Frequently Asked Questions

There is no difference between a compact license and a multistate license. This terminology is used interchangeably to reference the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) license that allows a nurse to have one license, with the ability to practice in all NLC compact jurisdictions.

Nurses are required to be licensed in the state where the recipient of nursing practice is located at the time service is provided. A multistate license allows the nurse to practice in the home state and all compact states/territories with one license issued by the home state. This eliminates the costly and time-consuming process of obtaining single-state licenses in each state of practice.

The NLC pertains to RN and LPN licenses only. An APRN must hold an individual state license in each state of APRN practice. Information about the APRN compact is available at aprncompact.com.

Federal, Veterans Administration, Military and Indian Health Services nurses are exempt from licensure in the state of practice when they hold an active nurse license in any state. However, this exemption does not apply when a nurse is practicing in a civilian facility in a nonfederal role. In this case, the nurse will need to hold appropriate licensure in the state of practice.

Military spouses who are nurses can maintain or change a primary state of legal residency at their discretion. Should a nurse maintain legal residency in an NLC state/territory and hold a multistate license and the military family is stationed in other NLC states/territories, the nurse may practice under the home state multistate license in the other NLC states/territories without obtaining additional licensure in those states/territories.

See Military Family Fact Sheet for Details

There is no time limit. If you maintain legal residency in the state that issued your multistate license and you remain in good standing, you may practice in other compact states/territories.

If you were to take an action (while practicing in another NLC state or otherwise) which would change your legal residency status (see example below), then you have given up legal residency in that home state and you must now apply for license by endorsement in the new state of residence. The new license issued will replace the former license.

For example, a nurse has legal residency in Arizona and practices temporarily in Colorado for six months on the Arizona multistate license. While the nurse is practicing in Colorado, her Arizona driver’s license expires. Rather than renewing the Arizona driver’s license, the nurse obtains a Colorado driver’s license. Because a Colorado driver’s license is only issued to a Colorado resident, the nurse has now become a Colorado resident unintentionally. Nurses must be careful not to take actions that would change their state of legal residency, when practicing in another state where they temporarily reside.

When you applied for that license, if you declared that state as your primary state of residence and met the licensure requirements of that state, the license you were issued should already be a multistate license, assuming you are currently in good standing.

If you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.

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. Residents of noncompact states can have as many single-state licenses as they wish.

Apply for licensure by endorsement to the board of nursing (BON) in the state where you seek a license. You may be issued a single-state license valid only in the state of issuance. Applications can be found on that BON's website. Contact information for BONs is available on ncsbn.org.

Use the board of nursing’s (BON's) application for licensure by exam or by endorsement, as found on your BON’s website. Licensure fees vary by state. If your legal residence in a state that joined the compact as of Jan. 19, 2018, and you hold a single-state license in that state, then you should complete the upgrade or conversion application for a multistate license on your BON's website.

The NCLEX can be taken in any state convenient to you. The results will be directed to the nursing regulatory body where you applied for your authorization to test (ATT) and licensure. You should apply for a license in the state where you intend to legally reside and/or practice.

For compact purposes, PSOR is not related to property ownership in a state. It's 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 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 their 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.

When moving to another state, a nurse will need to update their primary state of residence (PSOR) and apply for licensure in their new home state. The required steps will vary based on the moving scenario.

See Moving Scenarios Fact Sheet for Details

No, you may maintain your current license and receive a single-state license in the compact state. Residents of noncompact states can hold as many single-state licenses as they would like.

When permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement and complete the Declaration of Primary State of Residence form within the application, which can be found on your board of nursing’s (BON's) website.

You may start the application process prior to or after the move. You should not delay applying once you have moved. There is no grace period. If you apply in advance of the move, you may be issued a single-state license or your application may be held until you provide proof of legal residency. At that time you may be issued a multistate license.

Yes, you may start the application process prior to the move. A new compact license will not be issued until you provide a Declaration of Primary State of Residence form and any proof of residence that may be required by the board of nursing (BON). Some states offer a temporary license; this may enable you to practice before your permanent license is issued. Check with the BON to see if they offer one.

To be eligible for a compact license, your declared primary state of residence must be a compact state. Primary state of residency does not pertain to owning property but rather it refers to your legal status of residency. Proof of residence includes obtaining a driver’s license, voting/registering to vote or filing federal taxes with an address in that state. These legal documents should be issued by the same state.

When hired in a remote state for a temporary position or commuting to a remote state from the primary state of residence (usually an adjacent state), employers should not require you to apply for licensure in the remote state when you have lawfully declared another state as your primary state of residence (PSOR). PSOR is based on where you pay federal income tax, vote and/or hold a driver’s license. The remote state nursing regulatory body cannot issue a license to a nurse who has declared another compact state as the PSOR, since the multistate license from the home state applies to both states. You have the privilege to practice in any remote compact state with your multistate license.