In today’s fast-changing healthcare world, nursing compact states and licenses are becoming more important. But what are they, and how do they affect nurses? This article will explain the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). It will cover its benefits, the states that join, and how to get a license that lets you work in many places.

Key Takeaways

• The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between some U.S. states. It lets nurses have one license that works in their state and other NLC states.
• Compact licenses make it easier for nurses to move around and give better care. They don’t need extra licenses to work in other states.
• By October 2023, 41 states had joined the NLC, with more likely to join soon.
• To get a license that works across states, nurses must meet certain rules. They must say one NLC state is their main home.
• The NLC ensures patients get good care by keeping high standards and helping states talk to each other.

Understanding the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)

The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) makes getting nursing licenses across state lines easier. It was created by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The NLC helps nurses work in any state that’s part of it without needing extra licenses. This helps improve healthcare and keeps people safe.

Overview of the NLC

By 2023, 42 areas joined the NLC, including 41 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This agreement lets nurses have one license that works everywhere in the member states. This makes it easier for them to move around and work in different places.

Benefits of the NLC for Nurses

• Greater career flexibility and mobility: Nurses with a compact license can work in any NLC member state. This means more chances for career growth and moving to new places.
• Reduced licensing costs: Nurses only need one license for all NLC states. This saves time and money compared to getting licenses for each state.
• Improved patient access to care: The NLC helps nurses move easily between states. This means patients in areas with less healthcare can get the care they need.
• Enhanced communication and cooperation: The compact makes it easier for nursing boards in different states to talk and work together. This leads to better care and safety for patients.

By joining the NLC, nurses get more career chances and help make healthcare better for everyone.

Compact States and Jurisdictions

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) lets nurses have a license that works in many states and territories. By 2023, 42 places joined – 41 U.S. states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

To see which states are in the NLC, check the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website. They have an interactive map and a list of states. The NCSBN also suggests signing up for the Nursys e-Notify system for updates on the NLC.

Most U.S. states are part of the NLC, but some are still deciding. You can find the latest on which states are in or out on the NCSBN website.

Nurses with a multi-state license can work in up to 39 states and territories without extra licenses. This is great for travel nurses and military personnel. They save time and money on licenses.

To get a multi-state license, nurses must meet certain criteria. They need an unencumbered license, to graduate from an approved program, pass the NCLEX exam, speak English well, and clear a criminal background check.

The NLC also helps with telehealth by letting nurses work across states. Nurses with these licenses can offer telehealth in other states. This makes healthcare more accessible.

How to Obtain a Multistate Nursing License

Nurses wanting a multistate nursing license must meet certain eligibility requirements. They need a valid RN or LPN/VN license in their main state, pass the NCLEX exam, and have a clean record. To apply, they must send the right documents to their state nursing board.

Eligibility Requirements

To get a multistate nursing license, nurses must:

• Have a valid RN or LPN/VN license in their main state
• Pass the NCLEX exam
• Have no active discipline on their nursing license

Application Process

The steps to apply for a multistate nursing license are:

1. Apply to the state nursing board in their main state
2. Provide proof of identity and meet state requirements
3. Get approval for the multistate license, valid in all NLC states

With a multistate nursing license, nurses get more job chances, flexibility, and easier work across states. This helps improve healthcare access and efficiency.

See also

• HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU TAKE THE NCLEX?
• CAN YOU TAKE THE NCLEX AT HOME OR ONLINE?
• WHERE IT PAYS TO BE A NURSE
• DO LPNS NEED TO TAKE THE NCLEX?
• HOW TO STUDY FOR THE NCLEX-PN AND PASS THE FIRST TIME

WHAT ARE NURSING COMPACT STATES AND LICENSES?

Nursing compact states are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). This agreement lets registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) have one license for many states. They can work in their home state and other NLC states easily.

The eNLC, or Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact, is the latest version of the NLC. By 2024, 42 states will join it. Nurses with an eNLC license can work in any other eNLC state without extra licenses.

• As of June 2024, 42 states are part of the eNLC, letting nurses work across state lines.
• Nurses in non-compact states might find it harder. They need more licenses and deal with different rules in various states.
• The process to get a multistate license is different from renewing it. It costs $50 plus a background check fee, and it can take up to 60 days to approve.
• Nurses can see a map of NLC states and check where they can work with a multistate license. They mainly focus on compact states.

The Nursing Licensure Compact makes getting licensed easier. It helps nurses move for work or personal reasons without extra paperwork. This benefits the nursing workforce and healthcare rules across the country.

Moving to a New Compact State

If you have a multistate nursing license and are moving to a new state, you must update your primary state of residency (PSOR). You also need to apply for a new multistate license in your new home state. You have 60 days from moving to apply for this new license.

Changing Primary State of Residency

When you move to a new compact state, you must apply for a new multistate license. You’ll need to submit an application and provide proof of identity. Some states offer temporary licenses while you wait for your application to be processed.

Remember, only one state can be your primary state of legal residence for Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) purposes. This can be checked through documents like a driver’s license, tax returns, or voter registration.

Applying for a New License

Nurses must apply for licensure by endorsement in their new state of residence, either before or after the move. If you meet the requirements, you can get a multistate license in your new compact state. If you move to a noncompact state, your license will change to a single state license.

You can use your old license until your new multistate license is ready. But, you must apply for licensure by endorsement right after moving to a new compact state. There’s no grace period.

Starting January 2, 2024, a new rule takes effect. If you move to another party state, you must apply for a multistate license there within 60 days. This rule makes moving easier, like getting a new driver’s license in a new state.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Compact

The APRN Compact lets advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) work across state lines. It’s part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for RNs and LPN/VNs. This Compact helps increase care access and gives patients and APRNs more choices.

By December 2023, four states – Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Delaware – had joined the APRN Compact. For it to work, seven states must agree. In 2023, seven states looked into the Compact, with four holding hearings and three passing it in one chamber.

This Compact helps many people, including:

• Military families who move a lot and don’t want to get many licenses
• Locum tenens professionals who work in different places for short times
• Online nursing teachers who need licenses in states where their students are studying

The COVID-19 pandemic showed how important it is to have nurses who can work across state lines. APRNs in Compact states could help more during the pandemic by crossing state borders to care for patients.

But, the APRN Compact has its challenges. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) worries about the hours needed and the Compact Commission’s setup. Still, APRNs like nurse practitioners (NPs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) should push for the Compact in their states.

Employer Considerations for Compact Nurses

Healthcare organizations in compact states need to know about the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). They must hire nurses with valid licenses across states and follow NLC rules. This means checking the nurse’s license, knowing their main state of living, and making sure they meet their home state’s education needs.

Verification and Compliance

Employers should carefully check the nursing licenses, interstate compacts, and multi-state licenses of their staff. This is key for nurse mobility, license portability, and keeping a skilled nursing workforce. The eNLC makes this easier, letting employers check licenses through Nursys, used by 57 states and areas.

Employers also need to make sure nurses follow their home state’s education and other rules. Not doing this can limit a nurse’s multi-state licenses and their work across states. Also, all compact states can take actions against a nurse’s license, like taking it away or suspending it, and must tell Nursys quickly.

By keeping up and acting fast, employers in compact states can make sure their nurses follow the NLC. This lets them move easily and keep their licenses while meeting healthcare needs in their areas.

Challenges and Resistance to Joining the Compact

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) has been around for over 20 years and 37 states have joined. Yet, some states are still hesitant. They worry about losing control over regulations, verifying licenses, and losing money from licensing fees.

Nevada, next to Arizona, Utah, and Idaho, hasn’t joined the NLC. Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui said Nevada needs more than 5,000 nurses to meet the national average. This shows the state’s nursing challenges.

California and Oregon haven’t joined the NLC either. Some worry about worker rights, patient safety, and losing licensing fee revenue. Grace Vergara-Mactal, executive director of SEIU 1107, said nurses work long hours and see many patients. This highlights the need for better workforce solutions.

To overcome these issues, state nursing boards, policymakers, and stakeholders must work together. They need to find a way that supports nurse mobility and the nursing workforce. At the same time, they should keep healthcare regulations and cross-border practice standards in check.

The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) has 40 states and territories on board as of January 2023. But, places like Hawaii, a top spot for travel nurses, are not part of it. Pushing for the eNLC can help solve these issues. It would make nurse mobility and cross-border practice smoother across the U.S.

“The Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor took no action on Assembly Bill 108 concerning the Nurse Licensure Compact on a specific Friday.”

Resistance to the NLC or eNLC shows we need more talks, education, and teamwork. This will help the nursing workforce and patient care across the country.

Advocating for the NLC in Your State

If your state isn’t part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), you can push for it. Reach out to your state nursing board, elected reps, and others. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers resources and advice. They help with model legislation and explain the compact’s benefits.

The NLC helps nurses move easily between states, making healthcare better across borders. Joining the compact brings many benefits. It helps nurses, makes healthcare better, and improves the workforce.

• It makes getting a nursing license easier, saving time and money.
• It helps in emergencies by letting nurses work across state lines.
• It makes telehealth services better and keeps patients’ care consistent.
• It helps healthcare workers share knowledge and work together better.

To support the NLC in your state, follow these steps:

1. Learn about the NLC and its good points for nurses and healthcare.
2. Talk to your state nursing board and leaders about why joining the NLC is a good idea.
3. Share facts on how the NLC can save money and improve healthcare.
4. Get support from healthcare groups, nursing unions, and community leaders.
5. Keep up with laws and give your input as your state thinks about joining the NLC.

Supporting the NLC in your state helps the nursing field, improves healthcare rules, and helps with working across state lines. This is good for patients and healthcare workers.

Conclusion

The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is changing the game for nurses and patients across the U.S. It lets nurses work across state lines easily. This boosts career flexibility, increases the nursing workforce, and keeps patients safe.

More states joining the compact means big wins for nurses and healthcare groups. They get to move around more easily with their licenses. The eNLC is making cross-border practice and telenursing even better. This is making healthcare more flexible and quick to respond.

By supporting the NLC and its updates, nurses are helping to make healthcare better. Joining the NLC in your state can open up new chances for your nursing career. It’s a step towards better patient care and outcomes.