Living in California, working in Florida
Can a California nurse work in Florida?
Living in California generally means you cannot obtain a multistate license, because California is not a compact state. To work in Florida, you will usually need a single-state Florida license or a license by endorsement — not compact privilege.
Recommended next step
Apply for a Florida license by endorsement through the Florida Board of Nursing.
Things to keep in mind
- A compact (multistate) license is issued by your primary state of residence. Since California is non-compact, that option is not available through California.
- If you later make a compact state your primary residence, you may become eligible for a multistate license then.
- Always confirm your individual eligibility with the state board of nursing and check your license type in Nursys before you practice.
Related pages
Sources & last reviewed
- NLC frequently asked questions— NCSBN / NurseCompact (nursecompact.com)
Covers multistate licenses, primary state of residence, the 60-day rule, telehealth, and license type coverage.
- NLC member states map & status— NCSBN / NurseCompact (nursecompact.com)
Identifies full members, partial implementation (Guam), and enacted/awaiting implementation (Massachusetts, U.S. Virgin Islands).
- Nursys QuickConfirm license verification— NCSBN / Nursys (nursys.com)
Recommended destination to verify whether a license is single-state or multistate.
Facts on this page were last reviewed against official sources on 2026-06-17. Compact law changes — always verify with your state board of nursing.