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Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

The NLC lets registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs) hold one multistate license issued by their home state of legal residence and practice in any other NLC member state without applying for additional state licenses. It's the longest-standing healthcare compact in the U.S.

Who can apply

The NLC is open to RNs and LPN/LVNs who declare an NLC member state as their primary state of legal residence and meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements: graduation from an approved nursing program, passing NCLEX, no felony convictions, no current disciplinary actions, and a federal and state fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Note: the NLC issues a single multistate license. Nurses with primary residency in a non-NLC state cannot hold an NLC multistate license; they must apply for individual state licenses. Advanced practice nurses (NPs, CRNAs, CNMs, CNSs) are not covered by the NLC at the APRN level — they may be covered by the separate APRN Compact if they hold an APRN credential in an APRN Compact state.

Member states

The NLC currently has 41 member jurisdictions. Several additional states have enacted the compact but have not yet fully implemented (check ncsbn.org for the latest status).

Members: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

last_verified: 2026-05 · sourced from data/compacts.json

How to apply

The NLC multistate license is issued by your home state's board of nursing, not by a central body. You apply through your home state's licensing portal and indicate that you are applying for a multistate license under the NLC.

Apply via NLC →

Fees and processing time

The NLC multistate license fee is set by your home state board (typically the same fee as the single-state license, or approximately $50-$200 more). Processing time varies by home state, typically 2-6 weeks. Confirm current fees and timing directly with your home state nursing board. last_verified: 2026-05.

How TeleVerify uses the NLC

When your NPI lookup returns RN, LPN, LVN, or specific NP credentials, TeleVerify auto-detects NLC eligibility and asks you to confirm your multistate license status and home state. Once confirmed, every session where the patient is located in any NLC member state is automatically classified as compliant_compact — no per-state lookup needed. If the patient is in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, or another non-NLC state, the session routes through the direct state-license pathway.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for an NLC multistate license?
RNs and LPN/LVNs whose primary state of legal residence is an NLC member state, who meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements (NCLEX passage, clean criminal background, no disciplinary actions, and federal/state fingerprint checks).
What if I move my primary state of residence to a non-NLC state?
Your NLC multistate license is no longer valid the day your primary state of legal residence changes to a non-NLC state. You must apply for a single-state license in your new state and reapply for an NLC multistate license only if you later move back to an NLC member state. Notify TeleVerify so your profile reflects the change.
How does TeleVerify know I hold an NLC multistate license?
You confirm your NLC status and home state in your provider profile. We capture the attestation and timestamp it on every compliance verification record. The actual license is verifiable via Nursys (the NCSBN's national license verification service).
Is California currently an NLC member?
No. California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and several other states have not enacted the NLC as of 2026-05. Check nursecompact.com for the latest implementation status.
Does the NLC cover nurse practitioners?
No — the NLC covers the RN and LPN/LVN credentials only. Nurse practitioners with an active RN multistate license can use it for RN-scope work in NLC states, but their APRN scope-of-practice authorization comes either from individual state APRN licenses or from the separate APRN Compact in its three current member states.
Does the NLC apply to telehealth specifically?
No — the NLC is a full nursing license, not telehealth-specific. Once you hold the multistate license, you can practice in person or via telehealth in any member state under whatever telehealth rules apply locally (consent, documentation, prescribing).
How is the NLC different from the APRN Compact?
The NLC covers the RN/LPN credentials only and is in effect in 41+ states. The APRN Compact covers nurse practitioner, CRNA, CNM, and CNS credentials but has only three implemented member states (Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota) as of 2026-05.
⚖️ Reference information — not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your compliance officer, state licensing board, or a telehealth attorney before relying on this for clinical or business decisions.

Related TeleVerify resources

Framework
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The six pillars that decide whether a session is defensible.
Tool
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NLC-member state — high telehealth volume.
Help
FAQ and support
Common questions about compliance verification.