What is the Nurse Licensure Compact?
A nurse compact state is one that allows nurses who hold a nurse compact license to work in multiple states without getting additional state licenses. This allows a nurse flexibility in their career. A multistate license is also synonymous with a compact license.
In 2018, legislation was passed and the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) was replaced by the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which simplified the process across the states. The nurse may hold a multi-state license in their primary place of residence (also known as home residence) and practice in multiple other Compact Nursing States.
As of October 2023, the eNLC is only for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practice Nurses (LPNs/LVNs). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), must hold an individual state license in each state of APRN practice. There is currently an effort to move forward with an APRN Compact and will go into effect once 7 states have enacted the legislation (currently North Dakota has enacted the legislature and Delaware is pending).
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Compact Nursing States Current List
According to NCSBN and Nurse Licensure Compact, as of October 2023, there are currently 37 states/territories that have implemented the eNLC. Here are the states that are part of the eNLC:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam (although not a state, it’s a territory that has enacted multi-state compact licensing)
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania (indicated with asterisks on one of the sources, the reason for which was not provided)
- Rhode Island (also indicated with asterisks on one of the sources)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
These states have recognized the benefits of being part of a compact agreement which facilitates the mobility of nurses and enhances the access to healthcare across the states.
Pending States and Their Status
As of 2023, several states and territories have pending legislation or are in the process of implementing the eNLC:
- Alaska: Legislation introduced but no action taken yet.
- Guam: In partial implementation status.
- Illinois: HB 4269 introduced in February 2022.
- Massachusetts: S. 163 traced back to 2021 and August 2022.
- Michigan: HB 4046 introduced for the 2021-2022 session.
- Minnesota: SF 2302 introduced in March 2021.
- New York: Bill AB 10615 introduced in July 2022.
- Ohio: S.B. 3 signed into law in July 2021, implementation effective January 1, 2023.
- Pennsylvania: Act 68 signed in July 2021, awaiting implementation【40†source】.
Current States Not in the Nurse Licensure Compact
These states require nurses to obtain a separate license in order to practice within their jurisdiction.
- Alaska
- American Samoa
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Mariana Islands
- Nevada (legislation was defeated in February 2021)
- Oregon
- Washington, D.C.
Although the aforementioned states do not recognize the eNLC, it’s still possible to work as a travel nurse within these jurisdictions. However, the process to secure licensure will be more demanding.
Nurse Licensure Compact Advantages
The greatest benefit of the eNLC is a nurse who carries a compact state license, can work in any of the other 33 eNLC states, removing multiple barriers a nurse may encounter when attempting to gain employment in a state not considered their primary place of residence (ie. money, and time). This allows flexibility to the nurse and may provide new career options including travel nursing.
Compact vs. Non Compact Nursing License
There are a few points to consider when comparing a compact nursing license vs. a non-compact nursing license.
- Compact Nursing License:
- A nurse who carries a compact nursing license can practice in other compact states without applying/obtaining a new nursing license for that state. There is no time limit that the nurse can practice in the other state, as long as the nurse maintains legal residency in the state that issued the compact nurse license and the nurse remains in good standing with that state’s board of nursing. Proof of legal residence includes a driver’s license, voter’s card, federal income tax return or W2 form. These legal documents should be issued by the same state (PSOR).
- If the nurse chooses to keep their compact state license, in addition to obtaining a license in a non-compact state, the nurse will have to keep their PSOR in the compact state. The nurse will then carry 2 nursing licenses and will have to stay up to date with both as directed by the state board of nursing. For more information if you move your PSOR, please visit the NCSBN website or the state board of nursing.
- Non-Compact Nursing License: Only a nurse who declares a compact state as their PSOR may be eligible for multistate license. Therefore, a nurse who resides in one of the 11 states/territories not part of the nursing compact, must carry an individual nursing license for each state employed. There is no limit on the number of nursing licenses that can be carried by an individual nurse, but the nurse is responsible for maintaining good standing with each of those licensing boards.
How to Know if Your Nursing License is a Compact License
It is easy to find out if your current nursing license is a compact nursing license by signing up for Nursys. Nursys is a national database used for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and LPNs/LVNs . By creating an account on Nursys, the database will allow a nurse to view all of their licenses, both active and inactive, and the compact status of each of those licenses.
How to Apply for a Compact State Nursing License
To apply for a compact state nursing license, the first step is to have graduated from a board of nursing approved program. Next, identify if your primary/legal state of residence (PSOR) is an eNLC state. PSOR is determined by driver’s license, voter registration and/or filing of federal income tax. If it is not, you are not eligible for a compact state nursing license.
Once a nurse determines they are eligible to apply for a compact state nursing license, there are 2 ways to apply:
- License by Exam – License by exam involves applying for licensure with the state board of nursing in your PSOR. Next, register to take the NCLEX, receive authorization to test, take NCLEX and wait to receive the results. Once the NCLEX is passed, a multi-state license is granted.
- License by Endorsement – License by Endorsement involves identifying first, if the new PSOR is a member of the eNLC.
- If it is, the nurse must then identify if their previous license was a compact nurse license. If it was, the nurse then applies for a RN/LPN license in their new PSOR. The nurse may use their previous license to practice until their new license is granted. Once the nurse receives their new license, the former license will be inactivated.
- If the nurse’s previous PSOR was not a member of the eNLC, the nurse must apply for a RN/LPN license in their new PSOR and wait to practice until the license is issued.
Two key points to remember. If your PSOR is not an eNLC state, you may not apply for a compact state license. Instead, you must apply for licensure for that specific state and it is only valid to practice in that state. A nurse may hold one compact state license/multistate RN/LPN license but may hold multiple non-compact state licenses.
For specific questions regarding state licensure, please visit your state board of nursing website.
Read The Power of Interstate Practice Through the APRN Compact for 2023.
Compact Nursing States FAQ
I Live in a Non-Compact State. How Do I Get a Compact Multistate License?
Nurses who declare a compact state as their primary state of residence are eligible for a multistate license. If you are a resident of a noncompact state, you can apply for a license by endorsement in any Compact Nursing State. Eligibility is limited to a single state license that is valid in that state only. An awesome benefit is that if you are a resident of a noncompact state, you can have as many single-state licenses as you wish
Where Can I Find an Application for Compact Nursing States?
Go to your State Board of Nursing (BON) for your state and use the nursing application for licensure by exam or by endorsement. Licensure fees vary state-by-state.
Do Compact Nursing States NLC Relate to APRNs?
No. Only RNs and LPNs currently benefit from NLC. At this time, an APRN must hold an individual state license in each state of APRN practice.
Are Any Nurses Grandfathered into the eNLC?
Nurses who were in the eNLC states and who were members of the original NLC may be grandfathered into the eNLC. If you were a nurse and held a multistate license in the eNLC on July 20, 2017, in original NLC states, may be grandfathered. Check your multistate licensure status using the steps below.
1 – Go to nursys.com and click on Nursys QuickConfirm
2 – Search for your name, license number or NCSBN ID
3 – View your Report
4 – Find and click on “Where can the nurse practice as an RN or PN?”
What Does “Primary State of Residence” Mean?
Your primary state of residence refers to your legal residency status. Check your legal documents such as a driver’s license, voter’s card, federal income tax return, military form no. 2058, or W2 form from the primary state of residence (PSOR) and you will know your Primary State of Residence.
Resources for Compact Nursing States
- Nurse Licensure Compact: https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm
- Nurse Licensure Compact: https://nursecompact.com/index.htm
- Your State Board of Nursing
- APRN Compact: https://aprncompact.com/index.htm
- About the Author
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Kasee Wiesen is a practicing family nurse practitioner. Her nursing background includes emergency medicine, pediatrics and peri-op. She started her health career as a nurse’s aid while pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing degree in a hospital setting.
