Streamlined Nursing License: Your Guide to States, Application, and Processing Times

The Nurse Compact License

Requirements for a nurse compact license are similar across states. However, each state may determine and vary its own licensure requirements.  The states that participate in the compact have agreed that the licensing requirements in the individual states are compliant with their own licensing requirements. Therefore, these states allow you to work in their state without any additional licensing.

Nurse Compact License Requirements

Who’s Eligible?

Currently, the Compact license is available for LPNs and RNs.  Additionally, there is current legislation attempting to provide a compact for Advance Practice Nurses.

According to NCSBN, The following are necessary in order to qualify for a Compact License.

• Legally reside in an NLC state.
• Hold an active RN or LPN/VN nursing license in good standing. (APRNs are not included in this compact.)
• Declare an NLC state as your primary state of residency.
• Meet the licensure requirements in your home state.

Additionally, some states have additional requirements in order to qualify. Check each state board’s website for details.

Which States Participate in the Compact?

Over the years, the nurse compact license has evolved. Now referred to as the eNLC. There are currently 42 states that have passed legislation as of June 10, 2024.

NLC States

1. Alabama
2. Arizona
3. Arkansas
4. Colorado
5. Connecticut
6. Delaware
7. Florida
8. Georgia
9. Guam (Allows nurses who hold active, unencumbered, multi-state licenses issued by Nurse Licensure Compact member states to practice in Guam under their multi-state licenses.) 
10. Idaho
11. Indiana
12. Iowa
13. Kansas
14. Kentucky
15. Louisiana (RN & LPN)
16. Maine
17. Maryland
18. Mississippi
19. Missouri
20. Montana
21. Nebraska
22. New Hampshire
23. New Jersey
24. New Mexico
25. North Carolina
26. North Dakota
27. Ohio
28. Oklahoma
29. Pennsylvania- (Partial Implementation)
30. Rhode Island
31. South Carolina
32. South Dakota
33. Tennessee
34. Texas
35. Utah
36. Vermont
37. Virginia
38. Washington
39. West Virginia (RN & LPN)
40. Wisconsin
41. Wyoming

Pending States

• Guam: Pending tentative implementation in 2023. Nurses holding a multistate license in other NLC states may now practice in Guam. Guam residents cannot obtain a multistate license until implementation is complete.
• Virgin Islands: NLC enacted Dec. 6, 2021. Pending tentative implementation in 2023. Criminal background checks must also be implemented. VI residents cannot obtain a multistate license until implementation is completed. Nurses in other NLC states with a multistate license may not practice in the Virgin Islands until implementation is complete.

Additional Reading

• What Travel RNs Need to Know About the Enhanced Nurse Licensure…
• State Spotlight: Travel Nursing in Iowa
• RN License Timeline – Infographic

All information on this page was obtained via nurse.org. Please check back often for updates.

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