Nurse Licensure Compact

Benefits of NLC States

Nurses who hold a multistate license can practice in other NLC jurisdictions that have implemented the compact without obtaining additional licenses, according to the NLC commission. This doesn’t just make it easier for nurses to work with more patients—the commission also says it allows nurses to cross state borders quickly and provide vital services during a disaster.

Eligibility for Multi-State License

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), nurses applying for a multistate nursing license must meet the following criteria:

• Reside in and declare as your primary state of residence an NLC jurisdiction that has implemented the compact and issues multistate licenses.
• Meet the licensure requirements for your primary state of residence.
• Be eligible for or hold an active, unencumbered license (that is, one without active discipline) as a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN)/licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in your primary state of residence.
• Have graduated from a board-approved education program, or from an international education program that was approved by an authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and verified by an independent credentials review agency, and have passed the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN (or a predecessor exam). Graduates of an international education program must also pass an English proficiency exam if the program was not taught in English or English is not their native language.
• Submit to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
• Have no felony conviction, guilty finding or agreed disposition under state or federal law, and no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (determined case by case).
• Not be currently participating in an alternative program, and self-disclose any current participation.
• Have a valid U.S. Social Security number.

Keep in mind that a multistate license must be issued by your primary state of residence, which is the state where you hold a current driver’s license, voter registration card or federal income tax return, among other documents. According to the NLC commission, nurses moving from one compact state to another must apply for licensure in their new primary state of residence within 60 days. Whether you can apply before the move depends on the new state’s board of nursing, so check its requirements before you move. Additionally, a nurse must be licensed in the state where the patient is located when care is provided, including through telehealth. A multistate license allows a nurse to practice in other NLC states and territories that have implemented the compact, according to the commission’s guidance for nurses.

Nurse License Compact States

*Indicates partial implementation
**Indicates enactment, waiting for implementation

The NLC commission’s map also shows pending NLC legislation in Michigan and the District of Columbia.

Information on NLC jurisdictions and their implementation status was last retrieved from the NLC commission on September 30, 2026. For the most up-to-date information, check with your state board of nursing.

Common questions about multistate nursing licenses

Does the NLC cover nurse practitioners and other APRNs?

No. The NLC applies to RN and LPN/LVN licenses only, according to the NLC commission. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) must meet the advanced practice requirements of each state where they practice, and those requirements vary by state. Indiana’s licensing agency, for example, says its APRN license is for prescriptive authority and that APRNs who do not need prescriptive authority should practice under an Indiana RN license or an out-of-state compact RN license. Check with the board of nursing in each state where you plan to practice. The commission points readers to aprncompact.com for information about the separate APRN Compact.

What is the difference between a multistate license and a single-state license?

A multistate license, which the NLC commission also calls a compact license, allows a nurse to practice in other NLC jurisdictions that have implemented the compact with one license issued by the nurse’s home state, if that state issues multistate licenses. A single-state license is valid only in the state that issued it, according to the NLC commission. Not every RN or LPN license is multistate: a nurse can hold a multistate license only after legally declaring residency in an NLC state that issues multistate licenses. If you aren’t sure which type of license you hold, the commission says you can use Quick Confirm at Nursys at no cost.

Can I get a multistate license if I live in a state that isn’t in the NLC?

No. You can hold a multistate license only if you legally declare residency in an NLC state that issues multistate licenses, according to the NLC commission. Nurses who live in a state outside the NLC can hold as many single-state licenses as they need to practice. If you plan to move to an NLC state, whether you can apply before the move depends on that state’s board of nursing. Pennsylvania’s board, for example, says nurses moving from a noncompact state must complete the move before applying. According to the commission, a multistate license will not be issued until you provide a declaration of your primary state of residence and any required proof of residence.