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The 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs)

A multistate license is not just an ordinary license with a different label — to qualify for one under the compact, you have to meet a defined set of standards called the Uniform Licensure Requirements. Here is what they are and why they exist.

What are the Uniform Licensure Requirements for a compact license?

The Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) are the eleven standards an applicant must meet to be issued a multistate license under the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). Because every compact state applies the same ULRs, a multistate license from one state is trusted across all of them. NCSBN first established the ULRs in 1999 and updated them in 2011; they became the entry standard for a multistate license when the eNLC was implemented on January 19, 2018. Your primary state of residence is the state that applies them to you.

NCSBN — Licensure Compacts ↗Last reviewed 2026-06-17

The 11 requirements

To be eligible for a multistate license under the eNLC, an applicant must:

  1. Meet the requirements for licensure in the home state (primary state of residence).
  2. Have graduated from (or be eligible to graduate from) a board-approved RN or LPN/VN prelicensure education program.
  3. Have passed an English proficiency examination, if the program was in another language.
  4. Have passed the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination (or a recognized predecessor exam).
  5. Hold an active, unencumbered license (not suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted).
  6. Have submitted to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
  7. Have no state or federal felony convictions.
  8. Have no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (decided case by case).
  9. Not be currently enrolled in an alternative (diversion) program.
  10. Be subject to the duty to self-disclose current participation in an alternative program.
  11. Have a valid United States Social Security number.

The exact wording is maintained by NCSBN and can be tightened over time, so treat this as a plain-language summary and confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.

Why the ULRs matter for compact privilege

The ULRs are what make one multistate license safe to honor in every other compact state. When a nurse practices in another state on compact privilege, that state is trusting that the home state applied the same eleven standards. It is also why a single-state license from a compact state does not carry privilege: only a license issued against the ULRs does.

What the ULRs do not decide

The ULRs govern eligibility for a multistate license; they do not set renewal cycles, continuing-education hours, or fees — those remain up to each state board. And meeting the ULRs is a licensing determination made by the board, not something CompactStates.com evaluates. If you are unsure whether a past conviction or an alternative program affects your eligibility, ask your board directly before applying.

Frequently asked questions

There are 11 ULRs. An applicant must meet all of them to be issued a multistate license under the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact.

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