Nursing License from Alabama to Tennessee: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Tennessee Board of Nursing ↗
Yes — both Alabama and Tennessee are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Alabama is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Tennessee now; if you are moving your residence to Tennessee, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Tennessee your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
This is the move the compact was built for. Both Alabama and Tennessee are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in Tennessee while living in Alabama — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to Tennessee means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into Tennessee and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What changes, Alabama → Tennessee
| Alabama (current) | Tennessee (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $125–$225 ($125 single-state or $225 multistate license + $3.50 transaction fee; fingerprint fee paid to vendor, amount not published by board) | $150 ($140 endorsement + $10 biennial state regulatory fee (rules effective 2026-04-08); + fingerprint background check vendor fee) |
| Processing time | board FAQ states there is no timetable — license issues when all requirements are complete; 180-day temporary permit available | ~6 weeks (board instructions state to allow six weeks for processing) |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Board of Nursing | Tennessee Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Tennessee sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
- If you are moving your primary residence to Tennessee: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Tennessee Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare Tennessee as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Tennessee's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee accept a Alabama nursing license?
Yes — both Alabama and Tennessee are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Alabama is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Tennessee now; if you are moving your residence to Tennessee, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Tennessee your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from Alabama to Tennessee?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to Tennessee: $150 ($140 endorsement + $10 biennial state regulatory fee (rules effective 2026-04-08); + fingerprint background check vendor fee) ($140 endorsement + $10 biennial state regulatory fee (rules effective 2026-04-08); + fingerprint background check vendor fee).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (~6 weeks (board instructions state to allow six weeks for processing)).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- TN BON — Instructions for Licensure by Endorsement (RN and LPN, PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Rules of the Tennessee Board of Nursing, ch. 1000-01 (revised April 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Nursing ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama BON — Endorsement Basic Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama BON — Licensing FAQs ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]