Nursing licensure & compact guides
Everything we publish on nursing licensure and interstate practice, organized by topic. Start with compact eligibility, or jump to verification, endorsement, moving, travel, telehealth, or renewal.
Compact & NLC
What the Nurse Licensure Compact is, who is in it, and how it works.
- Compact nursing states
- The NLC, explained
- RN compact states
- LPN / LVN compact states
- Non-compact states
- What is compact privilege?
- Multistate nursing license
- Compact vs single-state license
- Enhanced NLC (eNLC)
- Uniform Licensure Requirements
- States joining the compact
- Why California is not a compact state
- History of the compact
- Nurse Licensure Compact FAQ
- Compact glossary
License types
How the compact treats each nursing credential.
Verify & apply
Getting a license, verifying one, and the routes to practice in a new state.
- Nursing license verification
- RN license verification
- CNA license verification
- What is Nursys?
- Is my license compact?
- How to get a nursing license
- How to get a compact license
- License by endorsement
- Endorsement vs compact license
- Nursing license reciprocity
- How to transfer a license
- New graduate compact license
- Internationally educated nurses
- Compact license requirements
- Background checks & the compact
- Temporary & walk-through licenses
- Temporary vs compact license
- How long a compact license takes
- Compact license cost
Move & work across states
Primary state of residence, moving, and practising across state lines.
- Primary state of residence
- Proof of primary state of residence
- The 60-day moving rule
- Moving to a compact state
- Moving from a non-compact to a compact state
- Moving from a compact to a non-compact state
- Moving between compact states
- Work in another state with my license
- Working in a non-compact state
- Military spouse nursing
Renew, lapse & discipline
Keeping a license current — and restoring one that is not.
Travel & telehealth
Licensure for travel assignments and remote, cross-state practice.
Employers & data
Compliance for employers, plus original research and reporting.
Looking for your state?
Every guide above explains the rules; the jurisdiction directory applies them to a specific state — with its board, compact status, and verification, endorsement, renewal, travel, and telehealth pages. Or run your exact situation through the compact state checker.