing guide to help get you where you want to go even faster:

State

ARRT license required

State license required

Length of time to get licensed

State licensing deets

Alabama

Varies

How to work in radiology in Alabama

Alaska

Varies

How to work in radiology in Alaska

Arizona

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Arizona

Arkansas

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Arkansas

California

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in California

Colorado

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Colorado

Connecticut

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Connecticut

Delaware

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Delaware

Florida

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Florida

Georgia

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Georgia

Hawaii

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Hawaii

Idaho

Varies

How to work in radiology in Idaho

Illinois

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Illinois

Indiana

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Indiana

Iowa

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Iowa

Kansas

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Kansas

Kentucky

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Kentucky

Louisiana

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Louisiana

Maine

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Maine

Maryland

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Maryland

Massachusetts

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Massachusetts

Michigan

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Michigan

Minnesota

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Minnesota

Mississippi

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Mississippi

Missouri

Varies

How to work in radiology in Missouri

Montana

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Montana

Nebraska

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Nebraska

Nevada

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Nevada

New Hampshire

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in New Hampshire

New Jersey

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in New Jersey

New Mexico

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in New Mexico

New York

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in New York

North Carolina

Varies

How to work in radiology in North Carolina

North Dakota

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in North Dakota

Ohio

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Ohio

Oklahoma

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Oklahoma

Oregon

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Oregon

Pennsylvania

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Rhode Island

South Carolina

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in South Carolina

South Dakota

Varies

How to work in radiology in South Dakota

Tennessee

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Tennessee

Texas

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Texas

Utah

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Utah

Vermont

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Vermont

Virginia

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Virginia

Washington

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Washington

West Virginia

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in West Virginia

Wisconsin

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Wisconsin

Wyoming

✔️

✔️

Varies

How to get radiology license in Wyoming

 

 

Licensing hacks

If thinking about professional licensure feels like a headache, you’re not the only one. The good news is now that we know the licensing requirements for travel nurses, PTs, OTs, SLPs, labbies, and radiology professionals, the hardest part is over—it’s all uphill from here. So, let’s look at some licensing hacks to help you get at the top of the hill and credentialed as quickly as possible.

No. 1: Plan in advance

It can take a hot second to get officially licensed, depending on your division and specialty, plus the type of license you’re going for. So do yourself a favor and plan accordingly for your next travel assignment! Here are some suggestions on how you can plan ahead of time:

  • Talk to your recruiter and traveler friends to find out the states that have good opportunities for your discipline and then get licensed in those states
  • Keep a bucket list of travel destinations so you can easily decide where to go for your next travel adventure
  • Maintain two or three active state licenses at a time for more job options in multiple states
  • Travel with Fusion Medical Staffing and allow us to do the hard (and expensive) work of applying for licensure for you

While licensure can be a headache, it doesn’t have to be. When you plan in advance for your next assignment, you’ll know ahead of time where you’re going and what’s required of you to work there. Planning in advance helps you avoid scrambling at the last minute and keeps you prepared for your next travel adventure, whatever that may be.

 

No. 2: Stay organized

As we’ve learned, getting licensed may require a casual leap through a hoop or two. So, when it comes to leap, make sure you’re ready for the jump. One way to do that is by staying organized.

Depending on the license, application requirements can include a slew of paperwork and documentation. To help streamline the process, get all required documents together in advance. This criterion will differ based on division, state, and type of license, so make sure you’ve researched in advance what’s required from you. Once you know what’s needed from you, get it all in the same place so it’s easy and fast to upload to the licensure application form. For example, you may need to submit:

  • Personal identification
  • Medical records
  • Fingerprint cards
  • Professional credentials
  • Licensing verification

To keep all files together, we would suggest creating digital copies of the documentation, so it’s fast and easy to find and submit them, when needed. Another idea would be creating a Fusion Marketplace account to keep all your information organized in one safe, online location. With a Marketplace profile, you can house and easily access all of your important documentation to stay organized.

 

No. 3: Be prepared

You know how Spongebob Squarepants repeats, “I’m ready” on his way to work at the Krusty Krab? That’s the type of vibe we’re looking for when we say, “Be prepared” to get licensed.

You’re off to a good start with planning in advance and staying organized but being prepared takes the cake. Regardless of if you’re going for a compact license or a specific state license, there’s a chance that an exam is in your future. And if that’s the case, then you need to be prepared for what that test is going to throw at you. Of course, the best way to be prepared for an exam is to, yes, you guessed it, study. Here are some study tips to help get you started:

  • Discover your learning style
  • Turn on your brain, tune into the knowledge, drop out of the excuses, and get to work
  • Work smarter, not harder
  • Practice, practice, practice
  • Be patient and be kind to yourself
  • Give yourself a break
  • Treat yourself to the time you need
  • Start a study group
  • Don’t study on an empty stomach
  • Plan ahead and be prepared

In addition to the potential exam in your future, it’s also possible that the facility you’ll be working in has their own licensing requirements, as well. Of course, this isn’t always the case, and when it is, your recruiter will communicate with you to make sure you’re prepared for your first day at your new facility.

Lastly, when it comes to licensing, it’s up to you to be prepared for renewal requirements. Many times, renewal requirements include a certain number of CE hours and a fee, but it depends on the state where you’re obtaining licensure. When it comes to renewing your licenses, it’s up to you to decide which licenses you wish to renew versus the ones that you let lapse. For example, maybe you renew a license in a state where you want to work in again but let another license lapse in a state you don’t think you’ll work in again for some time. You wear the pants, you decide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ll admit it—it’s not always a walk in the park to get licensed where you want to work. But that’s part of why you have us! At Fusion Medical Staffing, we work hard to ensure our travelers are prepped and ready to go for their next assignment, and that’s true even when it comes to licensing. So, the next time you’re in the market for a state license, use this licensing quick guide as a reference to help you plan in advance for what you need to do to stay organized and prepared for your next travel job.

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