Getting a Arizona nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Statutory time frames apply: up to 150 business days overall without an investigation (270 with), with a 30-day completeness review. Temporary licenses are processed within about 30 business days.

Arizona endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Arizona grants licensure by endorsement to an RN who graduated an approved program, passed the NCLEX, and holds a current or previous license in another state or territory.
Processing time: Statutory time frames apply: up to 150 business days overall without an investigation (270 with), with a 30-day completeness review. Temporary licenses are processed within about 30 business days.
Work while waiting: Yes. A temporary license is available once the board has your fingerprint card or DPS number and you meet all requirements with no criminal or disciplinary history, for a fee. A separate 48-hour emergency temporary license is available to nurses with an active unencumbered out-of-state license who provide a job-offer letter dated within 7 days of the start date.
Requirements: Nursys verification from the original state, a full fingerprint state and federal background check (a permanent license is not issued until results are received), and one practice-recency requirement (such as 960 hours in 5 years). US-educated applicants submit no transcripts. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $150 endorsement, $50 for the temporary license, $50 for the 48-hour emergency temporary license, and $50 for the background check. Card payments add a processing fee.
Compact rules: Arizona is a compact state. If your primary residence is in another compact state, do not apply in Arizona unless you are declaring Arizona as your primary residence; multistate holders practice on their compact privilege while Arizona processes an endorsement application.
Military spouse: The board recognizes active-duty members and spouses holding a valid license elsewhere who relocate under orders, and offers fee waivers for qualifying military personnel and spouses via a waiver form.

Arizona's site blocks plain readers; figures were retrieved by rendering the official pages in a browser.

Source: Arizona State Board of Nursing, apply for a license and agency fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Arizona

1Check whether you even need Arizona endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the Arizona State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: Arizona State Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

Arizona endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Arizona nursing license by endorsement?: Statutory time frames apply: up to 150 business days overall without an investigation (270 with), with a 30-day completeness review. Temporary licenses are processed within about 30 business days.
Can I work in Arizona while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. A temporary license is available once the board has your fingerprint card or DPS number and you meet all requirements with no criminal or disciplinary history, for a fee. A separate 48-hour emergency temporary license is available to nurses with an active unencumbered out-of-state license who provide a job-offer letter dated within 7 days of the start date.
Do I need a Arizona license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: Arizona is a compact state. If your primary residence is in another compact state, do not apply in Arizona unless you are declaring Arizona as your primary residence; multistate holders practice on their compact privilege while Arizona processes an endorsement application.
How much does Arizona endorsement cost?: $150 endorsement, $50 for the temporary license, $50 for the 48-hour emergency temporary license, and $50 for the background check. Card payments add a processing fee.

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Getting a Arizona nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Statutory time frames apply: up to 150 business days overall without an investigation (270 with), with a 30-day completeness review. Temporary licenses are processed within about 30 business days.

Arizona endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Arizona grants licensure by endorsement to an RN who graduated an approved program, passed the NCLEX, and holds a current or previous license in another state or territory.
Processing time: Statutory time frames apply: up to 150 business days overall without an investigation (270 with), with a 30-day completeness review. Temporary licenses are processed within about 30 business days.
Work while waiting: Yes. A temporary license is available once the board has your fingerprint card or DPS number and you meet all requirements with no criminal or disciplinary history, for a fee. A separate 48-hour emergency temporary license is available to nurses with an active unencumbered out-of-state license who provide a job-offer letter dated within 7 days of the start date.
Requirements: Nursys verification from the original state, a full fingerprint state and federal background check (a permanent license is not issued until results are received), and one practice-recency requirement (such as 960 hours in 5 years). US-educated applicants submit no transcripts. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $150 endorsement, $50 for the temporary license, $50 for the 48-hour emergency temporary license, and $50 for the background check. Card payments add a processing fee.
Compact rules: Arizona is a compact state. If your primary residence is in another compact state, do not apply in Arizona unless you are declaring Arizona as your primary residence; multistate holders practice on their compact privilege while Arizona processes an endorsement application.
Military spouse: The board recognizes active-duty members and spouses holding a valid license elsewhere who relocate under orders, and offers fee waivers for qualifying military personnel and spouses via a waiver form.

Arizona's site blocks plain readers; figures were retrieved by rendering the official pages in a browser.

Source: Arizona State Board of Nursing, apply for a license and agency fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Arizona

1Check whether you even need Arizona endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the Arizona State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Arizona endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Arizona nursing license by endorsement?

Statutory time frames apply: up to 150 business days overall without an investigation (270 with), with a 30-day completeness review. Temporary licenses are processed within about 30 business days.

Can I work in Arizona while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. A temporary license is available once the board has your fingerprint card or DPS number and you meet all requirements with no criminal or disciplinary history, for a fee. A separate 48-hour emergency temporary license is available to nurses with an active unencumbered out-of-state license who provide a job-offer letter dated within 7 days of the start date.

Do I need a Arizona license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

Arizona is a compact state. If your primary residence is in another compact state, do not apply in Arizona unless you are declaring Arizona as your primary residence; multistate holders practice on their compact privilege while Arizona processes an endorsement application.

How much does Arizona endorsement cost?

$150 endorsement, $50 for the temporary license, $50 for the 48-hour emergency temporary license, and $50 for the background check. Card payments add a processing fee.