The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) started in 2000 with a handful of states who realized that a nurse licensed in Tennessee should be able to pick up a shift in Georgia without reapplying. That logic took 25 years to fully catch on. As of April 2026, 43 jurisdictions are enrolled in the Enhanced NLC (eNLC) — the updated version that replaced the original compact in 2018 with stricter, standardized eligibility requirements.
If you're a travel nurse, a telehealth nurse, or anyone considering crossing state lines, this guide covers exactly what you need to know: which states are in, which are out, who qualifies, and how the compact interacts with your current license.
What Is the eNLC (Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact)?
The eNLC is an interstate agreement among state nursing boards that allows licensed RNs and LPNs/LVNs to hold a single multistate license valid for practice in any participating state. You apply and pay in your home state (your primary state of residence), and you're automatically authorized to practice in all other compact states.
The "enhanced" part of eNLC matters: the original 2000 NLC had inconsistent eligibility standards. The 2018 overhaul established 11 uniform licensure requirements that every nurse must meet to qualify — things like a valid Social Security number, a background check, no felony convictions, and an active, unencumbered license. These requirements apply across all member states, no exceptions.
Important distinction: the compact doesn't give you a separate license. Your existing state license becomes a multistate license once your state joins the eNLC and you meet the qualifying criteria. There's no additional application if you already hold an active license in a compact state.
Complete eNLC State List — April 2026
The following 43 jurisdictions are active eNLC members as of April 2026:
| State / Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Active | Original eNLC member |
| Arizona | Active | |
| Arkansas | Active | |
| Colorado | Active | |
| Connecticut | Active | Joined Oct 2025 |
| Delaware | Active | |
| Florida | Active | |
| Georgia | Active | |
| Guam | Active | Territory |
| Idaho | Active | |
| Indiana | Active | |
| Iowa | Active | |
| Kansas | Active | |
| Kentucky | Active | |
| Louisiana | Active | |
| Maine | Active | |
| Maryland | Active | |
| Mississippi | Active | |
| Missouri | Active | |
| Montana | Active | |
| Nebraska | Active | |
| New Hampshire | Active | |
| New Jersey | Active | |
| New Mexico | Active | |
| North Carolina | Active | |
| North Dakota | Active | |
| Ohio | Active | |
| Oklahoma | Active | |
| Pennsylvania | Active | Joined 2025 |
| Rhode Island | Active | Joined 2025 |
| South Carolina | Active | |
| South Dakota | Active | |
| Tennessee | Active | |
| Texas | Active | |
| Utah | Active | |
| Vermont | Active | |
| Virginia | Active | |
| Washington | Active | |
| West Virginia | Active | |
| Wisconsin | Active | |
| Wyoming | Active | |
| Alaska | Pending | HB 131 / SB 124 active; 89% nurse support |
| Hawaii | Pending | Feasibility study complete; bills pending |
| California | Not a member | No pending legislation |
| Oregon | Not a member | Bills introduced in 2025; uncertain timeline |
| Nevada | Not a member | No active legislation |
| Illinois | Pending | Bill introduced 2025 |
| Michigan | Pending | Bill introduced 2025 |
| Minnesota | Pending | Bill introduced 2025 |
| New York | Pending | Bill introduced 2025 |
Always verify current status at nursecompact.com — membership can change mid-year as states implement legislation.
The 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements
To hold a multistate license under the eNLC, you must meet all 11 uniform requirements. Your state board verifies these — you don't submit a separate compact application. You either meet them or you don't.
- ✓ Graduate of a state-approved nursing education program (or foreign equivalent)
- ✓ Passed NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN
- ✓ Hold an active, unencumbered license in your primary state of residence
- ✓ Declare primary state of residence as a compact state
- ✓ Valid Social Security number
- ✓ No felony convictions
- ✓ No current disciplinary action, adverse action, or order against any license
- ✓ No current encumbrance in any state
- ✓ Self-reported compliance with mental competency and substance use requirements
- ✓ Completion of applicable criminal background check
- ✓ Comply with all state practice laws and the Nurse Practice Act of each state where you practice
If you have a disciplinary history — even a minor one — consult your state board before assuming you qualify. A compact license doesn't override restrictions; it carries them across state lines.
How to Get a Compact Nursing License
The process is simpler than most nurses expect, because in most cases it's already done. If your home state is in the eNLC and you meet the 11 requirements, your existing license is already a multistate license. Here's what the process actually looks like:
If you already hold a license in a compact state
Check your state board's verification system. Most boards label compact licenses explicitly. If your address on file is your current primary residence and your license is active and unencumbered, you're good to practice in any other eNLC state. No application, no additional fee, no waiting period.
If you're applying for a new license in a compact state
Apply through your state board the normal way — the compact status is automatic if you meet the 11 requirements. Application fees vary by state ($100–$200 typically). Processing time: 2–8 weeks depending on state and background check volume.
If you're moving between compact states
When you change your primary state of residence to another compact state, you apply for licensure in the new state. Your multistate privileges shift to the new state. Most boards provide a streamlined endorsement process for nurses already holding a compact license — typically faster and cheaper than an initial application.
If you're moving from a compact state to a non-compact state
This is where the 60-day rule applies. Once you establish legal residency in a non-compact state, you have 60 days to obtain a single-state license there. Your multistate license from your former state becomes invalid for practice at the 60-day mark. The 60-day clock starts at legal residency — not when you arrive for a travel contract, not when you sign a lease, but when you've formally established that state as your primary residence.
What the Compact Means for Travel Nurses
A compact license is the single most operationally useful piece of paper in travel nursing. Without one, picking up a contract in a new state means a separate license application (4–12 weeks), separate fees ($100–$300), and potentially missing contracts that fill before your license clears.
With a compact license, you can accept contracts in any of the 43 member states on short notice — sometimes within days. This is especially relevant for crisis contracts, where facilities need coverage in 48–72 hours and can't wait on licensure timelines.
The states that aren't in the compact — California, Oregon, Nevada — require individual state licenses regardless of your compact status. California in particular is a significant market for travel nursing, so if you work there regularly, budget 8–12 weeks for initial licensure and plan accordingly.
Telehealth and the Compact
The compact is increasingly relevant for telehealth nurses. When you provide care to a patient, jurisdiction is typically determined by where the patient is located — not where you're sitting. That means a telehealth nurse fielding calls from patients across multiple states technically needs licensure in each of those states.
A compact license solves most of this. If your telehealth patients are in compact states, your multistate license covers it. The edge cases are patients in non-compact states — California telehealth, for example, still requires a California license regardless of your compact status.
Check Your State's NLC Status Instantly
Use our interactive compact license map to verify current membership, see pending states, and check implementation dates.
Open the NLC Map Tool →Recent Changes: What's New in 2025–2026
Three states joined the compact in 2025 — Connecticut (October), Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island — bringing the total to 43. These additions are significant because they fill geographic gaps in the Northeast, a region historically resistant to the compact due to strong nursing union presence and different regulatory philosophies.
Alaska and Hawaii remain the most-watched pending states. Alaska has bills in both chambers (HB 131 and SB 124) and a nursing community that's 89% in support — the barrier is primarily political rather than clinical. Hawaii's feasibility study, released in 2024, documented the nursing shortage problem clearly; implementation is a question of when, not if.
New York remains the largest potential new member. A New York bill has been introduced for multiple sessions; the state nursing board and nursing associations have been divided on it for years, with strong arguments on both sides about workforce protections vs. staffing flexibility. If New York joins, it would be the single largest expansion in the compact's history.
I've held compact licenses for most of my travel nursing career, and the operational difference is real. When a contract opened in Tennessee on a Tuesday with a start date of the following Monday, I took it — because I already had licensure coverage. Nurses without compact licenses were locked out of that contract entirely.
What I see misunderstood most: nurses assume the compact gives them some kind of blanket protection or that practice standards are uniform. They're not. You practice under the laws of whatever state you're physically working in. A compact license just means you don't need a separate application — you still need to know the Nurse Practice Act wherever you take a shift. Read it before you start. Every state has differences in scope of practice, supervision requirements, and what counts as delegation.
The 60-day residency rule also trips people up constantly. I've talked to nurses who thought they could maintain a Texas home address while working 13-week contracts in California. That doesn't work — California isn't in the compact, and claiming a Texas address when you've relocated for a year is misrepresenting your primary residence, which is a BON issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to notify each state when I practice there under my compact license?
No. You don't notify individual states. Your compact license grants the privilege to practice. Some states may have registration requirements for travelers (a few states track this separately from licensure), but the license itself requires no per-state notification.
What happens if I get disciplined in one compact state?
Disciplinary action in any state affects your compact privileges across all states. The NCSBN maintains a database that all state boards access. A suspension in Texas is visible in North Carolina. There's no hiding an adverse action inside the compact system.
Does the compact apply to advanced practice RNs?
The eNLC covers RNs and LPNs/LVNs only. APRNs (NPs, CRNAs, CNMs, CNSs) are covered by a separate agreement called the APRN Compact, which has far fewer member states and operates independently. Always verify APRN licensure separately.
If I'm on a travel contract and my home state leaves the compact, what happens?
This has never happened — no state has withdrawn from the eNLC since implementation — but theoretically your multistate privileges would end when your home state's membership ends. In practice, this scenario is hypothetical at this point.