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Is a Michigan RN license a compact (multistate) license?

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

Is a Michigan RN license a compact license?

No. The compact does cover RN licenses, but Michigan is not a compact state, so a Michigan RN license is single-state — valid for practice in Michigan 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

The act that defines RN practice in Michigan

The compact decides whether you may practice in Michigan. What RN practice actually means here — scope, titles, what you may do and delegate — is set by Michigan’s own nurse practice act, Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, art. 15 pt. 172 (MCL 333.17201 et seq.), and interpreted by the Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA). Two states can both recognize your license and still differ on what you may do with it.

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. Michigan does not currently issue multistate RN licenses to its residents, so a Michigan RN license is single-state.

Verifying your Michigan 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 Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA). See our Michigan 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 Michigan RN license is valid in Michigan only.
  • Confirm anything unclear directly with the Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA).

What to do with that answer

Frequently asked questions

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