The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Compact States
The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is legislation that permits mutual recognition of nursing licenses between member states. In other words, it’s an agreement that allows registered nurses who are legal residents and have a nursing license in a compact state to practice nursing in any of the other compact states.
An RN can get posted or transferred to any compact states and begin work without applying for additional licensure. But, a nurse who is a legal resident of a specific compact state can’t have a license from other member states at the same time.
Nonetheless, if a nurse decides to permanently relocate from their legal state of residence to another, they must also transfer their license by applying for licensure in the new state.
Nursing compact states

At the time of this writing (November 2020), a total of 33 states had enacted the NLC legislation. These include:
- Arizona
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey (partial implementation)
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The following states/territories have pending NLC legislation:
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- Guam
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
History of the NLC
For decades, nurses had to abide by the single-state nursing format where a nurse was required to obtain an exclusive license for every state they intended or desired to practice. This was tiresome and task-demanding, especially if a nurse wished to practice in numerous states.
Inspired by the widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals, the Pew Health Professions Commission was established in 1989. The commission’s main objective was to manage the challenges of the fast-evolving healthcare system and evaluate the effectiveness of the regulations.
In 1995, the commission released a comprehensive report recommending that states should standardize entry-to-practice requirements to facilitate the professional and physical movement of healthcare workers.
The report was an eye-opener for the National Council of States Board Nursing (NCSBN), who saw the need to promote and protect public health and safety. Nurses finally had a reason to smile when the NLC legislation officially came to light on January 1, 2000. The pioneering states included Utah, Texas, Maryland, and Wisconsin.
The number of member states grew steadily to 25 by 2015, then it suddenly stalled. Reason? Some nursing organizations were reluctant to join the NLC and raised concerns about public safety, state sovereignty, and regulation.
This led to the NCSBN forming the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC). It was an upgrade of the existing NLC meant to implement changes that would boost confidence and influence the reluctant states to join. The establishment of eNLC seemed to have paid off as it has (at the time of this writing) brought in eight new member states.
What the NLC means for nurses
As a nurse, holding a multi-state license gives you increased career development opportunities and job flexibility. Nurses with these licenses may practice in as many as 33 states without any complications, extra application charges, or barriers.
Travel nurses are, without a doubt, the highest beneficiaries of the NLC legislation. There are no more worries about having to spend extra time and money applying for or renewing your nursing license across multiple states since it’s taken care of in the NLC.
Eligibility for a multi-state license
To apply for healthcare workers’ compact licensure successfully, one must meet the following bare minimums:
- Be a legal resident of any of the eNLC states, and declare the state your primary area of residence.
- Possess an active license as a registered nurse (RN), licensed professional nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
- Meet all the licensure requirements put in place by your home state, and as a practicing nurse, you must also adhere to all the standards of the area of current practice.
- Have academic certifications from a board-approved education program or an internationally-accredited education program.
Important Note: The application requirements and the licensure fees may vary depending on the state you reside in. In such cases, you’ll obtain a license either by an endorsement or through examination.
If you’re currently holding a single-state license and are looking to upgrade, the first step is to complete the application on your state’s Board of Nursing website. Among other crucial details, the website contains a Declaration of Primary State of Residence (DPSR) form where you’re supposed to declare your official residential state.
State NLC requirements
We’ll look at the NLC states’ nursing license requirements for RNs plus their respective state board agencies.
Alabama
State Board Agency: Alabama Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $85 application fee, $50 temporary license fee, $3.50 transaction fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 24 CEUs every two years plus 12 hours of individual study through CEU
Alaska
State Board Agency: Alaska Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $275 (for the permanent license only) or $325 (including temporary licensure)
Continuing Education Requirements: Complete any two of the following: 320 hours of nursing employment, 30 contact hours, or 30 hours of professional nursing activities.
Arizona
State Board Agency: Arizona State Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $150 application fee, $50 temporary license, $50 fingerprints
Continuing Education Requirements: RNs must fulfill one of the following:
- 960 or more hours of practice in the past five years
- Graduated or obtained a nursing degree within the past five years
- Completed an Arizona Board-approved refresher course in the past five years
- Obtained an advanced nursing degree within the past five years.
Arkansas
State Board Agency: Arkansas Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $30 (temporary license) and $125 (permanent license)
Continuing Education Requirements: Similar to Arizona’s
Colorado
State Board Agency: Colorado Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $88; $164 renewal
Delaware
State Board Agency: Delaware Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $170 application and processing fee
Continuing Education Requirements: Complete one of the following after every two years: 1,000 practice hours within the past 5 years, 400 practice hours within the past 2 years, or a refresher course within the past two years
Florida
State Board Agency: Florida Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $110 application fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 24 hours consisting of two hours on human trafficking and two hours on the laws that govern the practice of nursing in Florida
Georgia
State Board Agency: Georgia Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $40 application fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every two years
Clinical Hours Required: 500 hours within the past two years
Idaho
State Board Agency: Idaho Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $25; temporary license, $152; permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 contact hours of education or completion of at least one semester of post-licensure academic education after every two years
Iowa
State Board Agency: Iowa Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $169 application and license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 36 hours of CEUs and two hours of child abuse training after every three years
Kansas
State Board Agency: Kansas Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $75 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every two years
Kentucky
State Board Agency: Kentucky Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $165 temporary license, $165 permanent license, $12 fingerprint
Continuing Education Requirements: Two hours of HIV/AIDS education plus any of the following after every two years:
- 14 contact hours
- National practice-related certification
- Nursing project completion
- 120 hours as a preceptor
- Publication of a nursing-related article
- 3 contact hours of domestic violence education
- Professional nursing education presentation
Louisiana
State Board Agency: Louisiana Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $240.75 temporary license, $140.75 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: Five CEUs (full-time nurses), 10 CEUs (part-time nurses), and 15 CEUs (inactive nurses)
Maine
State Board Agency: Maine State Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $75 temporary license, $75 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Maryland
State Board Agency: Maryland Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $40 temporary license, $100 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 1000 practice-related hours every two years unless you graduated less than five years ago
Maryland
State Board Agency: Mississippi Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $100 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 20 hours every two years
Missouri
State Board Agency: Missouri Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $55 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Montana
State Board Agency: Montana Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $200 application fee, $27.25 background check fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 24 hours every two years
Nebraska
State Board Agency: Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services/Division of Public Health/Licensure Unit
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $123 application fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 20 contact hours of board-approved CE within the past two years
Clinical Hours Required: 500 practice hours within the past five years
New Hampshire
State Board Agency: New Hampshire Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $20 temporary license, $120 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every two years
Clinical Hours Required: 400 hours every five years
New Jersey
State Board Agency: New Jersey Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $140 temporary license, $200 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours (one CEU on tissue and organ donation) every two years
North Carolina
State Board Agency: North Carolina Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $150 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 contact hours every two years
Clinical Hours Required: 640 hours of active practice within the past two years
North Dakota
State Board Agency: North Dakota Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $160 application and license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 12 hours every year
Clinical Hours Required: 400 practice hours in the past four years
Oklahoma
State Board Agency: Oklahoma Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $95 temporary license, $85 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 24 hours every two years
South Carolina
State Board Agency: South Carolina Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $10 temporary license, $100 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 contact hours every two years
South Dakota
State Board Agency: South Dakota Department of Health
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $25 temporary license, $100 permanent license, $43.25 background check fee
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Tennessee
State Board Agency: Tennessee Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $115 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Texas
State Board Agency: Texas Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $186 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 20 hours in the area of practice and two hours on bioterrorism after every two years
Utah
State Board Agency: Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensure
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $100 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours of CEU after every two years
Virgina
State Board Agency: Virginia Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $190 license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: any of the following:
- National certification
- Completion of at least three hours of post-licensure education
- Board-approved refresher course
- Teaching a nursing-related course for at least 30 contact hours
- Completion of a publication during the renewal cycle
West Virginia
State Board Agency: West Virginia RN Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $25 temporary license, $100 permanent license
Continuing Education Requirements: 12 hours comprising two hours on mental health, one hour on drug diversion and best practices
Wyoming
State Board Agency: State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $10 temporary license, $75 new graduates, and $82 out of state nurses
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Wyoming
State Board Agency: Wyoming State Board of Nursing
Testing Requirements: NCLEX-RN
Fees: $195 application and license fee
Continuing Education Requirements: One of the following:
- 500 practice hours within the past two years
- 20 CE units in the past two years
- 1,600 practice hours in the past two years

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