Every once in a while I think it is helpful to review an issue that we assume everyone is totally familiar with. But as an employee of a staffing company that sends nurses all over the United States, it has come to my attention that not all nurses understand the multistate licensure privilege. Of course, the most up-to-date information can be found on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website located at the following: https://www.ncsbn.org/2011_NLCA_factsheet_students_Rev_Jan_2011.pdf.
Here is the information stated on the webpage.
• A nurse must legally reside in an NLC state to be eligible for issuance of a multistate license. In order to obtain a compact license, one must declare a compact state as the primary state of residency and hold a nursing license in good standing. There is not a separate application for obtaining a multi¬state license.
• A nurse whose primary state of residence is a non¬compact state is not eligible for a compact license.
• Upon being issued a compact (multistate) license, any additional active compact state licenses held are inactivated because a nurse can only hold one multistate license.
• A nurse licensed in a compact state must meet the licensure requirements in the home state. When practicing on a multistate privilege in a remote state, the nurse is accountable for complying with the Nurse Practice Act of that state.
• A nurse with an active compact (multistate) license wanting to practice in another compact state does not need to complete any applications nor pay any fees as the home state license is accepted as a priv¬ilege to practice in other compact states.
• A nurse who declares a non-compact state as the primary state of residence will be issued a single-state license.
• A nurse must hold a separate license in each non-compact state where practice privileges are desired.
• While under disciplinary action, multistate privileges may be removed and the nurse’s practice may be restricted to the home state.
• The NCLEX® can be taken in any jurisdiction. However, gradu¬ates applying for a license, who legally reside in a compact state (the home state) can only apply to their home state board of nursing. This means that the applicant cannot apply for a compact license in a compact state other than the one in which he/she legally resides.
So, it seems a very important point is that the compact privilege is based on having a primary residence in a state that has entered the compact. If a nurse moves his/her primary residence to a non-compact state, he/she loses the compact privilege and must apply for a license in the new state of primary residence and also apply for a license in every state he/she wishes to work. Without a valid license to practice, a nurse is subject to discipline for practicing illegally.
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Hi, Ruth–
I think of you often and remember with fondness, our friendship during your tenure with the FL BON. Thank you for posting this to your site and providing much needed clarification. Idho has been a Compact member since 2001 and we appreciate the ease of portability the Compact provides for nurses whose practice occurs in multiple states. It’s a shame all states are not able to adopt this amazing regulatory model for nursing.