District of Columbia nursing license for travel nurses
District of Columbia is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so every travel nurse needs a District of Columbia RN license by endorsement. District of Columbia issues a temporary permit to RNs applying by endorsement, valid for 90–120 days, so you can often start before the full license is issued. Endorsement requires a fingerprint-based background check.
Updated October 2026
How long it takes
District of Columbia doesn't publish processing times. No traveler has shared theirs yet; the median shows here once 3 have.
Three questions, anonymous. Boards don't publish real processing times; travelers do.
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Who needs a District of Columbia license?
Every traveler. District of Columbia has no working compact license yet (compact legislation pending), so a multistate license from another state doesn't cover it.
Pending legislation for NLC: B69.
Check where your license works →Getting licensed by endorsement
- Apply for RN licensure by endorsement with the District of Columbia board of nursing (online only). Apply as soon as you're considering District of Columbia: many recruiters want the license, or at least the application, before they submit you.
- Verify your current license through Nursys (or your original board if it doesn't use Nursys).
- Complete the fingerprint-based background check. Order fingerprint cards or book Live Scan early; it's often the slowest step.
- Request the temporary permit (valid for 90–120 days) so you can start while the full license processes.
- Ask your agency whether it reimburses the license and fingerprint fees. Many do, but often only once you've started a contract.
Where you'd use it
8 hospitals in District of Columbia. Washington
District of Columbia stipend ceilings, hospitals and charting systems →Questions
- Do travel nurses need a District of Columbia nursing license?
- Every traveler. District of Columbia has no working compact license yet (compact legislation pending), so a multistate license from another state doesn't cover it.
- Does District of Columbia offer a temporary nursing license?
- District of Columbia issues a temporary permit to RNs applying by endorsement, valid for 90–120 days, so you can often start before the full license is issued.
- Does District of Columbia require fingerprints for a nursing license by endorsement?
- Yes. District of Columbia requires a fingerprint-based state and federal background check for endorsement. Out-of-state applicants usually use fingerprint cards; check whether the board accepts electronic (Live Scan) prints from your state.
- How long does a District of Columbia nursing license by endorsement take?
- District of Columbia doesn't publish a guaranteed time and it changes with application volume. Apply as soon as you're considering contracts there, have your current license verified through Nursys right away, and ask the board about a temporary permit while the full license processes.
- How often do you renew a District of Columbia RN license?
- Every 2 years, with 21–30 hours of continuing education per renewal for RNs, per the board's report to NCSBN. Check the board for topic-specific requirements.