Moving between states / Michigan

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Moving from Rhode Island to Michigan as a certified nursing assistant

What a certified nursing assistant licensed in Rhode Island has to do to work in Michigan, what the move does to your pay, and who in Michigan is hiring from out of state.

Transfers by reciprocity. Your Rhode Island certificate stays on the Rhode Island Department of Health, Nursing Assistant licensing; to work in Michigan you apply to the Michigan Nurse Aide Registry (administered by Prometric for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) for reciprocity. It accepts an active certificate in good standing from another state; there is no retest if your record is clean. Most registries list you within two to six weeks.

What the move does to your paycheck

Rhode Island and Michigan take about the same from a $60,000 salary; the difference is under $150 a year either way.

SalaryRhode Island state taxMichigan state taxDifference a year
$40,000$1,677$1,700-$23
$60,000$2,516$2,550-$34
$90,000$3,774$3,825-$51

Rough figures for a single filer: exact in the flat-rate and no-tax states, approximated at 70% of the top bracket in the progressive ones. In Michigan: Detroit and some cities add a local income tax. Property and sales tax are not in it.

RN and LPN: Rhode Island to Michigan

Endorsement needed. Michigan is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so your Rhode Island multistate licence does not work there. Apply to the Michigan Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement before you move; it commonly takes six to twelve weeks. Your Rhode Island licence stays valid for compact states.

Electrician: Rhode Island to Michigan

Exam required. Michigan licenses electricians through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Electrical Administrative Board and does not reciprocate with any state. Your Rhode Island hours count toward eligibility, so get them certified in writing by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Board of Examiners of Electricians before you move and book the Michigan exam early.

CDL: Rhode Island to Michigan

Transfers at the DMV. A commercial driver's licence transfers like any licence: within 30 days of becoming a Michigan resident you surrender the Rhode Island CDL at a Michigan driver licence office, pass the vision test, pay the fee, and your endorsements carry over. A hazmat endorsement needs a fresh TSA threat assessment in Michigan. Your driving record follows you through the federal CDLIS system.

No statewide program in Michigan pays people to move in. Towns sometimes list an offer through MakeMyMove, and employers in short-staffed trades pay relocation themselves; ask for it in writing before you accept.

Openings filed in Michigan

58 open positions filed with the Department of Labor by Michigan employers who could not fill them locally.

Your own route from Rhode Island to Michigan

Tell us your trade and your licence. We write the steps for your case, check the job offer for scams, and keep your resume ready for Michigan employers.

Plan my move to Michigan

Same move, by trade

RN or LPN: Rhode Island to Michigan · Electrician: Rhode Island to Michigan · Truck driver: Rhode Island to Michigan · All licences: Rhode Island to Michigan

From Rhode Island to the states next to Michigan

Ohio (progressive, top rate 3.5%) · Indiana (flat 3% state income tax) · Wisconsin (progressive, top rate 7.65%)

To Michigan from the states next to Rhode Island

Connecticut · Massachusetts

Everything about working in Michigan · All moves between states · All 50 states

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