The Nurse Licensure Compact, or NLC, allows nurses to hold multistate licenses, eliminating the need to apply for multiple licenses. You must live in a member nursing compact state and apply through your nursing board to get a compact license.
All aspiring nurses must earn a nursing degree and pass the NCLEX-RN to receive state licensure. A standard state-issued nursing license will allow you to practice only in that state. To become a travel nurse or telehealth nurse and work across state lines, you must obtain a multistate license via the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Before learning how to get a compact nursing license, however, you should consider where to earn your nursing degree.
Madonna University infuses our curriculum with our Franciscan values, which allows us to graduate nurses who adhere to high standards of professional conduct. Madonna’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is designed for nontraditional learners with at least 60 non-nursing college credits who are interested in a hybrid pathway toward a nursing degree. With our ABSN program, it’s possible to graduate in as few as 16 months and be prepared to sit for the NCLEX to obtain either a single-state or a multistate nursing license.
Some questions will likely arise as you’re learning more about nursing licensure. What is a compact license? Is my state a nursing compact state? In addition to exploring the answers to these questions, you should also consider the pathways for obtaining a multistate nursing license.
What Is a Compact License and Why Does It Matter?
Each state determines the process of becoming a registered nurse (RN). While there are some differences, all states share certain requirements, such as completing a nursing degree and passing a background check.
Despite these similarities, in previous years, nurses had to undergo the licensure process all over again to obtain a new license from another state if they wanted to move or work across state lines. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an attempt to streamline the process.
With the NLC, a nurse with a multistate license can legally practice as an RN in any other state that belongs to the NLC without going through the licensure process multiple times.
This is significant for nurses because it grants greater career flexibility. With an NLC license, you could more easily become a travel nurse who accepts short-term work assignments in various states. You could also work across state lines in telehealth nursing. Alternatively, assume that you live close to a state border and currently work in your state. If you switch jobs to a hospital just over the state border, you won’t need a new license if that state is an NLC member.
Nursing Compact States
Curious to know if you already live in an NLC jurisdiction? You can easily check the list of current nursing compact license states on the NLC website. As of June 2025, there were 43 participating jurisdictions, and eight jurisdictions have pending legislation that would allow them to join the NLC.
Here are a few participating member states:
- Colorado
- Indiana
- New Hampshire
- Ohio
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Some jurisdictions have completed the legislation necessary to join the NLC but have not implemented it or have only partially implemented it. These include:
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- Guam
- Virgin Islands
Other states, such as Michigan, New York, and Illinois, have pending legislation to join the NLC. If you’d like to attend Madonna University’s ABSN program in Metro Detroit, Michigan, but would like to obtain an NLC license, you can still do so even before Michigan joins the NLC. Taking the NCLEX in the same state where you earned your degree is not mandatory. That means you can attend our ABSN program and then take the NCLEX in an NLC member state.
How to Get a Compact Nursing License
Curious about how to get a compact nursing license? There are a couple of different pathways to consider.
Discover what a travel nurse is and how you can become one.
1. Apply to Nursing School
If you don’t yet have a nursing degree, applying to nursing school will be your starting point. You might not need to return to school for four more years, however. If you already have a non-nursing bachelor's degree or at least 60 college credits, you may be eligible to apply to our ABSN program.
Looking beyond nursing school? Explore these 14 alternative careers for nurses.
2. Earn Your Nursing Degree
Nursing school requires dedicated study hours to master patient care. In addition to learning nursing theories in coursework, you’ll learn how to provide clinical care in nursing skills labs. You’ll work through patient care scenarios in nursing simulation labs and develop evidence-based decision-making skills. Additionally, you’ll gain practical experience working with patients during clinical rotations.
3. Apply for Compact Licensure by Exam
After graduating, you’ll be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. The process to sign up for the test isn’t as straightforward as for other types of exams. If you already know you want to apply for a multistate license, you’ll need to register for the NCLEX slightly differently than non-multistate candidates.
First, confirm that you’re a member of a participating jurisdiction. If so, visit your state Board of Nursing website and find the webpage for nursing licensure. Look for an application for a multistate license by examination.
Each state has slightly different application procedures, so follow the directions on the website. You should receive an authorization to test (ATT), allowing you to schedule your NCLEX exam.
4. Pass the NCLEX-RN
Expect the NCLEX to be rigorous, but don’t expect it to be all about rote memorization. The test also evaluates whether you can follow the nursing process, from patient assessment to care plan implementation to evaluation. It examines how well you think critically and whether you can make evidence-based clinical care decisions appropriate for the individual patient.
How to Get a Compact RN License When You Already Have a License
If you’ve already graduated from nursing school and have a single-state license, you’ll obtain an NLC license differently.
You’ll need to relocate if you don’t live in a member jurisdiction. Once you’ve relocated, you can apply for a multistate license by endorsement, equivalent to transferring your license. The application process is similar to applying for a license by examination, except you won’t apply to retake the NCLEX. Since each state has a slightly different procedure, you must visit the state nursing board and follow its website’s application directions.
Advantages of a Compact Nursing License
If you’re on the fence about applying for an NLC license or moving to an NLC territory, you may want to reflect upon the benefits of having a multistate license. These include:
- Career flexibility
- Ability to become a travel nurse
- Potential to be a telemedicine provider
- Ability to relocate to a wide range of areas without having to apply for another license
An NLC license can be a great choice for military spouses. If your spouse is deployed to a different NLC member state, you won’t have to get a new nursing license after moving.
A multistate license could be more cost-effective, as you’ll only have to pay one application fee instead of several fees for multiple state licenses. It also reduces the administrative paperwork you’ll have to fill out.
See Where a Career in Nursing Can Take You
When you’re ready to pursue a nursing career, Madonna University supports you. As a Catholic school, we emphasize our Franciscan values-based education that teaches effective leadership and social responsibility. Graduate fully prepared to pursue a nursing career wherever opportunity leads you.
Here, you can graduate in as few as 16 months and pursue licensure as a registered nurse. Our nursing instructors are committed to supporting your progress, and you’ll have the help of a dedicated admissions representative through every step of the application process.
Contact an admissions representative today to get started.