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Is an Iowa LPN license a compact (multistate) license?

In Iowa, practical nurses are licensed as licensed practical nurse (LPN). Here is how the Nurse Licensure Compact treats an Iowa LPN license, and how to tell whether yours is multistate.

Is an Iowa LPN license a compact license?

It can be. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers LPN (licensed practical nurse (LPN)) licenses on the same terms as RN licenses. Because Iowa is a compact state, an Iowa LPN license can be single-state or multistate — only the multistate type carries compact privilege. Check which you hold on Nursys.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17

How the compact treats LPN licenses

The compact covers LPN/LVN licenses on the same terms as RN licenses — a multistate LPN license carries compact privilege across compact states, while a single-state LPN license is valid only where it was issued. Iowa issues both types, so which one you hold matters.

LPN and LVN are the same credential

Most states, including Iowa, use "licensed practical nurse (LPN)." Texas and California call the same credential an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). The compact covers LPN and LVN identically.

Verifying your Iowa LPN license

Nursys QuickConfirm shows whether an LPN license is single-state or multistate, plus its status and expiration. For official requirements, go to the Iowa Board of Nursing, or see our Iowa verification guide.

Next-step checklist

  • Look your LPN license up on Nursys QuickConfirm (nursys.com).
  • Note whether it reads single-state or multistate.
  • If it is single-state, ask the Iowa Board of Nursing about a multistate LPN license.
  • Confirm anything unclear directly with the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers LPN/practical-nurse licenses on the same terms as RN licenses. Because Iowa is a compact state, an Iowa LPN license can be single-state or multistate.