One of the great perks of working as a NNP is being able to travel to new locations and work in long or short-term (locum tenens) assignments. You do not have to be tied down to one location or another, and this is where the nurse compact comes in handy! It is also helpful for those who are in the relocation process. While you are in between moves, your compact nursing license can allow you to work in compact states until you are finished with the moving process. So before you head off to a brand new state to work as an NNP, you need to understand how the nurse compact works for you and your advanced practice nurse (APN) licensure.
What is the Nurse Compact?
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is the official nursing organization that allows registered nurses to live in one of the compact states and work in the other states without getting additional licenses. As of January 2019, 31 states are in the compact with more to be certified later this summer.
Who Can Enjoy the Compact?
The NLC is helpful for those who want to be travel nurses across different states lines. Many NNPs enjoy getting to work short or long-term assignments; they can spend their summers in the cool of northern Maine and winter in Miami. Instead of vacationing for a week in the Midwest, you could take the time and immerse yourself into the culture over a short-term assignment.
If you are planning a move to a new state, the nurse compact will allow you to work in the new compact state until you finish the moving process. Typically, it is the driver’s license or a formal identification document with your residence listed on it that determines where you are based. Once you change the address to the new state, you will need to have the new state’s nursing license. The nurse compact is also helpful for military spouses who relocate frequently or NNP’s who live close to a state border. For example, someone in the eastern tip of Tennessee can travel an hour and arrive in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia. With the nursing compact, the nurse can work in all four states with the Tennessee RN license. As hospital alliances get larger with multiple locations, this is very important for the nurses to not worry about licensing.
How Can I Join the Compact?
If your primary residence is in one of the compact states, then you are automatically joined into the NLC (provided, of course, you are in good standing with your licensing state). If you do not reside within a compact state, then you will need to apply for a multi-state license for each state that you would like to join. This can be done by applying for licensure by endorsement. Be aware that this process requires a great deal of time. You will need to complete each state’s paperwork, fingerprints, background checks, and pay the fees. Some states like California can take up to three months for you to receive the license. But note, in order for the Compact to work, not only must your state of residency be a Compact State but the state where you will be working must be one, as well.
How Long Does the Compact Last?
The nurse compact lasts for the length of your current nursing license. As long as the license is active and your primary state of residence is based within a compact state, then you are active in the compact. However, those who relocate frequently need to realize that if they suddenly decide to get a new driver’s license within a non-compact state, they can lose the compact status.
How Do APN’s Pertain to the Compact?
The NLC is working to get the many states to certify APN’s just like they do RNs in the compact through the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Compact. But for right now, the NNP is not a compact license. You will have to apply and be approved for each state they would like to work in. So, just to clarify: even though you might live within a compact state, the APN part of your license does not travel with you.
For nurses who do not live within a compact state and wishing to be a NNP in another state, you will need to first apply for the new state’s nursing license, wait for approval, and then apply for the APN certification.
