After determining what a travel nurse is and what a travel nurse does, current and future nurses may want to know how to become a travel nurse.
The steps involved in becoming a travel nurse include:
- Earning an ASN or BSN degree
- Passing the NCLEX to become a registered nurse (RN)
- Gaining experience on the job
- Getting licensed
- Signing with a travel nurse staffing agency
Earn a Nursing Degree
Any nurse who has completed an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program is eligible to be a travel nurse. Several paths lead to meeting this education requirement:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
- Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree for entry-level RNs
- LPN to BSN bridge program for licensed practical or vocational nurses or licensed paramedics
- LPN to ASN degree for licensed practical nurses
Pass the NCLEX to Become a Registered Nurse
After graduating with an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, the next step to becoming a travel nurse is passing the National Council Licensure Examination, also known as the NCLEX-RN exam.
Once they have passed the NCLEX exam and met the state board of nursing requirement, candidates will be eligible to become a registered nurse. From there, they need to start gaining enough experience in a nursing specialty to pursue opportunities as a travel nurse.
Gain Experience in a Specialty
Nursing professionals interested in travel nursing should look ahead and gain experience in the specialties they desire while still working full time as a regularly scheduled nurse so that they can work in specialized care environments as a travel nurse.
For example, a travel nurse with no experience working in a neonatal intensive care unit will not be competitive for NICU jobs. This is true for all specialties.
Attain Licensure
To be a registered nurse, a professional must be licensed in the state where they work. The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) allows RNs to hold a single nursing license valid in several states.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing keeps track of the states that have implemented the NLC. For professionals who live in a state that participates in the NLC, additional licensing may not be required to work as a travel nurse. However, travel nurses seeking to work outside of the NLC will need to get an additional license in the state(s) they seek to work in.
Work With a Travel Nursing Agency
The last step to becoming a travel nurse involves signing with a travel nursing agency.
The benefits offered by each staffing agency will vary, along with the alliances they may have with specific hospital or healthcare networks, specific geographic areas, or even specific nursing specializations.
