One of the most common questions our recruiters hear from future nurses and aspiring travelers is, “What qualifications do you need to be a travel nurse?” In short, before travel nursing you need to earn your ADN or BSN degree, pass the NCLEX, earn the appropriate licensure and certifications for your location and specialty area, and have 1-2 years of recent, in-hospital experience. Now, let’s dive a bit deeper and further demystify the process of securing the proper requirements to become a travel nurse!
Travel Nurse Education Requirements
One of the first qualifications to be a travel nurse is you must earn one of two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). At most nursing schools, you can earn your ADN in two years and your BSN in four years. Either degree will put you on the path to becoming an RN; however, some jobs may require a BSN. Earning your BSN will also better prepare you for leadership roles and usually means earning higher pay over the course of your career.
Many RNs start by earning their ADN and then later attend an RN-to-BSN program. These programs are available in both in-person and remote formats and typically take one to two years if you attend full-time or three to four years if you attend part-time. The availability of remote programs is especially fantastic for travelers who want to earn their BSN while already working as a travel nurse.
NCLEX Requirements to Become a Travel Nurse
Much like a recent law school graduate must pass the bar exam to actually practice law, nursing school graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) to begin their practice. Passing the NCLEX is where you officially become a registered nurse. Milestone achieved!
Nursing students typically start preparing for the NCLEX in the final year or final semester of nursing school. If nursing school gets a bad rap for difficulty, then the NCLEX is its bigger, badder sister. But again, nursing is your calling and you won’t let anything get in the way of your dreams. Study up and you got this!
Licensure Qualifications to be a Travel Nurse
After you pass the NCLEX, you need to get licensed in the state where you’ll practice nursing and/or get your compact state license as part of your travel nursing requirements. Each state has its own requirements, fees, and timeframes for processing license applications. You’ll need to be licensed in each state you practice in and can typically apply for a license by examination or endorsement. In many states, you can even receive a temporary license while awaiting your official license, which is often helpful for travelers when starting an assignment in a new state.
Another handy licensure tool for travel nurses is the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), also known as a compact state license. Compact states are members of the NLC, which allows a reciprocal licensing benefit to nurses who hold compact licenses. For example, if a nurse has a compact license, they can practice in any compact state without obtaining a new, state-specific license. However, if you take a travel nursing assignment in a non-compact state, you’ll need to apply for and earn your license in that specific state.
Certification Needed for Travel Nursing
Earning various certifications is good for your skill set and professional prospects. Certifications can be general — such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) — or very specific to your specialty and role.
First, research shows that certified nurses make fewer mistakes on the job, meaning fewer patient deaths and injuries. While certifications aren’t always a part of travel nurse requirements, facilities appreciate certifications because they translate to better quality patient care and less wasted spending. Second, your certifications will set you apart as a travel nurse candidate. In fact, hospitals often require and/or prefer certifications relevant to a travel job opening. We think this is so important that we offer licensure and specialty certification reimbursement as a benefit to all current Medical Solutions travelers!
Experience Requirements for Travel Nursing
Whether you’re currently in nursing school or already working your first perm job to gain the necessary experience to travel, it’s never too early to search travel nursing jobs just to get a feel for what kind of assignments are currently available or to contact our team to get connected with a recruiter. That way, once you have all the right qualifications to be a travel nurse, you’ll be ready to go after the perfect first travel assignment for you!
Original post created by Sarah Wengert June 7, 2022.
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- What Qualities Do You Need to be a Travel Nurse
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