Nurse Licensure Compact


The Nurse Licensure Compact is an agreement that allows "mutual recognition" of a nursing license between member states in the United States of America. Enacted into law by the participating states, member states allow a nurse that resides in and possesses a current Compact nursing license in a state that is a member of the NLC, to practice in any of the other member states without obtaining additional licensure in that state. It applies to both registered and practical nurses and is also referred to as a multi-state license.
While a nurse's license may be multi-state, permanent relocation to another Compact state requires obtaining Compact licensure in the new state, as this nurse's residency has changed. Likewise, a license obtained in a Compact state that is not one's primary state of residence is not mutually recognized by the other NLC members.

Participating states

As of July 2020, the NLC states are:
Six other states and Guam, all have active Nurse Licensure Compact bills. Connecticut has a "compact study" bill.