The Nurse Licensure Compact has reached a milestone that is worth celebrating — 25 years of improving access to nursing care all around the United States and many of its territories. First enacted in 2000, the NLC has grown to include over three-quarters of the states in the country as members.
The Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses who would like to travel and work in other states to be able to do so without unnecessary barriers such as repeat nursing examinations or medical board certifications. Rather than holding up red tape, member states that participate in the NLC welcome nurses from across the country, recognizing the qualifications of nurses from outside their state.
The NLC revolutionized access to quality nursing care in the U.S., ensuring that nurses could legally practice while responding to natural disasters, nursing shortages, or higher demand within states that are in the Compact. And, at the same time, the NLC also ensures that those who do travel to other states with multistate licenses are vetted and qualified to do so.
As we look back over the last 25 years and the impact the NLC has had on travel nurses across the country, we’d like to celebrate all it has accomplished. Here is a little more on the history of the NLC and what you can do if you’d like to explore a career in travel nursing.
25 Years of the Nurse Licensure Compact
The Nurse Licensure Compact turns 25 this year, highlighting its importance in improving multistate mobility and reciprocity among nurses, allowing better access to care for patients throughout the U.S. Since 2000, the NLC has been used to reduce the number of regulations that would otherwise put up roadblocks to cross-border nursing.
While the United States seems like one large country that would allow nurses and other healthcare professionals to practice anywhere, the reality is that each state operates differently. Without the NLC, working in another state requires another state nursing license, demanding nurses to jump through more hoops and creating barriers to travel nursing in certain states with additional processing time and fees.
Fortunately, the importance of having nurses available where they’re needed in the country has outweighed the majority of individual states’ original regulations and requirements, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, many states offer licensing reciprocity as part of the NLC and welcome nurses from other states throughout the country.
“The NLC is the multistate model of licensure that has informed and inspired the health care compacts that have followed. It has been of great assistance to regulators, nurses, patients, and military families, earning the formal support of the U.S. Department of Defense,” notes NCSBN CEO Phil Dickison, PhD, RN. “The NLC also provides the best possible preparation in the event of emergencies, natural disasters, and national events because a workforce that is already vetted and immediately available can be called upon.”
A 2025 Breakdown: Current Compact States
States that agree to join the NLC welcome nurses from other Compact states to travel and practice. While some states choose not to join the pact due to reasons such as regulatory differences, trouble with implementation, concerns about remaining autonomous, and other concerns, the majority of the country has recognized the importance of open access to nursing and healthcare professionals across the U.S.
As of March 2025, there are 38 member states, with 43 total jurisdictions in the Nurse Licensure Compact. These member states include all states except for Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, and Oregon.
And, with some states, there are additional notes to keep in mind. For example, Nevada is an important exception in that it currently has legislation for the NLC pending. Additionally, some states, such as Massachusetts and Connecticut, have enacted the NLC but have not yet implemented it. Pennsylvania is unique, too, in that it has a partial implementation of the NLC.
If you are a travel nurse and are interested in traveling to those states to practice, writing to local legislators can have an impact. And, if you live in a state that is not a member of the NLC, consider reaching out to the local government to discuss the importance of the NLC to nursing professionals like yourself.
Member States
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Awaiting/Partial Implementation
- Connecticut – NLC Enacted, Awaiting Implementation
- Massachusetts – NLC Enacted, Awaiting Implementation
- Pennsylvania – Partial Implementation
Pending NLC Legislation
Currently No Action
Why the NLC Matters for Travel Nurses
The Nurse Licensure Compact matters for travel nurses because it allows them to hold one multistate license that lets them practice in more than one state without having to obtain additional licenses or pass state-specific tests.
If you are licensed in a member state, you have better access to job opportunities and can move freely around member states to fill in roles at hospitals, clinics, and other sites of care around the country. For those who like to travel or appreciate the perks of travel contracts, the NLC has made this career path possible.
It is also necessary to point out that the Nurse Licensure Compact has made it more accessible for nurses to practice in member states following natural disasters or emergencies. Having a workforce that is vetted and available when and where it is needed most is perhaps the most beneficial part of the NLC. Without it, it is possible that patients would have less access to quality nursing care.
Travel Nursing in 2025
The start of 2025 is an excellent time to look back and reflect on the benefits the Nurse Licensure Compact has had over the years, but it’s not yet available everywhere. For now, we celebrate the positive impact it has had on nurses and patients in member states, including boosting emergency preparedness and access to quality healthcare.
At Supplemental Health Care, we appreciate the importance of the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs and LPNs/LVNs, as well as for patients around the country. As one of the largest travel nursing agencies in the United States, our team is ready to help you on your travel nursing journey. To find your next travel nurse job, reach out to our expert recruiting team; we can help you get placed in the role you’re looking for!
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