How to Get a Nursing License That Works Across States: Compact Licensure Explained

With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you could choose from a wide range of nursing careers. You could even travel across state lines to work as a travel or telehealth nurse in various healthcare settings. If your goals align with these career paths, you may wonder whether you’ll need a new nursing license for every state you work in. Ultimately, it depends on the state. A multistate nursing license grants many opportunities, but not every state accepts these licenses.

Xavier University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows you to graduate in as few as 16 months, ready to take the licensure exam shortly thereafter. While you can obtain a single-state license initially and, later, apply for a multistate license, it’s generally ideal to start your nursing career with a multi-state license if you think travel or telehealth nursing might be right for you.

While looking ahead to the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, take some time to learn more about your licensing options. Get the answers to common questions, such as “What is a compact license?” and “How do I apply for a compact state nursing license?” Also, consider the potential benefits of a multistate license and the career opportunities it can present.

What Is a Compact Nursing License?

A compact license, also referred to as a multistate nursing license, allows a registered nurse (RN) to have one license that enables them to practice in the state where they were licensed, and any of the other compact jurisdictions, which total 43 as of 2025.

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) made the multistate license possible. The organization was established to streamline the licensing process for nurses working across state borders and reduce the bureaucratic red tape involved.

It’s important to note that the only nurses who can get a multistate license have a compact state as their permanent residence. If you live in a non-compact state, you will be limited to a single state license. As a resident of a non-compact state, however, you are permitted to hold as many single-state licenses as you need. That means you could still become a telehealth or travel nurse, but you would need to obtain a single-state license for every state where you plan to practice.

While the NLC is not available in all U.S. jurisdictions, it is available in most of them. Some jurisdictions have legislation pending that would allow them to join the NLC, while others have enacted the legislation and are awaiting full implementation.

Above all, an NLC license is beneficial in that it helps mitigate some of the costs and hassle of applying for multiple licenses.

How Do I Apply for a Compact State Nursing License?

Before you can apply for a compact state nursing license, you will need to graduate from nursing school and apply to take the NCLEX. Note that it’s possible to attend nursing school in one state and then take the NCLEX in another. This means if the state where you graduate from nursing school is not an NLC member, you could go to a state that will become your primary residence and take the NCLEX there.

While this might seem somewhat cumbersome, the good news is that Xavier students don’t need to do this. Ohio is an NLC member state with fully enacted legislation that allows all of Xavier’s graduates to apply for a multistate license.

After you take the NCLEX, your test results will be sent to the Board of Nursing (BON) where you applied for your authorization to test (ATT) and license. Be sure to apply for a multistate license by exam. This means you aren’t transferring a license from another state. After the BON receives your test results, assuming you passed the NCLEX, you’ll receive a multistate license.

What States Are Compact States for Nursing?

As of 2025, 43 U.S. jurisdictions have enacted the necessary legislation to be NLC members. Massachusetts has passed the legislation but has not yet implemented it and is not yet an NLC member. The other states and jurisdictions that are not NLC members are:

• Hawaii
• California
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Minnesota
• Illinois
• New York
• Washington, D.C.
• Michigan
• American Samoa
• Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico

The rest of the U.S. states and jurisdictions are NLC members; however, Guam has only partially implemented the multistate license, and, while legislation has passed, the Virgin Islands is still awaiting implementation.

Licensing Resources and Information

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has many great resources to research what kind of license might benefit you most. The site will show you applications for different state nursing licenses and let you know how long each state generally takes to grant licenses, so you can plan accordingly.

Another great resource provided by NCSBN is Nursys. Nursys is a national database of licensure and disciplinary information of all licensed RNs in participating states. You can use the system to manage your license(s). Using the database, a nurse wishing to practice in another state or anybody wanting to verify a license can get online verification for endorsement.

Multistate Nursing License Benefits and Career Opportunities

There are many compelling benefits to obtaining a multistate license, including the following:

• Streamlined administrative processes for licensing
• More job opportunities, with access to roles in many jurisdictions
• Less expense compared to obtaining many single-state licenses
• Enhanced mobility across state lines
• Ability to work across state lines as a telehealth nurse

The multistate licensing system also offers benefits for patients and the healthcare system as a whole. For example, travel nurses can quickly fill understaffed hospitals, supporting permanent nursing staff and increasing patients’ access to care. Multistate license holders can also quickly respond to disasters across state lines, providing emergency nursing services to those in need.

The career opportunities that await nurses with a multistate license can appeal to those with an adventurous spirit and a desire to care for patients wherever they may be. Specific roles include:

• Disaster response RN: You could work as a full-time disaster relief nurse or volunteer for disaster relief organizations.
• Travel nurse: Fulfill short-term work assignments at healthcare facilities nationwide, immersing yourself in local culture.
• Telehealth nurse: Work remotely from your healthcare facility or even from home, delivering care to patients who need the accessibility and convenience of telehealth.

Ready to Set Your Education in Motion?

Now that you know how to obtain a multistate nursing license, it’s time to enroll in an ABSN program.

When you’re ready to apply, you can choose to enroll in our ABSN program location in either Cleveland or Columbus, targeting a January, May or August start date. Unlike other ABSN programs, which typically require a lengthy list of prerequisite courses, Xavier only requires four. This means you can complete the admission requirements sooner and get started at one of our enrollment locations in Ohio. Once enrolled, you’ll have access to our Academic Success Coaches, plus extensive NCLEX prep resources to help you pass the licensing exam.

With Xavier University’s 16-month accelerated nursing program, you’ll learn through a hybrid model consisting of foundational online courses, hands-on skills and simulation labs and real-world clinical experiences.

Reach out to an admissions adviser today to learn how to start your nursing future with Xavier.