COMPACT STATES

Your Nursing Guide to Compact States

What is the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)?


With the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), registered nurses (RNs) can obtain a single multi-state license that allows them to practice in any state in the enhanced compact agreement, without needing to be licensed in that state.

This gives nurses new career development opportunities and job flexibility. Nurses can practice in up to 35 states without the complications, fees, and barriers of applying for licensure in each state.

This flexibility is especially beneficial for travel nurses and military personnel, who no longer have to spend time and money applying for and renewing nursing licenses in multiple states. They only need to maintain their eNLC.


What States have NLC Legislation?


As of February 2022, 39 states have NLC Legislation or pending implementation of legislation.


These include:


Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky


Louisiana (RN & LPN)

Maine

Maryland

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Mexico

North Carolina

North Dakota

Oklahoma

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia (RN & LPN)

Wisconsin

Wyoming

States pending eNLC legislation or implementation


California

Illinois

Massachusetts

Michigan

New Jersey (partial implementation)

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Virgin Islands


Who can apply for the eNLC?


Registered nurses (RNs) must meet the following criteria to apply for the eNLC.


  • One of the compact states must be your primary state of legal residence.
  • You must have graduated from a board-approved education program or an approved international education program. *
  • If English is not your first language or you graduated from an international program, you must pass an English proficiency exam.
  • You must pass the NCLEX-RN, the NCLEX-PN, or a predecessor exam.
  • You must either hold or be eligible for an active, unencumbered license.
  • You must not have any state or federal felony convictions, or any misdemeanor convictions related to nursing.
  • You must pass state and federal criminal background checks, including fingerprinting.
  • You must not be in an alternative program (and must self-disclose if you are in an alternative program).
  • You must provide a valid United States Social Security number.


*International programs must be approved by the authorized accrediting body in the country the program is located in and verified by an independent credentials review agency.


What if my state is currently passing legislation to join the nursing compact?


If you live in a state with pending legislation related to the eNLC, your state board will contact you after the bills pass and your state joins the nursing compact. You do not need to do anything at this time. Simply ensure that your state board has your correct and updated address.


How do I know if my nursing license is compact?


To check whether the nursing license you already have is compact or not, visit Nursys, a database website for nurses to verify their licenses. You will be able to check if your license is current. You can also register for notifications with updates on your state’s compact status.


What should I do if I am moving?


  • Moving from a noncompact to a compact state:

Before or after your move, apply for licensure by endorsement in your new state. Once you meet all the eligibility requirements, you can receive your eNLC.


  • Moving from a compact to a noncompact state:

Before or after your move, apply for licensure by endorsement in your new state. When your legal residency changes to your new state, you will no longer be eligible for the eNLC multistate license, and will switch to a single state license.


  • Moving from one compact state to another:

Before you move, you must apply for licensure by endorsement in your new state. You will be able to practice with your old eNLC state license until your new one is issues, at which point your old one will become inactive.


How do I apply for licensure in a new state after moving?


To apply for licensure in a new state after moving, you must:


  • Pass a NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam.
  • Go to your new state’s Board of Nursing website and apply for Licensure by Endorsement.
  • Provide all documentation, including a background check.
  • Pay any fees.


Where can I find more information?


If you still have questions, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website. There you can find an NLC Toolkit, including videos and other resources to provide more information.



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