What decides whether you need a new license
Two things: whether Ohio 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 Ohio on assignment
Working under privilege still means following Ohio's scope of practice and nurse practice act, and you remain accountable to the Ohio Board of Nursing while you are here. If any of the assignment is telehealth, remember licensure generally follows the patient’s location — see the Ohio telehealth guide.
The law that governs this in Ohio
Taking an assignment in Ohio is practice in Ohio, so it is Ohio’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the Ohio Board of Nursing that applies it. That act is Ohio Rev. Code ch. 4723.
The compact itself is separate law. Ohio adopted it at Ohio Rev. Code § 4723.11, which is what allows a multistate license issued elsewhere to reach Ohio 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 Ohio Board of Nursing.
Since when has a compact license worked in Ohio?
Nurses holding another state’s multistate license have been able to practice in Ohio since January 1, 2023. That is recent enough that employer handbooks, agency briefings, and articles written before then still describe Ohio as non-compact — so if you are told you need an Ohio license, check the date on the guidance.