What decides whether you need a new license
Two things: whether Kentucky is a compact state, and whether your own license is multistate rather than single-state. Compact privilege only exists between compact states, and only a multistate license carries it. Run your exact home/assignment pairing through the compact state checker.
Practicing in Kentucky on assignment
Working under privilege still means following Kentucky's scope of practice and nurse practice act, and you remain accountable to the Kentucky Board of Nursing while you are here. If any of the assignment is telehealth, remember licensure generally follows the patient’s location — see the Kentucky telehealth guide.
The law that governs this in Kentucky
Taking an assignment in Kentucky is practice in Kentucky, so it is Kentucky’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the Kentucky Board of Nursing that applies it. That act is KRS ch. 314 (Nursing); RN licensure at KRS 314.041, APRN at 314.042.
The compact itself is separate law. Kentucky adopted it at KRS 314.475 (Nurse Licensure Compact), which is what allows a multistate license issued elsewhere to reach Kentucky at all — the practice act still decides what you may do once it does.
Before you sign
We are an independent licensing reference — we do not list assignments, agencies, or pay rates, and nothing here is a job offer. For the wider pre-assignment checklist (contract terms, credentialing, housing), see what to check before accepting a travel assignment. Confirm licensure with the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
Since when has a compact license worked in Kentucky?
Nurses holding another state’s multistate license have been able to practice in Kentucky since January 19, 2018. It has been a member long enough that most guidance you find will be accurate on this point.