RESOURCE CENTER
RESOURCE CENTER
iDEAL
Journey
Now!
We have compiled a list of resources
that will help you keep you on track.
We have compiled
a list of resources
that will help you
keep you on track.
General Resources
Licensure Resources
Nurses Eligibility to Apply for a Compact License
When it comes to your own nurse licensing, it's critical that you stay up-to-date on legislation that could impact how or where you practice. If you currently hold a multistate license or you've been thinking about traveling, there were enhancements to the NLC in 2018 that brought new states and new opportunities for travel.
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), first signed into law in 2000, has allowed nurses who hold a specific multistate license to practice in any NLC state. However, in 2017, NLC was enhanced and these changes were implemented on January 19, 2018. The original compact dissolved July 18, 2018.
Only nurses who declare a compact state as their primary state of residence may be eligible for a multistate license.
As a resident of a noncompact state, you may apply for a license by endorsement in a compact state. Your eligibility will be limited to a single state license that is valid in that state only. As a resident of a noncompact state, you can have as many single-state licenses as you wish.
What is a Primary State?
For compact purposes, primary state of residence is not related to property ownership in a given state. It is about your legal residency status. Everyone has legal documents such as a driver’s license, voter’s card, federal income tax return, military form no. 2058, or W2 form from the primary state of residence (PSOR). If a nurse’s PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate (compact) license. If a nurse cannot declare a compact state as his/her PSOR, that nurse is not eligible for a compact license. They may apply for a single state license in any state where they wish to practice.
Click here for NLC Uniform Licensure Requirements for a Multistate License.
Click here for an interactive map that reflects the status of each state.
Click here for current PDF list of NLC member states.
