The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among member states allowing nurses to hold one multistate license. This license grants them the privilege to practice in all participating jurisdictions. The system promotes nurse mobility and streamlines the process for those working across state lines or providing telehealth services. Understanding a state’s participation in the NLC is important for career planning and workforce management. This article clarifies Mississippi’s standing within the NLC and details the implications for nurses who live or wish to practice there.
Mississippi’s NLC Status
Mississippi is a full participant in the Nurse Licensure Compact. The state initially joined the original NLC in 2001 and became a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) when updated legislation was implemented on July 1, 2018. This participation is managed by the Mississippi Board of Nursing (MBON), the state’s licensing authority for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Because Mississippi is a compact state, nurses who declare it as their Primary State of Residence (PSOR) may apply for a multistate license recognized by all other NLC member states.
General Benefits of the Nurse Licensure Compact
The NLC offers nurses professional advantages by removing the requirement to obtain a separate license for every compact state where they wish to practice. This single-license model substantially increases job mobility, allowing nurses to pursue travel nursing assignments or relocate without lengthy licensing delays. The ability to practice across borders is also important for the expansion of telehealth, enabling nurses to provide remote care to patients in other compact jurisdictions. This streamlined approach reduces the administrative and financial burdens associated with maintaining multiple single-state licenses, including separate renewal fees and continuing education requirements. By only needing to manage one multistate license issued by their home state, nurses can focus more energy on patient care and professional development. The compact also supports public protection by allowing sharing of disciplinary information among member states, ensuring a nurse’s practice history is easily accessible to all participating boards of nursing.
Obtaining a Multistate License When Mississippi Is Your Home State
A nurse must declare Mississippi as their Primary State of Residence (PSOR) to be eligible for a multistate license issued by the MBON. The PSOR is defined as a nurse’s fixed permanent and principal home for legal purposes. A Mississippi-resident nurse seeking licensure must satisfy the 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) established by the NLC.
Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs)
These standards include graduating from a board-approved nursing education program and successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The nurse must also submit to a federal criminal background check, requiring fingerprinting processed through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Additionally, the nurse must not have any felony convictions, must not be currently participating in an alternative program, and must hold an active, unencumbered license in Mississippi.
The MBON issues a multistate license only if the applicant meets all ULRs and has declared Mississippi as their PSOR. If a nurse is licensed in Mississippi but fails to meet the ULRs, or if their PSOR is a non-compact state, the MBON can only issue a single-state license. The authority for these requirements is rooted in the state’s statutes, collectively known as the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law.
Practicing in Mississippi With an Out-of-State Compact License
Nurses holding a multistate license issued by another NLC member state may practice in Mississippi without obtaining a separate state license. This privilege applies whether the nurse is physically present or providing care via electronic means, such as telehealth. While practicing in Mississippi, the nurse must adhere to the state’s specific scope of practice rules detailed within the Mississippi Nurse Practice Act (NPA).
The nurse must maintain their original state as their Primary State of Residence for the multistate license to remain valid. If a nurse holding a compact license moves and establishes legal residency in Mississippi, they must apply for a Mississippi license by endorsement and notify their former home state’s board of nursing of the residency change. They may continue practicing on their former state’s compact license while the MBON processes the new application.