The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among participating jurisdictions designed to increase the mobility of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). This framework allows a nurse to hold a single license with the authority to practice in their home state and all other member states. The NLC provides a solution for nurses seeking to work across state lines, such as through travel assignments, cross-border commuting, or telehealth. Obtaining this multistate privilege streamlines the process, removing the need to apply for and maintain multiple state-specific licenses.
Understanding the Nurse Licensure Compact
The NLC operates based on a mutual recognition model, where each compact state agrees to recognize the nursing license issued by any other member state. This system differs from the traditional single-state license (SSL), which only grants practice authority within the borders of the issuing state. The multistate license (MSL), or compact license, is the credential that unlocks this expanded mobility.
The MSL is issued by a nurse’s Primary State of Residence (PSOR)—the state where the nurse legally resides. It automatically confers the “privilege to practice” in all other NLC member states. This privilege is subject to the nursing practice laws and rules of the state where the nurse is physically or electronically providing care. The NLC structure allows regulatory bodies to share information, promoting patient safety while facilitating the movement of the nursing workforce.
Determining Your Eligibility Based on Residency
Eligibility for a multistate license requires establishing your Primary State of Residence (PSOR) in an active NLC member state. The PSOR is defined as your fixed permanent and principal home for legal purposes, or your domicile. A nurse can only hold one PSOR for NLC purposes, and that state’s Board of Nursing (BON) is responsible for issuing and regulating the compact license.
To prove legal residency, the BON requires specific documentation verifying your domicile. Acceptable forms of proof typically include:
- Current, unexpired driver’s license displaying a home address in the compact state.
- Federal income tax return declaring the compact state as the primary residence.
- Voter registration card with the in-state address.
- Military Form No. 2058 (State of Legal Residence Certificate) for military personnel and spouses.
If you do not legally establish your PSOR in a compact state, you are ineligible to receive a multistate license and will only be able to obtain a single-state license in that jurisdiction.
The Application Process for Current Nurses
Upgrading an Existing License
A nurse who holds a single-state license and resides in that same compact state must submit a conversion application to the State Board of Nursing (BON) to upgrade the credential to an MSL. This application is usually available online through the BON’s portal. It requires the payment of a conversion fee and an updated criminal background check. The BON reviews the application to ensure the nurse meets all enhanced NLC requirements before the license is officially converted.
Moving to a Compact State
When a nurse moves from a non-compact state to a compact state and establishes a new PSOR, they must apply for licensure by endorsement in the new home state. The nurse must submit a formal application to the new state’s BON, declare the compact state as their PSOR, and pay the required fees. The BON verifies credentials and conducts necessary background checks. The full multistate license is issued only after proof of legal residency is verified and all eligibility criteria are met. Processing time can range from a few weeks to up to 60 days, depending on the state’s workflow.
Meeting the Uniform Licensure Requirements
To be granted a multistate license, every applicant must satisfy the eleven Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) established by the NLC, ensuring a consistent standard of safety and competence. These criteria must be met regardless of the specific compact state.
The ULRs include:
- Meet all requirements for licensure in the home state.
- Successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN) or a predecessor exam.
- Hold an active, unencumbered license (no active discipline or restriction).
- Graduated from a board-approved nursing education program or an international equivalent verified by an independent credentials review agency.
- Submit to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
- Have no state or federal felony convictions, and no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing.
- Not be currently participating in an alternative-to-discipline program (must self-disclose past participation).
- Possess a valid United States Social Security number.
Maintaining and Renewing Your Compact License
Once a multistate license is granted, the nurse must maintain continuous compliance with the requirements of their Primary State of Residence (PSOR). Renewal cycles, often biennial, and continuing education requirements are dictated by the BON of the PSOR. Meeting these obligations automatically renews the multistate privilege in all compact states.
If a nurse changes their PSOR, they must immediately notify the BON and apply for a new license. If moving from one compact state to another, the nurse must apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state within 60 days of establishing residency. The nurse may practice on the former state’s MSL until the new state issues its own multistate license, at which point the former license is deactivated. If moving from a compact state to a non-compact state, the MSL automatically converts to a single-state license, valid only in the former home state.
Working in Non-Compact States
The authority granted by the multistate license is strictly limited to states that have fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact. Jurisdictions that have not joined the NLC, such as California, New York, and Nevada, do not recognize the MSL’s privilege to practice. Therefore, a nurse with an MSL who wishes to practice in a non-compact state must apply for a standard single-state license in that jurisdiction.
The nurse must follow the non-compact state’s specific application process, which involves applying for licensure by endorsement and meeting all unique state requirements. A nurse may legally hold an MSL from their PSOR and multiple single-state licenses from non-compact states simultaneously. The single-state license is solely for practice within that non-compact jurisdiction and does not confer any multistate privileges.