Compact license / multistate license: states 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 40 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:

• 40 US states have implemented the NLC and issue multistate licenses – 43 jurisdictions have enacted it in 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 2026, 40 states have implemented the NLC and issue multistate licenses. Pennsylvania completed implementation on July 7, 2025. Connecticut followed on October 1, 2025.

A second figure circulates because it counts something different: 43 jurisdictions have enacted the compact. That total is the 40 implemented states plus Massachusetts, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, all three of which have passed NLC legislation but have not set an implementation date. Enactment alone does not make a multistate license available.

Full NLC member states

US territories: Guam (GU) and the US Virgin Islands (VI) have enacted the NLC, but neither has completed implementation and both have an implementation date listed as “to be determined.” A compact license is not available in either territory yet.

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 matters most 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 40 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 from the move to apply for a multistate license in your new PSOR, declaring the new state as your PSOR on the application. You can keep practicing on your existing multistate license while that application is processed. Once your new compact state issues a fresh multistate license, your previous state deactivates the old one.

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. Timelines and fees are set by each board, so check the board’s own website before you plan a start date. As one example, the Texas BON says it processes endorsement applications within 15 business days of receiving the last required item, and it has posted a temporary extension to 20 business days. Budget for the application fee and fingerprinting costs in every state you add.

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 the criminal background check your new state’s BON requires. A multistate license depends on the uniform licensure requirements, which include state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks, so ask the BON whether it needs new fingerprints from you
4. You have 60 days from the move to apply. The deadline applies to filing the application, and the new license may be issued after it

Under NLC Rule 403, you may keep practicing on your existing multistate license while the new state processes your application, so the processing time does not have to interrupt your work. Processing times themselves are set by each board, so ask your new BON for its current estimate.

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

Licensure fees vary by state, and NCSBN directs applicants to each BON’s own application and fee schedule. Fingerprinting for the required criminal background check usually carries its own vendor fee. 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, and boards publish their own estimates. The Texas BON says it processes applications within 15 business days of receiving the last required item and has posted a temporary extension to 20 business days; applications that need a criminal history or eligibility review take longer. Missing transcripts, license verifications or fingerprint results will hold up an application, so check your application status on the BON’s website rather than assuming a standard timeline.

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. It requires seven enacting states before it can be implemented, and NCSBN listed four enacting states when South Dakota signed on in February 2024: Delaware, North Dakota, Utah, and South Dakota. At least three more enactments were needed at that point. Check aprncompact.com for current status. Until it becomes 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 40 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 2026, 40 US states have implemented the NLC and issue multistate licenses. Pennsylvania fully implemented in July 2025 and Connecticut followed in October 2025. A separate count of 43 jurisdictions refers to everyone who has enacted the compact: the 40 implemented states plus Massachusetts, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, none of which has set an implementation date. 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 40 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?

You have 60 days from the move to apply for licensure by endorsement, with a Declaration of Primary State of Residence, through your new home state’s BON. Under NLC Rule 403, you may keep practicing on your existing multistate license while that application is processed. Once the new state issues a multistate license, your former home state deactivates the old one.

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?

Processing times are set by each state board, so check your BON’s website for its current estimate. As one example, the Texas BON says it processes applications within 15 business days of receiving the last required item, temporarily extended to 20 business days, with longer timelines when a criminal history or eligibility review is needed. If you are moving between compact states, you can keep practicing on your existing multistate license while the new application is processed.

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 separate licensing application that each new state would otherwise require, and that application can take weeks or months depending on the board. 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.

References

1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “About the NLC,” NurseCompact.com, accessed October 26, 2026. https://www.nursecompact.com/about.page
2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Uniform Licensure Requirements for a Multistate License,” NurseCompact.com (lists the 11 ULRs), accessed October 26, 2026. https://www.nursecompact.com/files/2023_NLC_ULRs.pdf
3. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Nursys – National Nurse Licensure Verification,” NCSBN, 2025. https://www.nursys.com
4. Pennsylvania Department of State, “Nurse Licensure Compact – Implementation July 7, 2025,” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2025. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/nlc
5. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “APRN Compact,” https://aprncompact.com, accessed October 26, 2026; NCSBN, “South Dakota Enacts APRN Compact,” February 2024, https://www.ncsbn.org/news/south-dakota-enacts-aprn-compact.
6. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “NLC Frequently Asked Questions,” NCSBN, 2025. https://www.nursecompact.com/FAQs.page
7. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Contact a U.S. Member,” NCSBN, accessed October 26, 2026. https://www.ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page
8. Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators, “Nurse Licensure Compact Rules,” amended August 15, 2023, effective January 2, 2024 (Rule 402(2): apply in the new party state within 60 days; Rule 403(1)–(2): continue practicing under the existing multistate license while the new application is processed, then deactivation by the former home state). https://www.nursecompact.com/files/nlc_rules_2024.pdf
9. Texas Board of Nursing, “Licensure – Endorsement Information” and “Temporary Update to Licensure Processing Timeframes,” accessed October 26, 2026 (endorsement review within 15 business days of the last required item; temporary extension to 20 business days). https://www.bon.texas.gov/licensure_endorsement.asp.html and https://www.bon.texas.gov/Temporary_Update.asp.html