Diseases and healthcare needs don’t recognize state borders. Take COVID-19, for instance, when hospitals across the country faced staffing shortages and urgently needed licensed medical professionals. Fortunately, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allowed nurses to practice across state lines with a single license, making it easier for them to respond to areas in need.
So, what is a compact state? It’s one of the 42 states that participate in the agreement. With a compact license, a nurse in Texas, for example, can practice in states like Georgia or North Dakota, regardless of emergency orders or additional requirements.
This compact opens up greater employment opportunities for nurses, allowing them to practice where they’re needed most and, most importantly, make a meaningful impact by saving lives.
Yes, Texas is an NLC state. Texas nurses can be awarded a compact license, allowing them to practice in all NLC states, so long as they remain a Texas resident and do the following:
Earning a compact license is an incredible accomplishment that can lead to a number of new, exciting opportunities in the nursing field, including the chance to become a travel nurse.
With the recent shortage of nurses, the demand for travel nurses has surged. To meet this need, many hospitals are offering significantly higher pay to attract skilled professionals from other states. As of March 2023, travel nurses earned an average of $2,588 per week, while permanent nursing staff earned $1,375 per week.
But the benefits of having a CNL don’t end there. With a compact license, a nurse can:
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that prepares nurses for leadership and decision-making roles in patient care. As long as they hold a current, unencumbered RN license, nurses in Texas or any other NLC state can enroll in our program.
Which states are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact? As mentioned, 43 states have implemented (or have pending) NLC legislation. They are:
| Alabama | Michigan | Pennsylvania |
| Alaska | Minnesota | Rhode Island |
| Arizona | Missouri | South Carolina |
| Arkansas | Mississippi | South Dakota |
| Colorado | Montana | Tennessee |
| Delaware | Nebraska | Texas |
| Georgia | Nevada | Utah |
| Idaho | New Hampshire | Virginia |
| Illinois | New Mexico | Vermont |
| Iowa | New York | Washington |
| Kansas | North Carolina | West Virginia |
| Kentucky | North Dakota | Wisconsin |
| Louisiana | Ohio | Wyoming |
| Maine | Oklahoma | |
| Maryland | Oregon |
Designed with nurses’ demanding schedules in mind, our program is almost entirely online and asynchronous. Nurses can complete courses, view lectures, and participate in online discussions from any of the 43 NLC states. Our program does require three clinical courses, which can be conducted in your home state and with the preceptor of your choice. Through our program, you can:
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), our online program delivers critical, comprehensive, and relevant healthcare training through the highest quality instruction. Courses like Transcultural Nursing, Theories and Issues in Professional Nursing & Health Care, Management Concepts and Organizational Theory, and Clinical Leadership I and II train students to become tomorrow’s nursing leaders.
In addition to instilling students with invaluable knowledge and skills, our program rewards graduates with a Nurse Manager Certificate from Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. Equipped with a compact license, BSN, and Nurse Manager Certificate, graduates are ready to succeed in the nursing field regardless of the state they’re in.
A nurse can earn a comfortable living with a compact license alone, but many nursing professionals refuse to rest on their laurels. They instead become nursing leaders capable of providing patient-centered care, inspiring team members, and ensuring long-term success. At UT Permian Basin, students can gain these skills and more, safeguarding not only their success but the success of their patients and fellow nurses.
If you’d like to expand your skill set and reach your full potential, apply to UT Permian Basin’s online BSN program. No matter where you’re licensed, no matter where you practice, nursing leaders will always be needed.
Sources:
https://www.leaderstat.com/compact-state-nursing-license#benefits_of_a_compact_lpnrn_license
https://cepr.net/publications/how-does-travel-nurse-pay-compare-to-permanent-staff-nurses
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