1. What is the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)?
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement among participating U.S. jurisdictions that allows eligible registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs) to hold one multistate license issued by their primary state of residence and practice in other compact states without obtaining additional licenses. This privilege applies to both in-person care and telehealth practice. Nurses must meet uniform licensure requirements and follow the nursing laws and regulations of the state where the patient is located. As of 2026, 43 states and territories have enacted the NLC.
For more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions available through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
2. What is the status of the NLC in Massachusetts?
Before the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) can become operational in Massachusetts, the Board of Registration in Nursing (Board) must complete several important implementation activities. These include updating its regulations governing licensure, discipline, fees, and related policies; revising the licensure application process to allow qualified applicants to obtain a multistate license; and modifying information technology systems to support the new multistate licensure category and other NLC-related requirements. These steps are necessary for the Board to effectively administer and oversee participation in the Compact.
The Board has made significant progress toward implementing the NLC in Massachusetts and continues to advance several key implementation efforts. In November 2024, the NLC was signed into law. Since then, the Board has been preparing its e-licensing platform to support multistate licensure requirements, identifying policies that require updates, and coordinating closely with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Between April and June 2026, the Board proposed amendments to three regulations and voted to move them forward for public comment. Currently, several more regulations are undergoing revision in preparation for Board review. Each revised regulation will be brought for a public comment period following completion of internal reviews.
The NLC will not be operational in MA until implementation is complete. Please continue to follow the current processes for applying and renewing a nursing license in Massachusetts.
3. What is the difference between applying for a nursing license by reciprocity (endorsement) and a multistate license?
When you apply for a license by reciprocity (endorsement), you ask a specific state to recognize a license issued by another state, and to issue you a new license in that state upon meeting that state’s licensure requirements. Here is more information on applying for a nursing license by reciprocity in Massachusetts. Applying for a multistate or compact license means you apply through your primary state of residence (PSOR) if it is in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and that one license gives you privilege to practice in all compact states, similar to how states recognize each other’s driver’s licenses. Licensees with a privilege to practice in Massachusetts adhere to the standards of conduct, rules and regulations for the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
4. When and where can I apply for a multi-state license?
Applications are not yet available as the Board is working to make the required updates to regulations, information technology systems, and operational processes. More information will be posted as the NLC implementation date gets closer.
5. When will the NLC be implemented in Massachusetts?
The Board expects NLC implementation to occur when all necessary changes are complete (see question #2) which is targeted for May 2027.
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Open DOCX file, 610.76 KB, Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) FAQs (English, DOCX 610.76 KB)