Out of the Compact States which one has the fastest application process for new grad

I'm relocating from my state because I know I will never get a job with the stiff competition here. I won't say which state but it's on the West Coast. I'm young, single, with no kids so I want to relocate anywhere in the US. And when I mean anywhere, I mean anywhere. I rent month-to-month, have wads of money, have a car, leech off Internet from library, neighbor, or Starbucks, and only have clothes with luggage and a laptop. That's it. I'm completely mobile.

Since I'm a new grad, I need to sit for my NCLEX-RN soon and I'm not really a test taker person (forget stuff if I don't review everyday easily) so I would like to apply to a state BON that has a relatively fast application process for US grads with no criminal history, minimal fees (less than <$200 for app), and less requirements (i.e. photograph, etc).

The compact state I was looking at was AZ but their fee was $350 for the application alone along with a slew of other requirements. That made me shudder a bit.

Any suggestions my fellow nurses? It's ok to be bias towards your state, just try to be honest with your application experience.
Just saying - it's not compact, but it is very cheap to endorse to GA. I'm a new grad and I got hired in GA with no experience. I think the endorsement fee was something like $60, another $50 (maybe, don't remember) for the background check, around $10 per card for fingerprint cards, and then if your state participates in Nursys for licensure verification, $30 (I think) for that. Total of somewhere around $150 for everything.Sorry, just noticed you're looking to take boards... their application fee to take the NCLEX is $40 according to the GA BON. That does not include the cost of the NCLEX. I hope that helps!

I'm in NC. The application process here was pretty quick. Honestly what took the longest was waiting on our school's program director to send the graduation verification stuff. The application fee was $75. They do require a passport photo with your application, and you have to get it notarized, but I did all that in one day and dropped it in the mail and it didn't take them long to process it...maybe a few days.

IIRC, states only issue compact licenses to people who are residents of that state.

Quote from meandragonbrettIIRC, states only issue compact licenses to people who are residents of that state.

JustBeachy and meandragonbrett are correct. You can't get a license from Compact State 1 and use to to practice in Compact States 2-24 unless your primary (legal) residence is in Compact State 1. I have licenses from several Compact states, but I have to buy them all a la carte because my legal residence is in a nonCompact state.Otherwise.... the Compact state that was the fastest for me to get a license was Nebraska, two weeks. I asked how long it would take and they said, "When do you need it?" God bless 'em, nice people in that office.* 24 Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) States (current)COMPACT STATES / IMPLEMENTATION DATEArizona 7/1/2002Arkansas 7/1/2000Colorado 10/1/2007Delaware 7/1/2000Idaho 7/1/2001Iowa 7/1/2000Kentucky 6/1/2007Maine 7/1/2001Maryland 7/1/1999Mississippi 7/1/2001Missouri 6/1/2010Nebraska 1/1/2001New Hampshire 1/1/2006New Mexico 1/1/2004North Carolina 7/1/2000North Dakota 1/1/2004Rhode Island 7/1/2008South Carolina 2/1/2006South Dakota 1/1/2001Tennessee 7/1/2003Texas 1/1/2000Utah 1/1/2000Virginia 1/1/2005Wisconsin 1/1/2000

This is gonna sound really stupid... But what is a compact state? I'm still pre nursing and can usually figure out unfamiliar words on my own, but this is a new one for me Thank you !

Look up nursing license compact on the NCSBN website. I'd link but I'm on my phone

Quote from sarahd333This is gonna sound really stupid... But what is a compact state? I'm still pre nursing and can usually figure out unfamiliar words on my own, but this is a new one for me Thank you !

Ooo! Thanks!

Anyone have experience with Colorado? There's a $88 fee and not many requirements, though, I'm not sure it's as fast of a process compared to states like Nebraska for instance.

If you call any BoN they'll tell you how long it takes to get your papers processed. Find them all here:https://www.ncsbn.org/contactbon.htm