The multistate nursing license improves nurse mobility and expands patient access to care, especially in telehealth. This license allows Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to practice across state lines without obtaining a separate license for every jurisdiction. Securing this privilege requires the nurse to meet specific residency and background criteria. This guide outlines the necessary steps and requirements for nurses seeking a multistate license.
What Is the Nurse Licensure Compact
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among member states allowing a nurse to hold one license and practice in all other compact states (mutual recognition). This system, largely superseded by the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), streamlines practice for travel nurses, military spouses, and those providing electronic care across state lines. A single-state license, in contrast, strictly limits practice authority to the issuing state.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers the legislation and sets the uniform standards adopted by all participating states. The compact applies specifically to Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs). The multistate license grants a “privilege to practice” in a remote compact state while keeping regulatory authority centralized with the nurse’s home state.
Determining Your Eligibility Based on Primary Residence
Eligibility for a multistate license hinges entirely on the nurse’s Primary State of Residence (PSOR), which must be an active member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. The PSOR is the state where the nurse legally resides, based on objective evidence rather than property ownership or employment location. If a nurse’s legal residence is in a state that has not enacted the compact legislation, they cannot hold a multistate license.
The nurse must provide documentation to the state’s Board of Nursing (BON) to establish their PSOR. Acceptable documents include a current driver’s license, a voter registration card, a federal income tax return declaring the state as legal residence, a W2 form, or military Form No. 2058. If the nurse resides in a non-compact state, they are ineligible for the multistate privilege and must apply for a single-state license in every jurisdiction where they wish to practice.
Essential Qualifications for Multistate Licensure
All applicants for a multistate license must satisfy a set of uniform licensure requirements (ULRs) enforced by every compact state. These standards ensure a consistent level of competence and public protection across all participating jurisdictions. The nurse must hold an active, unencumbered license in their Primary State of Residence, meaning the license is not subject to active disciplinary action or restriction.
Applicants must meet several professional criteria. They must have graduated from a board-approved registered nursing or practical nursing education program. They are also required to have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN) or a predecessor exam. Furthermore, the nurse must not have been convicted of a felony offense under state or federal law. Misdemeanor convictions related to nursing practice are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.
Navigating the Application Process
The application for a multistate license is handled exclusively through the Board of Nursing (BON) in the nurse’s Primary State of Residence (PSOR). Nurses do not apply to the NCSBN or to the boards of the remote states where they intend to practice. The compact license application is usually submitted either as part of the endorsement process for a nurse licensed in a non-compact state, or as part of the initial licensure by examination for a new graduate.
The process begins with the nurse completing the application form on the PSOR’s BON website and submitting the required non-refundable licensing fees. The nurse must submit documentation to prove their PSOR, such as a copy of their current driver’s license. A mandatory component of the application involves submitting to a federal fingerprint-based criminal background check.
The BON provides instructions for scheduling the required fingerprinting to initiate the background check. Once all necessary documents, fees, and background check results are received, the BON reviews the application against the eleven uniform licensure requirements. Processing times vary between states, often ranging from a few weeks to several months, depending on application volume and the time required for the background check. Nurses should contact their specific state’s BON for current fee schedules and processing timeline estimates.
Maintaining Your Multistate License When Moving
The multistate license is linked to the nurse’s Primary State of Residence (PSOR), making moving to a new state a mandatory licensure event. If a nurse moves from one compact state to another, they must apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state. The nurse is required to apply for a new license in the new PSOR within 60 days of establishing legal residency there.
Upon issuance of the new multistate license by the new PSOR’s Board of Nursing, the previous license automatically converts to a single-state license or becomes inactive. The nurse may continue to practice on their former license until the new license is issued, but they must complete the application promptly to avoid a lapse in practice authority. The new PSOR manages all future renewal requirements and continuing education obligations.
Key Limitations and Exceptions
The authority granted by the multistate license is not universally applicable across all nursing roles or all US jurisdictions. The Nurse Licensure Compact is limited to Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), such as Nurse Practitioners and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, are excluded from the NLC’s provisions. APRNs must seek separate state-specific authority or utilize the separate APRN Compact where enacted.
The multistate privilege only authorizes practice in other states that are also members of the compact. A nurse who wishes to practice in a non-compact state must still apply for and obtain a single-state license in that jurisdiction.