How do I check whether my District of Columbia RN license is single-state or multistate?

Look it up on Nursys QuickConfirm (nursys.com), the national verification system — it reports the license type, status, and expiration. For anything Nursys does not show, confirm with the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.

Does the compact cover RNs and LPNs?

Yes. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers both RN and LPN/practical-nurse licenses on the same terms. It does not, by itself, cover APRN roles — nurse practitioners, CRNAs, CNSs, and CNMs generally need separate APRN authorization in each state.

CompactStates

Is a District of Columbia RN license a compact (multistate) license?

Registered nurse is the most common credential the compact covers. Here is exactly what a District of Columbia RN license is, and how to tell whether yours carries compact privilege.

Is a District of Columbia RN license a compact license?

No. The compact does cover RN licenses, but District of Columbia is not a compact state, so a District of Columbia RN license is single-state — valid for practice in District of Columbia only. It does not carry compact privilege to other states. If you hold a multistate RN license, it was issued by a different, compact home state.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17

How the compact treats RN licenses

The Nurse Licensure Compact covers RN licenses. In a compact state, a single multistate RN license lets you practice in every compact state; a single-state RN license is valid only where it was issued. District of Columbia does not currently issue multistate RN licenses to its residents, so a District of Columbia RN license is single-state.

Verifying your District of Columbia RN license

The fastest check is Nursys QuickConfirm, which shows whether an RN license is single-state or multistate, its status, and its expiration. For official requirements, go to the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. See our District of Columbia verification guide.

RN vs LPN/LVN vs APRN

The compact treats RN and LPN/practical-nurse licenses the same way. APRN roles are different — the compact does not cover them, so APRN authority is handled state by state even when your RN license is multistate.

Next-step checklist

Look your RN license up on Nursys QuickConfirm (nursys.com).
Note whether it reads single-state or multistate.
Remember a District of Columbia RN license is valid in District of Columbia only.
Confirm anything unclear directly with the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.

Frequently asked questions

No. District of Columbia does not currently issue multistate RN licenses to its residents, so a District of Columbia RN license authorizes practice in District of Columbia and does not carry compact privilege. A multistate RN license comes from a compact home state.