The act that defines LVN practice in California
The compact decides whether you may practice in California. What LVN practice actually means here — scope, titles, what you may do and delegate — is set by California’s own nurse practice act, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2700 et seq. (Nursing Practice Act), and interpreted by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Two states can both recognize your license and still differ on what you may do with it.
How the compact treats LVN licenses
The compact covers LPN/LVN licenses on the same terms as RN licenses — a multistate LVN license carries compact privilege across compact states, while a single-state LVN license is valid only where it was issued. California does not currently issue multistate LVN licenses to its residents, so a California LVN license is single-state.
LPN and LVN are the same credential
California uses "licensed vocational nurse (LVN)" for what most states call an LPN. They are the same practical-nurse credential, and the compact covers them identically — an LVN and an LPN are treated the same way for multistate purposes.
Verifying your California LVN license
Nursys QuickConfirm shows whether a LVN license is single-state or multistate, plus its status and expiration. For official requirements, go to the California Board of Registered Nursing, or see our California verification guide.