Nursing compact license: which states participate and how to apply

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The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) lets RNs and LPN/LVNs hold one multistate license that is valid across all 41 compact member states — without filing a separate application in each. Whether it helps you depends entirely on where you live, not where you want to work.

Quick answers:

• 41 US states (plus Guam and the US Virgin Islands) are currently NLC members — 43 jurisdictions total
• To hold a compact license, your primary state of residence must be an NLC member state
• If you live in a compact state, your multistate license is valid in all other compact states — no extra applications
• If you live in a non-compact state (California, New York, Illinois, and 7 others), you cannot hold a compact license until you change your primary residence
• The compact covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses only — nurse practitioners and other APRNs need separate state licenses in each practice state
• Non-compact states include: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and Washington DC

What is the Nurse Licensure Compact?

The NLC is an interstate agreement among state boards of nursing (BONs) that allows qualifying nurses to hold a single multistate license. It was first proposed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in 1997 and launched in 2000. An updated version — the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) — took effect in 2018, standardizing 11 uniform licensure requirements across all member states.

The compact license and the multistate license are the same thing. The two terms are interchangeable.

The core mechanic: your license is issued by your home state BON (your primary state of residence, or PSOR), and that license is valid in every other compact state. You do not apply to other states. You do not pay fees in other states. You simply practice there.

Which states are in the NLC?

As of 2025, 41 states are full NLC members. Pennsylvania completed implementation on July 7, 2025. Connecticut joined on October 1, 2025. Together with Guam and the US Virgin Islands, the total is 43 NLC jurisdictions.

Full NLC member states

US territories: Guam (GU) and the US Virgin Islands (VI) are also NLC jurisdictions.

Non-compact states (as of 2026)

Nurses who live in any of the following states or DC cannot hold a compact multistate license. They must obtain individual single-state licenses for each state where they practice.

Massachusetts has enacted NLC legislation but had not yet completed implementation as of mid-2026. Check the NCSBN website (ncsbn.org) for current status before making any decisions based on pending adoption.

The three decision scenarios

Most guides about the NLC list the compact states and stop there. The part that actually matters for working nurses is: what should I do, given my specific situation? The answer is different depending on where you currently live and where your existing license was issued.

Scenario A: you live in a compact state and want to work in other compact states

This is the simplest situation. If your PSOR is a compact state and your license was issued by that state as a multistate license, you already have everything you need. Your license is valid in all 41 compact states. You can accept a travel assignment, take a telehealth job, or cross state lines to practice — without filing any additional paperwork.

What you need to do: Nothing, as long as you maintain legal residency in your compact home state. Confirm your license shows “multistate” status on your state BON’s verification system before your first assignment in another state.

One important rule: if you permanently relocate to another compact state, you have 60 days to apply for licensure by endorsement in your new PSOR. During that window, your existing multistate license remains valid, but you must declare your new state as your PSOR and apply promptly. Your new compact state will issue a fresh multistate license, and your previous state’s license becomes inactive for PSOR purposes.

Scenario B: you live in a non-compact state and want compact access

This is the scenario most guides gloss over — and it is the one that trips nurses up. If you currently live in California, New York, Illinois, or any other non-compact state, you are not eligible for a compact license. Your current single-state license only authorizes practice in the state that issued it.

You have two paths:

Option 1 — Get individual licenses. Apply for licensure by endorsement in each compact state where you want to practice. This is the only option if you are staying in your non-compact state. Expect 4–12 weeks per state and $50–$350 in fees per application, plus fingerprinting costs.

Option 2 — Change your primary state of residence. If you relocate (or are planning to relocate) to a compact state, you can apply for a compact license once you establish legal residency there. You may start the application before the move, but you will not receive a multistate license until you can prove residency in the compact state. Proof of residency typically means a current driver’s license, voter registration card, or federal tax return listing the compact state address.

Changing your PSOR solely to obtain a compact license — without an actual change of residence — is not permitted. The NLC defines your PSOR by your genuine legal residency, not by property ownership or mailing addresses.

Scenario C: you live in a compact state and are moving to a different compact state

This is the smoothest transition in the NLC system, but it still requires action. When you permanently relocate from one compact state to another, your existing multistate license temporarily covers you, but your PSOR must be updated.

What to do:

1. Before or shortly after the move, contact your new state’s BON and file a licensure by endorsement application with a Declaration of Primary State of Residence form
2. Submit proof of residency for your new state
3. Complete any required background checks (most compact states accept existing eNLC background check data for streamlined processing)
4. You have 60 days from the move to complete this process

The streamlined endorsement process for nurses already holding a compact license is typically faster and less expensive than an initial application. Some compact BONs process these transfers in two to four weeks.

Eligibility requirements

Holding a license in a compact state is a necessary condition, but not the only one. To qualify for a multistate license, you must meet all 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) established under the eNLC. These are consistent across every member state.

If you have any active discipline on your license — even in a state other than your PSOR — you are not eligible for a multistate license until the matter is resolved. A suspended, revoked, or probationary license in any compact state disqualifies you.

If you hold a single-state license that was issued before 2018 (before the eNLC took effect), your state BON may offer a conversion or upgrade application to convert it to multistate status, provided you meet all ULRs.

How to apply for a compact multistate license

The application goes to your home state’s BON — not to NCSBN and not to the states where you plan to practice.

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Verify that your PSOR is an NLC member state and that you meet all 11 ULRs. If you have any prior discipline history, contact your BON before applying.

Step 2: Locate your BON’s application

Go to your state board of nursing’s official website and find the application for licensure. Depending on your situation, you will use one of these:

• Licensure by exam — if you are a new graduate applying for your first license
• Licensure by endorsement — if you already hold a license in another state and are establishing a new PSOR
• Single-state to multistate conversion — if you hold a single-state compact license and want to upgrade to multistate status

Step 3: Gather required documents

Documents typically required:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of PSOR (driver’s license, voter card, or federal tax return with compact state address)
• Official transcripts from your nursing program
• Verification of existing licenses (if endorsing from another state)
• Criminal background check authorization (fingerprinting scheduled through your BON or an approved vendor)

Step 4: Submit and pay

Fees vary by state. Most compact states charge $75–$200 for the initial application; endorsement fees are often lower. Fingerprinting adds $35–$100. You will not pay separate fees to practice in other compact states.

Step 5: Wait for processing

Processing times vary by state and application volume. Most compact BONs complete new applications in two to six weeks. High-volume states (Texas, Florida) may take up to eight weeks during peak periods. Endorsements for nurses already holding a compact license are typically faster.

Step 6: Verify your license

Once issued, your license will appear on your state BON’s online verification system with a “multistate” designation. Employers in other compact states can verify it there. The NCSBN also maintains Nursys, a national license verification database where multistate licenses are listed.

What compact licensure does not cover

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)

The NLC covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses only. If you are a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or certified nurse-midwife, your APRN license is not part of the compact. You must hold an individual APRN license in each state where you practice at the advanced practice level.

A separate APRN Compact exists, developed by NCSBN and modeled on the NLC. As of 2026, seven states have enacted APRN Compact legislation: Delaware, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah. The compact requires enactment by enough states to reach the implementation threshold. Check aprncompact.com for current status. Until that compact is operational, APRNs face individual state licensure in every practice state regardless of their RN compact status.

This matters practically: an NP who holds a compact RN license can work as an RN in all 41 compact states, but can only practice as an NP in the specific states where they hold an active APRN license.

LPN/LVN compact (same compact, different credential)

LPN/LVNs are covered by the same NLC, not a separate compact. If you are an LPN or LVN whose PSOR is a compact state and you meet all ULRs, you can apply for a multistate LPN/LVN license through the same application process described above.

Non-compact states

Even with a multistate license, you cannot practice in the non-compact states listed earlier. If you want to work in California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, or DC, you need a separate single-state license from each of those states.

FAQ

How many states are in the Nurse Licensure Compact?

As of 2025–2026, 41 US states are full NLC members, plus Guam and the US Virgin Islands, for 43 total jurisdictions. Pennsylvania fully implemented in July 2025 and Connecticut joined in October 2025. Non-compact states are Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and Washington DC.

Can I get a compact nursing license if I live in California or New York?

No. Your primary state of residence must be an NLC member state. California and New York are not NLC members. Nurses living there must apply for individual single-state licenses in each state where they want to practice.

What is the difference between a compact license and a multistate license?

There is no difference. The terms compact license, multistate license, and NLC license all refer to the same credential — a nursing license issued by your home state BON that authorizes practice across all 41 NLC member states.

Does the NLC cover nurse practitioners?

No. The NLC covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses only. Nurse practitioners and other APRNs must hold individual APRN licenses in each state where they practice at the advanced practice level. A separate APRN Compact exists but is not yet fully operational. For more on APRN career paths, see our guides on how to become a nurse practitioner and FNP vs AGPCNP vs PMHNP.

What happens to my compact license when I move to another compact state?

Your existing multistate license remains valid for 60 days after you establish residency in the new compact state. Within that window, apply for licensure by endorsement with a Declaration of Primary State of Residence form through your new home state’s BON. The new state issues a fresh multistate license, and your prior state’s license becomes inactive as your PSOR.

I live in a non-compact state but I’m moving to a compact state soon. When can I apply?

You may begin the application before you move, but your multistate license will not be issued until you can prove legal residency in the compact state. Proof of residency typically means a driver’s license, voter registration, or tax return listing the compact state address.

How long does it take to get a compact nursing license?

Most compact BONs process applications in two to six weeks. Endorsements for nurses already holding a compact license are typically faster. High-volume states may take up to eight weeks during peak periods.

Does active discipline on my license affect compact eligibility?

Yes. Any active discipline on a nursing license — in any state — disqualifies you from holding a multistate compact license. This includes suspension, probation, and enrollment in an alternative-to-discipline program. Once the matter is fully resolved, you may apply for a multistate license if you meet all other requirements.

Resources and related guides

• NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact: ncsbn.org — primary authority for compact updates, state implementation status, and uniform licensure requirements
• NCSBN Nursys: nursys.com — national license verification database; confirm multistate status here
• APRN Compact: aprncompact.com — current status of the separate compact for APRNs
• State boards of nursing: contact your home state BON directly for application forms, fees, and processing times

For more on nursing licensure, see our full nursing license guide covering the NCLEX, endorsement, renewal, and state board contacts. If you hold a CNA certification you’re looking to transfer, see how to transfer your CNA license to another state.

Travel nursing is one of the clearest use cases for compact licensure. A multistate license removes the multi-state licensing barrier that historically added months to contract setup. For a full breakdown of what travel nursing involves, see how to become a travel nurse.

Military spouses who relocate frequently across state lines are another group for whom compact licensure is particularly valuable. See how to become a military nurse for more context on licensure portability in military assignments.

If you are a registered nurse weighing whether to advance to the NP or APRN level — where compact licensure no longer automatically follows — our guide on NP vs PA covers the career trade-offs in detail, including how multi-state practice requirements differ at the advanced practice level.

RNs considering specialties where travel and multi-state practice are common should also read our guide on highest-paying nursing specialties — several of the top-earning roles rely on compact licensure for interstate coverage.

Sources: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (ncsbn.org); nursecompact.com FAQ; Wikipedia Nurse Licensure Compact; NCSBN eNLC Uniform Licensure Requirements; Pennsylvania BON NLC implementation announcement July 2025; Connecticut NLC effective date October 2025; aprncompact.com APRN Compact status.