For nurses who want more flexibility in where they work, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) can make practicing across state lines much easier. Instead of obtaining a separate nursing license in every participating state, an eligible nurse can hold one multistate license from their primary state of residence and use it to practice in other NLC jurisdictions.
As of 2026, the NLC has been enacted in 43 jurisdictions, although implementation varies. Connecticut became operational on October 1, 2025, while Guam, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have different implementation statuses. Always check the current NLC map and your state Board of Nursing before applying.
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among participating U.S. jurisdictions that allows qualified registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) to practice across participating state lines using a multistate license.
A nurse with an active multistate license can practice in other compact states without obtaining a separate license for each state, provided they comply with the laws and regulations of the state where they are practicing. The NLC also supports telehealth practice when the patient is located in another compact jurisdiction.
This can be particularly valuable for:
The NLC currently includes 43 enacted jurisdictions, but not all have the same implementation status.
The current NLC map lists these jurisdictions with implemented compact licensure:
Connecticut’s implementation date was October 1, 2025, Pennsylvania’s was July 7, 2025, and Washington’s was January 31, 2024.
The NLC map also identifies:
A compact license is not available to residents of a jurisdiction until full implementation is complete.
Because NLC participation can change, nurses should verify the status of their home state through the official NLC website before making employment or relocation decisions.
Being licensed as a nurse does not automatically mean you qualify for a multistate license.
The most important requirement is your Primary State of Residence (PSOR). Your PSOR is your legal state of residence or “home state.” If your PSOR is an NLC state, you may be eligible for a multistate license if you satisfy the NLC’s uniform licensure requirements.
Generally, an applicant must:
The NLC publishes 11 uniform licensure requirements, while individual Boards of Nursing may have additional state-specific requirements.
An unencumbered license generally means the license is active and does not have an active restriction or disciplinary encumbrance that would prevent eligibility for a multistate license.
Nurses with disciplinary histories or certain criminal convictions may not qualify for a compact license. Eligibility can depend on the specific circumstances and the applicable Board of Nursing requirements.
The NLC does not issue the multistate license directly. Applications are handled by the Board of Nursing in the nurse’s primary state of residence.
First, determine your legal primary state of residence.
Common proof of residency can include documents such as:
Owning property in a compact state does not automatically make that state your PSOR.
Use the official NLC map to determine whether your PSOR participates in the compact and whether implementation is active.
If your PSOR is a noncompact state, you cannot obtain an NLC multistate license simply by getting a license in another compact state. You may instead obtain single-state licenses in states where you are eligible to practice.
Visit your state’s Board of Nursing website for the actual application, fees, background-check instructions, documentation requirements, and processing information.
The application may be for:
The exact process and fees vary by state.
Applicants for a multistate license must submit to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks as required by the NLC.
If you have a criminal or disciplinary history, provide complete and accurate information to your Board of Nursing.
Complete the appropriate application through your Board of Nursing.
Your state may request documentation such as:
Your Board of Nursing will review your application and determine whether you qualify for a multistate license.
Because processing times, fees, and documentation requirements differ by jurisdiction, applicants should contact their Board of Nursing for questions about an individual application.
One of the most important NLC rules involves changing your primary state of residence.
If you permanently move from one compact state to another compact state, you generally need to apply for licensure in your new PSOR within 60 days.
For example, if a nurse has an NLC multistate license based on Texas residency and permanently moves to Florida, the nurse should establish the new PSOR and complete the required licensure process with the Florida Board of Nursing.
The nurse should not assume that simply having a multistate license eliminates the need to update their home-state licensure after a permanent move.
No.
An NLC multistate license provides practice privileges in participating NLC jurisdictions. If a nurse wants to practice in a noncompact state, the nurse generally needs to obtain a single-state license from that state’s Board of Nursing.
For example, a nurse with a compact license who wants to practice in California would need to meet California’s licensing requirements because California is not an NLC state.
Your multistate license is tied to your primary state of residence. Simply working in a compact state does not make it your PSOR.
Having a multistate license does not mean every state has identical nursing practice laws. Nurses must follow the Nurse Practice Act and applicable regulations of the state where they are providing care.
This is particularly important for telehealth because practice is generally connected to the location of the patient receiving care.
Nurses moving from one compact state to another should apply for licensure in their new PSOR within 60 days.
If your legal PSOR is a noncompact state, getting a license in a compact state does not automatically give you multistate privileges. You may instead be eligible for a single-state license in that compact state.
Employers should verify that a nurse’s license is active and that the nurse has the appropriate authority to practice in the state where the patient is located.
For employers building a healthcare workforce, license verification should be part of the overall credentialing process.
For a practical guide, read MedicalStaff AI’s How to Verify a Nurse’s License: A Step-by-Step Guide for Healthcare Employers.
The NLC can significantly reduce administrative barriers for nurses who want to work across state lines.
Instead of applying for multiple individual licenses, an eligible nurse can use one multistate license to practice in participating jurisdictions. This can make it easier to pursue travel nursing, temporary assignments, telehealth opportunities, and employment with organizations operating across multiple states.
For new nurses considering their education and career options, licensure is just one part of becoming competitive in the healthcare job market.
Read more about nursing education pathways in MedicalStaff AI’s ADN vs. BSN: Which Gets You Hired Faster?.
The NLC can also benefit healthcare employers.
Organizations that recruit nurses across multiple states may have access to a broader candidate pool when qualified nurses can use a multistate license.
However, employers should not assume that a compact license alone answers every compliance question. Employers should still confirm:
The NLC specifically provides employer resources for confirming a nurse’s authority to practice, including license-verification tools.
No. The NLC is an interstate agreement. An eligible nurse receives a multistate license from their home state’s Board of Nursing, which then provides practice privileges in other participating NLC jurisdictions.
The NLC website currently describes 43 jurisdictions as part of the compact. However, implementation differs. The current map lists 40 states with implemented dates, while Guam, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have special or pending implementation statuses.
Yes. The NLC applies to both registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) who meet the eligibility requirements.
California is not an NLC state. A nurse whose primary state of residence is California cannot obtain an NLC multistate license based on California residency. The nurse may need individual state licenses for the jurisdictions where they want to practice.
Yes. Nurses who are not eligible for a multistate license may obtain single-state licenses in other jurisdictions, subject to those states’ requirements.
Generally, a nurse with a valid multistate license may practice in another compact state without a specific time limit as long as the nurse maintains legal residency in the state that issued the multistate license and remains compliant with NLC rules.
Yes. The NLC can authorize qualifying nurses to provide nursing services across state lines, including certain telehealth services. Nurses must still follow the laws applicable to the state where the patient is located.
Your multistate license generally converts to a single-state license valid in the former home state, subject to the applicable NLC provisions. You will then need to satisfy the licensing requirements of your new state of residence.
You apply through the Board of Nursing in your primary state of residence, not directly through the NLC.
Employers can use appropriate Board of Nursing resources and Nursys tools to verify licensure and practice authority. Employers should confirm the nurse’s current status and whether the nurse has the appropriate privilege to practice in the relevant state.
The Nurse Licensure Compact can make it significantly easier for eligible nurses to build careers across state lines. With a qualifying multistate license, nurses can practice in participating NLC jurisdictions without obtaining a separate license for every compact state.
However, eligibility depends heavily on your primary state of residence, licensure status, education, NCLEX history, background checks, and other uniform licensure requirements. Rules can also change as more jurisdictions implement the compact.
Before accepting a position or relocating, nurses should verify the current NLC status of their state and review the requirements of the appropriate Board of Nursing.
For healthcare employers, understanding the NLC is equally important. Proper license verification and credentialing can help organizations confirm that nurses are authorized to practice where their services are being provided.
Licensure rules and compact implementation can change. Nurses and employers should confirm current requirements directly with the applicable Board of Nursing and the official NLC website before making licensing or employment decisions.