All Nursing Exams

Compact nursing states: the 2026 list

43 jurisdictions are in the Nurse Licensure Compact; 40 are fully implemented, Guam is partial, and Massachusetts and the Virgin Islands are waiting.

Checked November 15, 2026
Hands on a map of the United States
Photo: Pexels

Short answer: On November 15, 2026, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) site lists 43 member jurisdictions: 40 have fully implemented the compact, Guam has partly implemented it, and Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin Islands have passed it but are not yet issuing or accepting multistate licenses. Michigan (HB 4246) and the District of Columbia (B69) have pending NLC bills, and eight states have none: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York and Oregon.

A grid of state abbreviations colored by NLC status on November 15, 2026: 40 fully implemented, Guam partial, Massachusetts and the Virgin Islands awaiting implementation, Michigan and DC pending, 8 states with no action

What the compact does

The NLC lets a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/VN) hold one multistate license, issued by the home state, and practice in every other compact state without another license. In NCSBN's words, nurses "can practice in other NLC states/territories, without obtaining additional licenses". It covers RN and LPN/VN licenses only, not advanced practice (APRN) licenses.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) runs the compact's website. The count of 43 comes from that site and its status map.

Fully implemented states, with start dates

These 40 jurisdictions issue multistate licenses and accept them from other members. The date is when each one implemented the NLC, as printed on the NLC status map.

Jurisdiction Implemented Jurisdiction Implemented
Alabama Jan. 1, 2020 New Hampshire Jan. 19, 2018
Arizona Jan. 19, 2018 New Jersey Nov. 15, 2021
Arkansas Jan. 19, 2018 New Mexico Jan. 19, 2018
Colorado Jan. 19, 2018 North Carolina Jan. 19, 2018
Connecticut Oct. 1, 2025 North Dakota Jan. 19, 2018
Delaware Jan. 19, 2018 Ohio Jan. 1, 2023
Florida Jan. 19, 2018 Oklahoma Jan. 19, 2018
Georgia Jan. 19, 2018 Pennsylvania July 7, 2025
Idaho Jan. 19, 2018 Rhode Island Jan. 8, 2024
Indiana July 1, 2020 South Carolina Jan. 19, 2018
Iowa Jan. 19, 2018 South Dakota Jan. 19, 2018
Kansas July 1, 2019 Tennessee Jan. 19, 2018
Kentucky Jan. 19, 2018 Texas Jan. 19, 2018
Louisiana July 1, 2019 Utah Jan. 19, 2018
Maine Jan. 19, 2018 Vermont Feb. 1, 2022
Maryland Jan. 19, 2018 Virginia Jan. 19, 2018
Mississippi Jan. 19, 2018 Washington Jan. 31, 2024
Missouri Jan. 19, 2018 West Virginia Jan. 19, 2018
Montana Jan. 19, 2018 Wisconsin Jan. 19, 2018
Nebraska Jan. 19, 2018 Wyoming Jan. 19, 2018

NCSBN prints the 43 members and their dates. The figure of 40 is our count of the members that have a date, after taking out the three below.

Members that are not fully in yet

Jurisdiction Status on the NLC site Can multistate holders practice there? Can residents get a multistate license?
Guam Enacted, partial implementation Yes Not yet, date to be determined
Massachusetts Enacted, awaiting implementation No Not yet, date to be determined
U.S. Virgin Islands Enacted, awaiting implementation No Not yet, date to be determined

The NLC map adds: "Compact license not available until full implementation is complete." So a nurse who lives in Massachusetts still holds a single state license today.

Pending and not in the compact

The NLC map shows two jurisdictions with pending legislation, quoted as the site shows them:

  • Michigan: "Pending legislation for NLC: HB 4246."
  • District of Columbia: "Pending legislation for NLC: B69."

The site gives no bill stage or date. A pending bill changes nothing until it becomes law and the board implements it.

The map shows "No pending NLC legislation" for Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York and Oregon, and for American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Puerto Rico does not appear on the map. To work in any of these places you need that jurisdiction's own license.

What changes for you if your home state joins or leaves

  • Your state finishes joining. If you live there and meet the 11 uniform licensure requirements, you can apply for a multistate license. Some boards offer an upgrade or conversion application for nurses who already hold a single state license there.
  • You move between compact states. You must apply for a license in your new home state within 60 days of moving. This is the NLC's 60-day rule.
  • You live in a non-compact state. You cannot hold a compact license, even if you own property in a compact state. Your home state is where you hold a driver's license, vote or file federal taxes.
  • Your state's status changes in some other way. The NLC map shows no state leaving today. If anything changes, your board will publish what it means for your license, so read its notices.

What to do next

  1. Check whether your own license is single state or multistate on Nursys QuickConfirm: see Nursing license lookup.
  2. If you are moving, plan the 60-day application before your move date.
  3. Re-check this list on nursecompact.com before you accept a job in another state, because the map can change.

Common questions

Is a compact license the same as a multistate license?

Yes. NCSBN says "there is no difference" between the two terms.

Is there a time limit on working in another compact state?

No, as long as you keep legal residence in the state that issued your multistate license.

Does the compact cover nurse practitioners?

No. The NLC covers RN and LPN/VN licenses only. APRNs need an APRN license in each state where they practice.

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