5 expert tips: How to maintain multiple state licenses as a locum NP
July 31, 2025
Sophia Khawly, ARNP, MSN, shares her tips on staying organized while holding multiple licenses as a locum tenens nurse practitioner.
To be a competitive locum tenens nurse practitioner, you will need to hold multiple active NP state licenses. While staffing agencies can assist you in obtaining new licenses, the responsibility for keeping them current rests squarely with you. It can feel like a lot to manage, but with a few smart strategies, staying on top of your licensure doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
5 strategies for maintaining multiple licenses
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Get—and stay—organized
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Review what licenses you really need
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Set smart reminders
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Make continuing education a habit
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Consider licensing software
1. Get—and stay—organized
Keep an Excel or Google sheet of your current NP licenses with expiration dates. Include requirements for renewal, such as continuing education or background checks. List relative licenses that need to be renewed, such as RN licenses (for non-compact states) and prescribing licenses. Feel free to include renewal costs so you can be prepared when the time comes to pay. Keep a column for portal login information so that you have it handy. If a particular state requires a collaborating physician, keep a copy of your collaborative agreement on file.
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2. Review what licenses you really need
Renewing licenses can be expensive. Review your current licenses to see if you plan on still working in those states. If you have an NP license expiring in a state you never plan on working in again, you can let it lapse. Depending on the state, it may be easy to reactivate a license when needed, although there will be additional fees. You can also talk to your recruiter to see if they are willing to cover renewal costs for in-demand states such as California, or a state you often return to work in.
Some boards of nursing need a few weeks to approve your renewal application before extending the active date. You do not want to be in the middle of an assignment with an expired license.
3. Set smart reminders
Using your organized list of current NP licenses, you can set reminders 60-90 days before your license expires. This way, you can start working on the renewal application in advance, instead of waiting until the last minute. Some boards of nursing need a few weeks to approve your renewal application before extending the active date. You do not want to be in the middle of an assignment with an expired license.
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4. Make continuing education a habit
Many states have similar CE requirements, such as human trafficking and prescribing controlled substances. Instead of waiting until you are due to renew one of your state licenses, you should complete continuing education on an ongoing basis. Numerous states require NPs to complete 75 hours of pharmacology CEs every two years. Working on pharmacology CEs gradually throughout the two years is more manageable than waiting until the last minute to cram it all at once. NPs can even use UpToDate CE hours to support CE requirements.
Stay on top of your CE requirements: Continuing education resources for healthcare providers
5. Consider licensing software
Lastly, you can easily have over a dozen licenses as a locum NP. If you find organizing and maintaining multiple licenses challenging, consider subscribing to licensing software. For example, a paid program called Mocingbird can help with this. Initially, you will have to add all of your state licenses and information to the program.
Then it will send email reminders when it is time to renew state licenses. It also lists specific CE requirements, saving you time when you visit each board of nursing website to look up renewal requirements. Mocingbird also has a hub allowing you to centralize documents for credentialing or when needing to apply for other licenses. They offer different services for an extra charge, such as completing licensing applications, which can be beneficial depending on your busy schedule.
Yes, juggling multiple NP licenses can be a hassle—but with the right system in place, it’s totally manageable. Whether you use a spreadsheet, a paid service, or both, staying organized will keep you ready for whatever your next assignment brings.
CompHealth can help you find the perfect nurse practitioner job. Give us a call at 800.453.3030 or view today’s NP job opportunities.
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