Happy Anniversary Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)!
Act 68 NLC was fully implemented July 7, 2025 and many Pennsylvania’s registered nurses (RN’s) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) have chosen to obtain a multi-state license (MSL).
The multi-state license for nurses works similar to a driving license; nurses with a MLS can work across state lines with just their MLS as long as the other state is part of one of the Nurse License Compact states.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) shows in this map the 43 NLC compact states and territories across the U.S. that have enacted the NLC https://www.nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf
Nurses with an MSL allows them to practice in the NLC compact states without the delay and cost of obtaining that state’s nursing license.
Nurses with a MLS can:
- Practice telenursing
- Teach in online nursing programs that have students enrolled in other NLC compact states
- Provide emergency nursing services, such as in the Red Cross and other situations
- Take nursing jobs as Travel Nurses, work in healthcare systems with facilities across more than one state, work in border state’s healthcare facilities
- Spouses of armed forces members who move frequently can accept a position in a healthcare facility and enroll in a nursing program without delay
Pennsylvania’s State Board of Nursing (PA-SBN) makes it easy to obtain a multi-state license for RN’s and LPN’s for a one-time fee to change their license from the current single state license (SSL) to a MSL
Click here to enter PA’s State Board of Nursing site to find out how to apply for a multistate nursing license and explore FAQ’s.
Nurse Licensure Compact was signed into law on July 1, 2021 by Governor Wolf after a long 10-year campaign by PONL and other nursing organizations.
The FBI wanted assurances of criminal background checks for all health practitioners providing care in Pennsylvania, therefore, it took another four years and Act 79 of 2024 signed into law by Governor Shapiro. PONL campaigned for this additional legislation and members provided comments to the State Board of Nursing as they promulgated the regulations to include them into the prior regs.
It took over 10 years and the hard work and dedication of Senator Lisa Boscola who led the Nurse Licensure Compact initiative, but RN’s and LPN’s can be a part of the NLC if it fits into their nursing plans with very little effort and a one-time fee.
It’s a good feeling to celebrate this success again one year later!
Mary O'Connor, PhD, MSN, RN
Professor Emeritus, PennWest University, California campus
Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders (PONL), Legislative Committee
