The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between states. It lets an RN or LPN/VN hold one multistate license, issued by the home state, and practice in every other compact state. To get one, you must live in a compact state, meet uniform licensure requirements and apply through your own Board of Nursing. This guide covers the states, the rules, the steps and the limits.
TL;DR
- A multistate license is issued by your home state. It is valid there and in all other compact states, in person or by telehealth.
- It does not cover noncompact states. It is not a 50-state license.
- You must have your primary state of residence in a compact state. Property ownership does not count.
- The NLC covers RNs and LPN/VNs only. APRNs need individual state licenses.
- Moving to another compact state: apply for licensure by endorsement without delay.
Table of Contents
- What the Nurse Licensure Compact does
- Which states are in the compact
- Can a nurse be licensed in all 50 states with one compact license?
- Who is eligible for a multistate license
- How to get a compact nursing license
- What you can do with an NLC license
- APRNs and the compact
- Moving to another state
- Perspective
- Find roles that fit your license
- Practical tips before you apply
- FAQ
- Sources
What the Nurse Licensure Compact does
Without the compact, a nurse needs a separate license for each state of practice. Each license has its own application, fee and processing time.
With the compact, one license does the work. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), a multistate license allows practice in the home state and all compact states. The home state issues it.
A single-state license works differently. It is valid only in the state that issued it. It goes to nurses who are ineligible for multistate status or who live in non-compact states.
Compact supporters point to several benefits. NurseCompact describes the NLC as a cost-effective, flexible option, including for disaster and pandemic relief and military families. NCSBN says it increases access to care through practice in other NLC states without additional licenses.
Multistate vs. single-state license
| Feature | Multistate license | Single-state license |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Home (primary residence) compact state | Any state board |
| Valid in | Home state and all compact states | Issuing state only |
| Who qualifies | Residents of compact states who meet uniform requirements | Nurses who are ineligible for multistate status or live in noncompact states |
| Telehealth across compact states | Yes, under the multistate license | Only where separately licensed |
| Noncompact states | Not covered | Not covered |
Which states are in the compact
As of September 6, 2023, 43 jurisdictions had enacted the NLC according to NCSBN:
- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho
- Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri
- Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
- Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Two cautions apply.
Enacted is not the same as implemented. A state can pass the law before it starts issuing and recognizing multistate licenses. Some states have been in that gap. Check the live map on NurseCompact before you plan a move or an assignment.
Guam is partial. Holders of active multistate licenses can practice there. Residents of Guam cannot yet apply for a multistate license.
Which states are not in the compact
States missing from the list above are outside the compact. That includes several large states. Nurses living there cannot get a multistate license. They hold single-state licenses and add other licenses as needed.
Legislation changes each year. Some states have bills pending. Treat any list, including this one, as a snapshot. The official map is the source for the current status.
Can a nurse be licensed in all 50 states with one compact license?
No. A multistate license covers compact states and does not cover practice in noncompact states. To work in a noncompact state, apply for a license there.
Many nurses hold one multistate license plus one or two single-state licenses. A travel nurse might hold a compact license from a home state and a separate license for a noncompact destination.
Who is eligible for a multistate license
The rules are uniform across compact states. Eligibility requires:
- Living in a compact state.
- Passing the NCLEX.
- Completing state and federal fingerprint-based background checks.
- Holding an active, unencumbered license.
More on what these checks involve: healthcare background checks in the US.
Primary state of residence (PSOR)
The compact is built on residence. Your multistate license comes from the state where you legally live.
NCSBN explains that PSOR is verified through legal documents, such as a driver's license, voter registration card, federal income tax return or W2 form. It does not depend on owning property. It is the state where you can prove you legally reside.
In practice:
- Your documents should match your claimed state.
- A rented home counts the same as an owned one.
- Your license state follows your legal residence, not your employer's location.
How to get a compact nursing license
The process runs through your state board. Apply through your Board of Nursing website, using the application for licensure by exam or by endorsement.
New graduates: licensure by exam
- Graduate from an approved nursing program.
- Register for the NCLEX and get authorization to test.
- Submit the licensure by exam application to your Board of Nursing.
- Complete fingerprint-based state and federal background checks.
- Pass the NCLEX.
- Receive your license. If you qualify, the board issues it as multistate.
Licensed nurses: licensure by endorsement
- Confirm that your new home state is a compact state and that it has implemented the compact.
- Gather proof of residence in that state.
- Submit the endorsement application on the Board of Nursing website.
- Complete the fingerprint-based background checks.
- Pay the fee.
- Receive the multistate license.
Documents and fees
Expect to provide:
- Identity and residence documents.
- Verification of your current license.
- Fingerprints for state and federal checks.
- Fees as listed by the board.
Fees and processing times differ by state and by application type. Boards publish their own schedules. For example, the Alabama Board of Nursing lists the fee by application type for reinstatement. Read your own board's fee page before you apply. Fees change, so no figure here replaces that page.
What you can do with an NLC license
The license allows practice in person or via telehealth in other compact states. Common uses:
- Travel nursing. Take assignments in compact states without new applications.
- Telehealth nursing. Serve patients located in other compact states.
- Relocation. Move between compact states with a simpler process.
- Border-area work. Work in a neighboring compact state while living in your own.
- Surge and disaster response. Move quickly where staffing is needed.
Telehealth planning has its own steps. See the telemedicine job search guide that maps licensure first, and the guide to the fastest ways into telehealth careers.
Rules that still apply
- You follow the nursing practice law of the state where the patient is located, not only your home state's law.
- The license does not extend to noncompact states.
- The compact has built-in safeguards. Uniform minimum requirements include federal criminal background checks.
- Employers may have their own credentialing rules on top of the license.
APRNs and the compact
The NLC applies only to RNs and LPN/VNs. APRNs must hold individual state licenses in each state of practice.
If you are an NP, CRNA, CNS or CNM, plan for separate state applications. For role context, see why nurses pursue advanced practice roles. NCSBN has also adopted a separate Compact for APRN licensure, voted by its delegate assembly in 2020. Physicians have a similar tool. See the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact checklist.
Moving to another state
The answer depends on where you move.
Compact state to compact state. When relocating permanently, apply for licensure by endorsement without delay. Your former license can be used until the new license is issued. Start the application as soon as you establish residence.
Compact state to noncompact state. Your multistate license does not carry over. Apply for a license in the new state.
Noncompact state to compact state. You hold a single-state license. Apply for a multistate license in your new home state once you are a legal resident.
A short checklist for any move:
- Update your driver's license and voter registration.
- Check that the new state has implemented the compact.
- Submit the endorsement application early.
- Tell your employer about the change.
Perspective
Licensing is one part of a nursing career move. Finding the right role is the other part.
We built ConnectedMedics for healthcare professionals only. Profiles are verified. The jobs board lists healthcare-specific roles with specialty filters. Nurses can look for roles in compact states and connect with peers in their specialty.
Our position: check licensure before you apply. Know your primary state of residence. Know which states accept your license. Then search for roles that fit it.
A network built for healthcare helps with that. Peers share what a licensing process looked like in their state. Specialty communities answer practical questions. The knowledge hub collects guides and research summaries in one place.
That is why we focus on relevance rather than volume.
David
Find roles that fit your license
ConnectedMedics is a networking platform for healthcare professionals. It offers verified profiles, a global jobs board with specialty filters, peer discussion and a knowledge hub. The platform lists over 22,000 active healthcare vacancies.
Employers can post jobs and hire verified clinicians. Plans include Free, Growth at £99 per month, Enterprise and Premium Employer. See employer plans, or create your profile on ConnectedMedics to browse roles.
Practical tips before you apply
- Start with your board. The state board of your residence decides your license. Its website is the official source.
- Confirm implementation. Enacted and implemented are different. Check the live map.
- Keep license status clean. An active, unencumbered license is a requirement.
- Gather residence proof early. Driver's license, voter registration and tax documents all matter.
- Plan fingerprints. The state and federal checks take scheduling time.
- Ask employers. Some hospitals and agencies add their own verification steps.
- Build a network. Nurses who changed states can tell you how long the process took. See how nurses share best practice online and how to build a remote nursing support network.
FAQ
Which states honor the compact nursing license?
Compact states honor it. NCSBN's map listed 43 jurisdictions that had enacted the NLC as of September 6, 2023. Some states enact the law before they begin issuing and recognizing multistate licenses. Check the current NurseCompact map before you travel or accept an assignment.
Can I get a multistate license if I live in a noncompact state?
No. Your primary state of residence must be a compact state. Nurses living elsewhere hold single-state licenses valid only in the state of issuance. If you move to a compact state, you can apply there.
Does the compact cover nurse practitioners?
No. The NLC covers RNs and LPN/VNs only. APRNs need individual licenses in each state where they practice. Check each state board for its APRN rules.
Do I need to own a home to claim residence?
No. PSOR is not based on home or property ownership. It is the state where you can prove you legally reside, using documents such as a driver's license or tax return.
What happens to my license if I move?
If you move permanently to another compact state, apply for endorsement without delay. You may use the former license until the new one is issued. If you move to a noncompact state, apply for a license there.
Sources
- NCSBN: Frequently Asked Questions
- NCSBN: NLC Nurse and Employer Webinar Transcript
- NCSBN: NLC states map
- NurseCompact: Applying for licensure
- NCSBN: Understanding Primary State of Residence
- NurseCompact: NLC one-pager
- NCSBN: Licensure Compacts
- Alabama Board of Nursing: Reinstate license
- NurseCompact