What decides whether you need a new license
Two things: whether District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia on assignment
Because District of Columbia requires its own license, build board processing into your start date. See the District of Columbia endorsement guide for the route. If any of the assignment is telehealth, remember licensure generally follows the patient’s location — see the District of Columbia telehealth guide.
The law that governs this in District of Columbia
Taking an assignment in District of Columbia is practice in District of Columbia, so it is District of Columbia’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the District of Columbia Board of Nursing that applies it. That act is District of Columbia nursing licensure law (Board of Nursing, DC Health).
There is no compact statute to cite for District of Columbia, which is the substantive point rather than a gap in our research: District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia Board of Nursing.
Why compact privilege does not reach District of Columbia
District of Columbia has not adopted the compact. Either way the practical answer for taking an assignment in District of Columbia is the same today: a multistate license from another state does not authorize it, and you generally need a District of Columbia license from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. Re-check before a start date rather than assuming — this is precisely the fact that changes.