Compact Nursing License & Walk Throughs

The Nurse Licensure Compact allows any nurse who resides in one of the 22 participating compact states to practice nursing in any of the states forming the compact state alliance. In order to work in a compact state, a nurse must have proof of residence in a compact state in the form of a government issued ID showing an actual street address (current driver's license) as well as a current, active RN license in said state. This nurse does not need to obtain licensure in any of the other participating compact states. States participating in the NLC include:

Arizona.....................New Hampshire
Arkansas..................New Mexico
Colorado..................North Carolina
Delaware..................North Dakota
Idaho........................Rhode Island Iowa..........................South Carolina
Kentucky..................South Dakota
Maine........................Tennessee
Maryland..................Texas
Mississippi...............Utah
Missouri...................Virginia
Nebraska..................Wisconsin

Walk-through states allow a nurse to be issued a temporary license within one hour to one day's time. This temporary license is used to practice nursing while awaiting permanent licensure to be processed. These temporary licenses obtained in walk-through states are usually valid for 30 days to six months depending on the state issuing the license. The following states allow licensure through "walk-through".

Arizona....................................Missouri

District of Columbia.............Nebraska

Idaho.......................................NewYork For reinstatements only

Illinois for reinstatements only.......South Carolina Wednesdays only

Indiana...................................South Dakota

Maryland................................Vermont

Massachusetts For reinstatements only

For more info about compact licenses you can visit the NCLA Website