Reciprocity Checker: does your license transfer?
The checker answers the question state boards bury in FAQs: whether your license moves with you, and exactly what the destination state requires. It runs on the same verified data set as every guide on this site — each result names its board sources and verification date.
Does your license transfer?
Pick your profession and both states — get the pathway, requirements, fees, and official board links.
Your personalized pathway appears here. Four possible verdicts:
- Compact — automatic multistate
- Reciprocity agreement
- Endorsement (conditions)
- Full re-application
How the checker decides
- Select your profession. Choose the licensed profession you hold, for example nursing or real estate.
- Select your current state. Pick the state where your license is active today.
- Select your target state. Pick the state you are moving to or want to practice in.
- Read your pathway. The result shows your transfer pathway, the destination state's requirements, estimated fees and processing time, and official board links.
The rule engine evaluates pathways in strict priority order: an active interstate compact beats a bilateral reciprocity agreement, an agreement beats plain endorsement, and full re-application is the honest answer when a state offers no shortcut. For contractors, the checker also asks your trade and license class, because contractor reciprocity is trade-specific.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Reciprocity Checker do?
It tells you whether a professional license transfers between any two US states, which pathway applies (compact, reciprocity agreement, endorsement, or full re-application), the destination state's requirements and fees, and links the official licensing board.
Which professions does it cover?
It currently covers Nursing (RN/LPN), Cosmetology / Barber, Real Estate (salesperson/broker), CPA / Accounting, Electrician (journeyman/master), Plumber (journeyman/master), Engineering (PE), Pharmacy (pharmacist) across all 50 states and DC. More professions are added as their data sets are verified.
Where does the data come from?
Every answer is built from data verified against official state licensing boards and interstate compact commissions, and each result shows the date its facts were last verified.
Is the checker free?
Yes. The checker is free, requires no sign-up, and collects no personal information — selections stay in your browser.
Covered professions
- Nursing (RN/LPN) license reciprocity — Nurse Licensure Compact + licensure by endorsement.
- Cosmetology / Barber license reciprocity — Endorsement + hour requirements; compact enacted, not yet issuing.
- Real Estate (salesperson/broker) license reciprocity — Bilateral reciprocity + partial + full recognition.
- CPA / Accounting license reciprocity — NASBA mobility (practice privilege) + reciprocal certificate by endorsement.
- Electrician (journeyman/master) license reciprocity — Bilateral reciprocity (NERA + state agreements) + exam-waiver endorsement.
- Plumber (journeyman/master) license reciprocity — Limited bilateral reciprocity + endorsement; several no-reciprocity states.
- Engineering (PE) license reciprocity — Comity/endorsement via NCEES Records; no automatic reciprocity.
- Pharmacy (pharmacist) license reciprocity — NABP license transfer (e-LTP) + per-state MPJE; no compact.
Data methodology and sources: how we verify · all primary sources. Want this checker on your site? Use the embeddable version.