What decides whether you need a new license
Two things: whether American Samoa is a compact state, and whether your own license is multistate rather than single-state. Compact privilege only exists between compact states, and only a multistate license carries it. Run your exact home/assignment pairing through the compact state checker.
Practicing in American Samoa on assignment
Because American Samoa requires its own license, build board processing into your start date. See the American Samoa endorsement guide for the route. If any of the assignment is telehealth, remember licensure generally follows the patient’s location — see the American Samoa telehealth guide.
The law that governs this in American Samoa
Taking an assignment in American Samoa is practice in American Samoa, so it is American Samoa’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the American Samoa Health Services Regulatory Board that applies it. That act is A.S.C.A. § 31.1002 — Health Services Regulatory Board, created; purpose.
There is no compact statute to cite for American Samoa, which is the substantive point rather than a gap in our research: American Samoa has not adopted the compact, so the practice act above is the whole of the law that applies to you here.
Before you sign
We are an independent licensing reference — we do not list assignments, agencies, or pay rates, and nothing here is a job offer. For the wider pre-assignment checklist (contract terms, credentialing, housing), see what to check before accepting a travel assignment. Confirm licensure with the American Samoa Health Services Regulatory Board.
Why compact privilege does not reach American Samoa
American Samoa has not adopted the compact. Either way the practical answer for taking an assignment in American Samoa is the same today: a multistate license from another state does not authorize it, and you generally need an American Samoa license from the American Samoa Health Services Regulatory Board. Re-check before a start date rather than assuming — this is precisely the fact that changes.