Here's my best advice: Research and organize your travel nurse requirements BEFORE you start contacting travel nurse agencies.
Preparing in advance means you'll be ready to apply when you find the jobs you want. This will help you land the highest paying travel nursing jobs.
Travel Nurse Requirements
All kinds of nurses & healthcare workers can become travel nurses or work in travel healthcare positions, as long as you have your travel nurse requirements ready.
Travel Nurse requirements for all specialties include:
- ✅ Degree - Earn your Nursing degree, ie. BSN or ADN
- ✅ Exams - Pass your professional exams, ie. NCLEX-RN
- ✅ Experience - 1-2+ years of recent experience in your travel nurse specialty
- ✅ Resume - updated highlighting recent 1-2+ years in specialty
- ✅ References - 3-5 recent references, at least 1-2 from your charge RN, manager or supervisor
- ✅ Certifications - current & relevant to your specialty - ie. BLS or ACLS
- ✅ Professional Licenses - your current professional license, ie. RN
- ✅ State Licenses - for locations where you currently or plan to work
You could have more travel nurse requirements depending what jobs you're applying for.
First get your basic requirements organized, then check with the travel nursing companies listing jobs you're interested in.
Two more Travel Nurse Requirements nobody tells you!
I'm going to add two more requirements that nobody mentions on any job description, but I & every other experienced travel nurse agree - these are must-haves!
Having these 2 extra items ready before you start travel nursing will save you stress, time & money.
1. ✅ Get a Burner Phone Number & Email
Get a burner phone number and private email BEFORE you start talking to travel nursing agencies to avoid spam.
Don't give your personal phone number or email to agencies, job boards, marketplaces, or landlords you're messaging about jobs.
Spam & harassing phone calls, voicemails, texts and emails are a HUGE issue when you're searching for travel nursing jobs.
Protect your personal phone number & email closely - trust me! Only give them out to people you absolutely trust to not spam you or sell your information.
Get a free or cheap burner phone number here.
Your phone number's covered, make sure your personal email is protected from spam too.
Get a new email alias you can use just for travel nursing:
- Google - Free & easy, but Google does profit off your data
- SimpleLogin - Extra-secure, create multiple email aliases you can turn on or off, Open Source
- Proton.me - Extra-secure, end-to-end encryption, Open Source
- MySudo - Extra-secure, can get burner phone number & privacy cards for cheap
- StellarNurse - Yes - Get a free private email when you create a profile!
Having your burner phone number and private email set up in advance will allow you to talk to as many travel RN agencies about job opportunities as you want without worrying about spam.
2. ✅ Prepare your Emergency Fund
An emergency fund?!
I know what you're thinking. "I'm travel nursing to MAKE money! Why do I need money BEFORE I start travel nursing??"
Because no job is worth losing a ton of money or going into debt over, definitely not travel nursing.
There's inherent risk with travel nursing you'll need to be prepared for.
Having an emergency fund will save you:
- ⏰ Time
- 💰Money
- 😩 Stress
Here's 4 common travel nurse scenarios you'd need an emergency fund for:
- Gaps in Work/Pay: Contract cancellations or Delays in job start
- Unexpected Travel Costs: Car trouble/flight delays/transportation issues on your way to your assignment - travel pay from your agency are reimbursements
- Housing issues requiring you to find alternative accommodation on short notice - scams, bad landlord or neighborhoods you need distance from
- Medical emergencies for you or your family
All these situations are NOT UNCOMMON and you'll have a less stressful experience and avoid accruing debt if you have an EMERGENCY FUND!
I recommend an Emergency fund that covers 3-6 months living expenses.
You deserve to take home a profit at the end of your travel nursing assignment. Give yourself a cushion so you can handle issues without them wrecking your travel nurse experience.
Organize your Travel Nurse requirements & Documents
Travel nursing will force you to get organized - that's for sure! Keep digital copies very accessible on your laptop or smartphone, whatever device you use regularly and will have with you during travel nursing.
For travel nursing you'll need:
- Your updated resume
- Your up-to-date state licenses & certifications
- Proof of any vaccinations required
- 1-2 recent references from your charge RN, nurse manager or supervisor
You'll need to have these documents ready to present in order to complete multiple agency profiles and apply to jobs. It'll be your responsibility to keep your licenses, certifications, resume & references up-to-date as you travel between assignments & employers.
Prepare your references by having their contact email and/or phone number available to present for agency profiles & facility applications. Notify your references that they'll probably be contacted.
Don't be shy about requesting references and contact info from your current or previous nurse managers, charge nurses or even their bosses, like the Director of Nursing. Try to leave jobs on good terms. That way you can gather references and have the option to return if you need it.
Travel Nurse License Requirements
When you earn your degree and pass your NCLEX (or other licensing exam) you can apply for your state license with your states' Board of Nursing (BON).
Get your Compact Nursing License, if you're eligible
Nurses who live in a compact state can also apply for a multistate license if you meet the licensure requirements, opening up your nursing job opportunities to the 43 states that are currently part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
If you live outside the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) or want to work in one of the 7 states outside the nurse compact, you'll need to apply for state licenses individually.
You can apply for additional state RN licenses using your existing state RN license in a process called 'licensure by endorsement', as long as your license is current & active.
Travel Nurse State License Requirements
State nurse license requirements depend on the state, check each state's Board of Nursing website for full requirements.
For example, California's Licensure by Endorsement requirements include:
- "Verification of License" form
- Fingerprint-based background check
- Online RN Endorsement Application
- Application fee $350
You should also check license processing timelines. California is notorious for delayed RN license processing times - currently estimating 12 weeks processing time. 😭⏳
PRO TIP: Many Travel Nursing Agencies will pay or reimburse you for state license fees. Ask your travel RN companies about this, and how it affects your overall pay package.
Having a current, active & un-restricted nurse license is required for all travel nurses.
Ask your travel nursing agency or state Board of Nursing if you have any questions about restrictions on your license.
Travel Nurse Certification Requirements
Regarding travel nurse certification requirements, almost every specialty requires you have these certifications current:
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Other possible required or preferred certifications could include:
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) for Critical Care Travel Nurses
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) for L&D and NICU Travel Nurses
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) for Pediatric Travel Nurses
PRO Tip: Many Travel Nursing Agencies will pay or reimburse you for certification fees. Ask your travel RN companies about this, and how it affects your overall pay package.
What Degree do you need to be a Travel Nurse?
To meet the job requirements to become a Travel RN, you need either a BSN degree or an associate degree like the ADN, ASN or AAS.
Travel RN's need anyone of these degrees:
- BSN - Bachelors of Science in Nursing
- ADN - Associate Degree in Nursing
- ASN - Associate of Science in Nursing
- AAS - Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
Travel Nurse Education Requirements
"Travel Nursing" isn't only for RN's -
You can have a wide variety of degrees or certifications to meet the travel nurse education requirements:
- RN - BSN degree or ADN, ASN, AAS degree
- NP or APRN degree
- CRNA degree
- LPN or LVN degree
- CNA certification
All RN's will need to meet the full list of basic travel nurse requirements to become a travel nurse, including up-to-date licenses & certifications and 1-2+ years of recent nursing experience in your specialty.
Travel RN's can search the latest highest paying travel nursing jobs without worrying about spam right here on StellarNurse.com.
Can you become a travel nurse with an ADN?
Yep. Associate Degree prepared Nurses can become travel RN's. You can work in a travel RN position as a nurse with your BSN, ADN, ASN or AAS, as long as you pass your NCLEX-RN and you meet the job requirements.
Some healthcare facilities prefer a BSN, but an Associate Degree ADN, ASN or AAS is the minimum requirement for travel RN's.
Can CNAs be Traveling Nurses?
For sure. CNA's can become travel nurses. There are travel certified nursing assistant jobs available nationwide.
You'll need to have your CNA certification and meet the other CNA travel nurse job requirements, which usually include 1-2 years of recent specialty experience & up-to-date licenses & certifications.
Can LPNs be Travel Nurses?
Definitely. Nurses with their LPN/LVN's can become travel nurses. Like travel RN's, travel LPN's and LVN's need 1-2 years experience before they can become travel nurses.
Though StellarNurse only has travel RN job listings for now, lots of other job boards list travel positions for LPN's or LVN's.