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New to travel nursing? Looking for a way to optimize your travel nursing experience? Tired of applying for individual state nursing licenses? Apply for a compact nursing license to easily practice nursing in multiple states and under one license!
Not only is having a compact license more convenient for travel nurses, but it can also save you a pretty penny in licensing fees. Here’s everything you need to know about the nurse licensure compact.
If you’re a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or licensed vocational nurse (LVN), then you’re in luck — you’re eligible for a compact license. Also known as the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) or the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), this nationally recognized nursing license allows RNs, LPNs, and LVNs the freedom to professionally work in multiple states.
That means that you don’t have to obtain additional licenses or go through the licensing process in the states where you want to practice and instead, can do so under one nursing license. As a bonus, getting a compact nursing license or multi state license also means that you won’t have to pay licensing fees and complete background checks in each state you want to work in.
The catch is that your multi-state license is only valid in participating compact nursing states. But the good news is there are 38 compact states for nursing (in addition to Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands), so you have lots of location options for your next travel nursing job.
Having a multi-state license can be extremely beneficial for nurses. Since this multi-state license allows you to move more freely from state to state, you may have additional opportunities for more lucrative travel nursing jobs where you can make more money. And all without having to worry about the hassle of applying for a new license in each location.
Additional compact licensing benefits for nurses include:
A simplified, streamlined process to work in multiple states, allowing nurses more flexibility
The ability to practice via telehealth or telenursing in other states
The capability to respond to national disasters and staffing shortages in other compact nursing states
Qualifications to teach via distance-learning in compact states
The allowance of military spouse nurses to seamlessly continue working without the hassle of new licensing each time they relocate
Plus, a compact nursing license offers increased job security, as well as the chance to expand your skill set by working in different healthcare settings across multiple states. Think of it as getting paid to take an extended vacation with the added perk of improving your career prospects.
So, we’ve sold you on getting a license for compact nursing states? Lucky for you, to apply for a multi-state license is simple. However, it does require you to do some preparation in advance. Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a compact state nursing license through your state board of nursing (BON).
1. Research the requirements
Before you apply for a compact state nursing license, make sure you understand the necessary requirements. All registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and LVNs whose primary state of residence is in a compact state and meet the uniform licensure requirements, or ULRs, are eligible for a multi-state license. These are the 11 ULRs that determine compact license eligibility:
You must meet the requirements for licensure in the state of your primary residence
You must be a graduate of a board-approved education program or an international educational program that was approved and verified by an independent credentials review agency
You must pass an English proficiency exam from an authorized accrediting body if an individual's native language is not English or if you’ve graduated from an international education program in nursing
You must pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) or PNs (NCLEX-PN)
You must have an active, unencumbered license as a nurse
You must submit state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks
You may not have a felony offense
You may not have misdemeanor convictions related to nursing
You may not currently be participating in an alternative program
You must self-disclose current participation in an alternative program
You must have a valid United States Social Security Number
Keep in mind that if you live in a state with pending NLC legislation or partial implementation, you don’t have to do anything until the bill is passed. Once your state joins the list of nursing compact states, the state board will reach out to you to ensure your primary state and permanent address is up-to-date and correct.
If you live in a non-compact state, you’ll be required to apply for nursing licensure in each and every state where you want to work. Pro tip: it can take a hot second to get approved for a single-state license, so get started ASAP on the process of obtaining your state nursing license.
2. Submit your eNLC application
Now that you know where you stand on uniform licensure requirements, head over to your state board of nursing website to apply for or renew your multi-state nursing license. Expect to provide proof of residence in an Enhanced Nursing Licensure compact (NLC) state, proof of national council licensure, and proof of graduation from an approved nursing program.
If you’re moving from a non-compact state to a compact state, the process for applying for nursing licensure may be a little different. In this case, you must apply for licensure by endorsement in your new state of residence. Once you meet residency and eligibility requirements, you can then receive your multi-state license.
If you’re moving from a primary state of residence that is a compact state, to other participating compact states, you also have to apply for licensure by endorsement. However, you can practice with your existing multi-state license until your new multi-state license is issued. When you get your new multi-state nursing license, the old one is automatically rendered inactive.
3. Maintain your license
Once you’ve received your nursing license, it’s important to maintain it to continue practicing nursing in multiple states. Maintaining a multi-state license may require meeting certain education requirements for each of the states where you’re licensed. This can include taking courses, attending seminars or workshops, and participating in other continuing education activities approved by the individual state boards of nursing.
Continuing education units (CEUs) for the nursing compact license allow nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in healthcare and ensure you’re providing high-quality care to your patients. With regular updates on new trends in medicine, nurses can provide effective treatment while protecting yourself and your patients from any potential harm.
You may be required to renew your compact license every couple of years, depending on what state your home residency is in. When it comes down to the fine print, make sure you have up to date information and that you’re in the know on what you need to do to maintain your multi-state licensure.
Nursing licensure compact NLC states
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Guam (partial implementation)
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Oklahoma
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Pennsylvania (law passed and partial implementation)
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Virgin Islands (law passed and awaiting implementation)
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Member states pending legislation
Alaska
Connecticut
Hawaii
Illinois
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
Washington, D.C.
Non-compact states
American Samoa
California
Nevada
Oregon
Nursing licensure compact NLC states
Pennsylvania (law passed and partial implementation)
Virgin Islands (law passed and awaiting implementation)
Member states pending legislation
Non-compact states
There are a lot of details to remember about nursing licensure and with the fine print often comes questions. These are some of the top travel nursing licensure questions plus their answers to help you stay informed.
Applying for a compact state nursing licensure can open a world of possibilities for your nursing career. With access to more nursing jobs in multiple states, you can explore new opportunities that may better fit your goals and lifestyle, all while keeping up with the exceptional nursing care and patient safety practices you provide. Not only will a compact license give you the chance to expand your knowledge base by learning from different healthcare systems, but it also allows for greater flexibility with travel nursing.
Once you’re locked and loaded with your license for nursing compact states, search for travel nursing jobs with Fusion Medical Staffing, and start your travel adventure!
Please note that while Fusion Medical Staffing strives to provide the most current and accurate information in our Nursing Licensing Guide, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information provided. Regulations, requirements, and processes can change frequently. Healthcare travelers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult directly with the respective state board's official website to ensure they have the most accurate and up-to-date information. Fusion Medical Staffing is not liable for any outdated information or errors in the guide.
New to travel nursing? Looking for a way to optimize your travel nursing experience? Tired of applying for individual state nursing licenses? Apply for a compact nursing license to easily practice nursing in multiple states and under one license!
Not only is having a compact license more convenient for travel nurses, but it can also save you a pretty penny in licensing fees. Here’s everything you need to know about the nurse licensure compact.
If you’re a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or licensed vocational nurse (LVN), then you’re in luck — you’re eligible for a compact license. Also known as the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) or the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), this nationally recognized nursing license allows RNs, LPNs, and LVNs the freedom to professionally work in multiple states.
That means that you don’t have to obtain additional licenses or go through the licensing process in the states where you want to practice and instead, can do so under one nursing license. As a bonus, getting a compact nursing license or multi state license also means that you won’t have to pay licensing fees and complete background checks in each state you want to work in.
The catch is that your multi-state license is only valid in participating compact nursing states. But the good news is there are 38 compact states for nursing (in addition to Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands), so you have lots of location options for your next travel nursing job.
Having a multi-state license can be extremely beneficial for nurses. Since this multi-state license allows you to move more freely from state to state, you may have additional opportunities for more lucrative travel nursing jobs where you can make more money. And all without having to worry about the hassle of applying for a new license in each location.
Additional compact licensing benefits for nurses include:
A simplified, streamlined process to work in multiple states, allowing nurses more flexibility
The ability to practice via telehealth or telenursing in other states
The capability to respond to national disasters and staffing shortages in other compact nursing states
Qualifications to teach via distance-learning in compact states
The allowance of military spouse nurses to seamlessly continue working without the hassle of new licensing each time they relocate
Plus, a compact nursing license offers increased job security, as well as the chance to expand your skill set by working in different healthcare settings across multiple states. Think of it as getting paid to take an extended vacation with the added perk of improving your career prospects.
So, we’ve sold you on getting a license for compact nursing states? Lucky for you, to apply for a multi-state license is simple. However, it does require you to do some preparation in advance. Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a compact state nursing license through your state board of nursing (BON).
1. Research the requirements
Before you apply for a compact state nursing license, make sure you understand the necessary requirements. All registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and LVNs whose primary state of residence is in a compact state and meet the uniform licensure requirements, or ULRs, are eligible for a multi-state license. These are the 11 ULRs that determine compact license eligibility:
You must meet the requirements for licensure in the state of your primary residence
You must be a graduate of a board-approved education program or an international educational program that was approved and verified by an independent credentials review agency
You must pass an English proficiency exam from an authorized accrediting body if an individual's native language is not English or if you’ve graduated from an international education program in nursing
You must pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) or PNs (NCLEX-PN)
You must have an active, unencumbered license as a nurse
You must submit state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks
You may not have a felony offense
You may not have misdemeanor convictions related to nursing
You may not currently be participating in an alternative program
You must self-disclose current participation in an alternative program
You must have a valid United States Social Security Number
Keep in mind that if you live in a state with pending NLC legislation or partial implementation, you don’t have to do anything until the bill is passed. Once your state joins the list of nursing compact states, the state board will reach out to you to ensure your primary state and permanent address is up-to-date and correct.
If you live in a non-compact state, you’ll be required to apply for nursing licensure in each and every state where you want to work. Pro tip: it can take a hot second to get approved for a single-state license, so get started ASAP on the process of obtaining your state nursing license.
2. Submit your eNLC application
Now that you know where you stand on uniform licensure requirements, head over to your state board of nursing website to apply for or renew your multi-state nursing license. Expect to provide proof of residence in an Enhanced Nursing Licensure compact (NLC) state, proof of national council licensure, and proof of graduation from an approved nursing program.
If you’re moving from a non-compact state to a compact state, the process for applying for nursing licensure may be a little different. In this case, you must apply for licensure by endorsement in your new state of residence. Once you meet residency and eligibility requirements, you can then receive your multi-state license.
If you’re moving from a primary state of residence that is a compact state, to other participating compact states, you also have to apply for licensure by endorsement. However, you can practice with your existing multi-state license until your new multi-state license is issued. When you get your new multi-state nursing license, the old one is automatically rendered inactive.
3. Maintain your license
Once you’ve received your nursing license, it’s important to maintain it to continue practicing nursing in multiple states. Maintaining a multi-state license may require meeting certain education requirements for each of the states where you’re licensed. This can include taking courses, attending seminars or workshops, and participating in other continuing education activities approved by the individual state boards of nursing.
Continuing education units (CEUs) for the nursing compact license allow nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in healthcare and ensure you’re providing high-quality care to your patients. With regular updates on new trends in medicine, nurses can provide effective treatment while protecting yourself and your patients from any potential harm.
You may be required to renew your compact license every couple of years, depending on what state your home residency is in. When it comes down to the fine print, make sure you have up to date information and that you’re in the know on what you need to do to maintain your multi-state licensure.
Nursing licensure compact NLC states
Pennsylvania (law passed and partial implementation)
Virgin Islands (law passed and awaiting implementation)
Member states pending legislation
Non-compact states
There are a lot of details to remember about nursing licensure and with the fine print often comes questions. These are some of the top travel nursing licensure questions plus their answers to help you stay informed.
Applying for a compact state nursing licensure can open a world of possibilities for your nursing career. With access to more nursing jobs in multiple states, you can explore new opportunities that may better fit your goals and lifestyle, all while keeping up with the exceptional nursing care and patient safety practices you provide. Not only will a compact license give you the chance to expand your knowledge base by learning from different healthcare systems, but it also allows for greater flexibility with travel nursing.
Once you’re locked and loaded with your license for nursing compact states, search for travel nursing jobs with Fusion Medical Staffing, and start your travel adventure!
Please note that while Fusion Medical Staffing strives to provide the most current and accurate information in our Nursing Licensing Guide, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information provided. Regulations, requirements, and processes can change frequently. Healthcare travelers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult directly with the respective state board's official website to ensure they have the most accurate and up-to-date information. Fusion Medical Staffing is not liable for any outdated information or errors in the guide.
