Is New York a nursing compact state?

What New York’s compact status means

Because New York has not joined the compact, there is no New York multistate license. New York residents hold a single-state license that is valid only in New York.

To work in New York with an out-of-state license, you generally apply for licensure by endorsement directly with the New York State Board of Nursing (Office of the Professions). A compact license from another state does not cover you in New York.

If you move your primary residence to a compact state later, you may then become eligible for a multistate license through that state.

What New York residents should know

If you live in New York, your license is single-state — valid in New York only. New York residents can’t get a multistate license unless New York joins the compact. To work in another state, you’d apply there.

What nurses coming to New York should know

You’ll need a New York license — usually by endorsement — even if you hold a compact license elsewhere. Compact privilege doesn’t reach New York.

The law behind New York’s status

Compact status is not an opinion or a listing — it is a statute. These are the primary sources that actually govern licensure in New York, so you can check our answer against the law rather than taking our word for it.

Compact statute

None in force.

New York has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact, which is precisely why a multistate license issued elsewhere does not authorise practice here, and why New York residents cannot obtain one. Bills are introduced in some sessions; introduction is not enactment, and we only record a statute once it is law.

Nurse practice act

N.Y. Educ. Law art. 139; 8 NYCRR pt. 64 ↗

New York licenses nurses through the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions rather than a standalone board of nursing.

New York’s own license lookup

NYSED Office of the Professions verification ↗

The Office of the Professions treats this as a primary source for verification.

Board of nursing

New York State Board of Nursing (Office of the Professions) ↗

Statutory citations reviewed 2026-07-31. Citations change far more slowly than fees or processing times — which is why we publish these and not those.

RN, LPN/LVN, and APRN coverage in New York

The Nurse Licensure Compact covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses. It does not, on its own, cover APRN roles — nurse practitioners, CRNAs, CNSs, and CNMs generally need separate APRN authorization in each state, including New York. See the APRN and the compact guide, and confirm specifics with the New York State Board of Nursing (Office of the Professions).

Coverage is the same for both credentials, so the state lists are the same: every RN compact state and every LPN/LVN compact state both exclude New York, which is why neither credential carries privilege here.

By credential: New York RN & the compact, New York LPN, and New York APRN.

Primary state of residence, moving, and endorsement

Your primary state of residence (PSOR) drives multistate eligibility — you can hold it in only one state at a time. Because New York is not a compact state, making it your PSOR means holding a single-state New York license; a compact license from your former state does not transfer to New York. Coming from another state, you generally apply to the New York State Board of Nursing (Office of the Professions) by endorsement. If you are relocating, the 60-day rule governs the timing.

Verifying a New York nursing license

Look any New York license up on Nursys QuickConfirm — it shows whether the license is single-state or multistate, its status, and its expiration. For anything Nursys does not show, use the New York State Board of Nursing (Office of the Professions). See the full New York verification guide. CompactStates is an independent reference, not a verification service, and holds no license records.

Travel assignments and telehealth in New York

Because New York does not currently grant compact privilege, a New York travel assignment — or telehealth to patients located in New York — generally needs a New York license by endorsement. Telehealth licensure generally follows the patient’s location. See the New York travel and telehealth guides.

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal cycles, fees, and continuing-education requirements are set by the New York State Board of Nursing (Office of the Professions) and change over time, so we link you to the official source rather than list figures that could go stale. Nursys shows your expiration date and license type. See the New York renewal guide.