Any nurse trained in the U.S. within the last 20 years or so is likely to have heard about The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). This is the framework that enables travel nurses to work in states other than the state they are licensed to practice in.

That said, if you’re new to travel nursing, there are likely a few things you don’t know about the NLC that can make a real difference to your work as a traveling nurse. This frequently asked questions article about the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) should help you get up to speed.

What is the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?

The NLC is an agreement among participating states that allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs) with a multistate license to practice in other compact states.

It was first developed in 1999, but over the years, more and more states have signed on to participate. In a nutshell, it allows any qualified and licensed nurse in an NLC participating state to travel nurse in any other NLC participating state.

I Live In A Non-NLC State. Can I Still Work as a Travel Nurse?

Technically, it is possible, yes, and Nightingale Nurses offers assignments in non-compact states. However, there are some caveats to know about if you are a nurse in a non-compact state. Note that your official state of residence must be an NLC participating state for you to travel nurse in a state you aren’t licensed to practice in.

If you are a resident of one of the non-participating states listed below, you will not be eligible to be a travel nurse in states where you are not licensed. You would have to apply for a single-state license in the state in which you wish to work.

However, many travel nurses take nursing assignments within their own state. These in-state travel nursing assignments are particularly attractive to nurses who want to return home on their days off or even continue living at home and commute to their assigned hospital on workdays. Additionally, some nurses have single-state licenses from states other than their state of residence.

Does My State Participate in the Nursing Compact Yet?

As of the publication of this article, 40 U.S. states and two jurisdictions (The U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) participate in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), so it’s quicker to give you a list of the states that do not participate in the compact.

As of July 2024, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Washington DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, and Oregon do not participate in the NLC. This means that as a travel nurse, you won’t be able to take assignments in those states unless you get a single-state nursing license issued by the state where you want to practice.

Which States Can I Work in as a Travel Nurse?

If you are a licensed nurse in a Nursing Licensure Compact state, you already have a multi-state license that qualifies you to work in any NLC state. The NLC includes 40 states and two U.S. jurisdictions. You can see a map of them on the NCSBN website. Even if you live in a non-compact state, like Oregon or Nevada, for example, Nightingale Nurses has some great travel nursing assignments that are sure to appeal to you.

What is the New 60-Day Nursing Compact Rule for Travel Nurses?

This new rule (effective since January 2, 2024) is relevant to travel nurses already licensed in a compact state and planning on moving to a different NLC state. For example, say you are a licensed nurse in Ohio but plan on moving to Florida.

Even though Florida is an NLC state like Ohio — you will still need to apply for a new multi-state nursing license in Florida within 60 days of moving there if you wish to continue working as a nurse in Florida (or any other state).

That’s it. The idea is to ensure that all nurses in NLC states have a multi-state license issued in their current state of residence.

What Could Disqualify Someone From Travel Nursing Out-of-State?

Most licensed nurses in compact states are eligible to become travel nurses. However, a few things could disqualify a practicing licensed nurse living in an NLC state from travel nursing to another state.

Here’s a quick list for you:

1. Felony Convictions: A felony conviction on your record may disqualify you from obtaining a compact license. Each state has its own rules regarding the impact of criminal history on licensure.
2. Nursing-Related Misdemeanors: Certain nursing-related misdemeanors, like practicing without a valid license or substance abuse issues, can affect your eligibility for a multistate license.
3. Alternative Program Participation: Participating in an alternative program (like a diversion program for substance abuse) may impact your ability to hold a multi-state nursing license, making it impossible for you to work as a traveling nurse.
4. Change of Primary State of Residence (PSOR): Remember the new NLC 60-day rule we mentioned earlier? If you move to another compact state and donotapply for a multi-state license in the new state within 60 days, you could be disqualified from practicing in other compact states.

Join The Nightingale Nurse Family Today

Nightingale Nurses is unlike any traveling nurse agency you’ve worked with — in all the right ways. Our mission is more than just providing top-tier nursing services to our clients. We’re invested in the nurses in our Nightingale family, and there’s little we won’t do to help them succeed and prosper.

Find your new home at Nightingale Nurses. We empower you to do what you love, including enjoying the adventure of travel and living in different parts of the country while you’re at it. Whether or not you live in an NLC-participating state, we have travel nursing assignments for you.

If you are passionate about being a nurse and you’re great at it — we’d love to have you on the team!

Contact Nightingale Nurses today at 561.314.0140 or simply click this link to submit your inquiry.