Your home state (where your license is issued)
Pick your home state above to see which states accept your license.
How the Nurse Licensure Compact works
If you hold a multistate license issued by a compact state, you can practice as an RN or LPN in any other compact state — physically or via telehealth — without applying for an additional license. Your home state must be your primary residence; your nursing board issues only one multistate license per nurse.
Three big caveats:
- If your home state is not a compact state, your license is single-state only — no compact privilege regardless of where you want to work.
- Even within the compact, you must follow the practice laws and standards of the state you're physically working in.
- The NLC covers RNs and LPNs only. Advanced practice nurses (NP, CRNA, CNS, CNM) use a separate APRN Compact, which has only a handful of states active as of 2026.
For non-compact states, you'll need to apply for licensure by endorsement — typically $150–$400 and 4–12 weeks. Many hospital systems and travel agencies reimburse the cost.