Utah is a compact state for nursing, participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). This agreement allows registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses to hold one multi-state license, enabling them to practice in other compact states without obtaining a separate license in each jurisdiction. Utah’s compact status streamlines the process for nurses who want to work across state lines, whether through travel assignments or telehealth services.
Understanding the Nurse Licensure Compact
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among participating states designed to increase nurse mobility and improve public access to care. It operates on a mutual recognition model, where compact states agree to accept licenses issued by other member states. The original NLC was replaced by the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) to include more stringent, uniform requirements for licensure.
The eNLC provides nurses with a single, multi-state license issued by their home state, granting authority to practice in all other member states. This structure removes the administrative burden and costs associated with obtaining multiple single-state licenses. The compact facilitates the deployment of nurses for travel assignments, disaster relief efforts, and telehealth, ensuring a consistent standard of practice across state borders.
Utah’s Status as a Compact State
Utah is a full participant in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, a status formally established in state law. The state’s participation is governed by the Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 31e. Utah adopted the eNLC when it became effective, allowing its nurses to practice under the multi-state privilege.
If a nurse’s Primary State of Residence (PSOR) is Utah, they can apply for a multi-state license recognized throughout the compact. While the Utah Board of Nursing issues the license, the nurse is accountable to the practice laws and regulations of whichever state they are practicing in. This arrangement ensures that the remote state retains the authority to take disciplinary action if a nurse violates its practice act.
Qualifications for a Multi-State Utah License
The process of obtaining a multi-state license from Utah requires a nurse to meet a specific set of uniform criteria designed to maintain public safety. The most foundational requirement is that the applicant must declare Utah as their Primary State of Residence (PSOR), which is generally proven by showing legal documents like a driver’s license, voter registration card, or federal tax forms. Without meeting the PSOR requirement, a nurse is only eligible for a single-state license, even if they meet all other criteria.
To qualify for the multi-state privilege, a nurse must satisfy 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) set forth by the compact administrators. These requirements begin with meeting all the standards for licensure in Utah, including graduation from a board-approved nursing education program and passing the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination. The applicant must also hold an active, unencumbered license, meaning it must be free of active disciplinary action.
A significant portion of the ULRs focuses on the nurse’s legal and disciplinary history to ensure public protection. Applicants must submit to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks as part of the endorsement application process. They must certify that they have not been convicted of a felony offense under state or federal law. Furthermore, they must confirm they have no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing, which is determined on a case-by-case basis.
The remaining requirements address professional standing and personal information, including possessing a valid United States Social Security number. Nurses cannot be currently participating in an alternative program, which are often used in lieu of disciplinary action for substance use disorders, although they are required to self-disclose any current participation. These standardized qualifications ensure all nurses holding a multi-state license have met the same level of professional and legal scrutiny, regardless of their issuing state.
Using Your Compact License Across State Lines
A multi-state license issued by Utah grants the “privilege to practice” in any other compact state, which is the legal authorization to work in the remote state. This privilege allows a nurse to practice physically within the remote state’s borders and through electronic means like telehealth. While practicing remotely, the nurse must adhere to the nursing practice act and laws of that state, even though their license is issued by Utah.
If a nurse makes a permanent move from Utah to another compact state, NLC rules require them to apply for a multi-state license in their new PSOR. This application must be submitted within 60 days of establishing residency in the new state, a rule that became effective in 2024 to clarify the required timeframe. The nurse may continue practicing on their original Utah multi-state license during this period and while the new application is processed. Once the new compact state issues the license, the previous Utah multi-state license converts to a single-state license, valid only for practice within Utah.
The Difference Between Single-State and Multi-State Licenses
The Utah Board of Nursing issues both single-state and multi-state licenses. A single-state license authorizes a nurse to practice only within the geographical borders of Utah, with no privileges extended to other compact states.
This license type is issued to nurses who declare Utah as their PSOR but fail to meet one or more of the 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements for the multi-state privilege, such as a disqualifying criminal history. A single-state license is also issued to nurses whose PSOR is a state that does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Such a nurse may apply for a Utah license by endorsement to work within the state, but they will only receive a single-state license. The multi-state license, in contrast, confers the privilege to practice in all other compact jurisdictions.