Compact nursing licenses for travel nurses
The Nurse Licensure Compact lets an RN or LPN with a multistate license practice in every member state without getting another license. You get the multistate license from your primary state of residence, and that state has to be a member. 39 states are members, so one license opens most travel contracts.
Reviewed October 14, 2026
Who qualifies
Your primary state of residence decides it: where you hold a driver's license, vote and file taxes. If that state is a compact member, you apply there for a multistate license. You can hold only one. If you move your primary residence to another compact state, you apply for a new multistate license there.
If you live in a state outside the compact, you cannot get a multistate license, even by holding a license from a member state.
Member states
As of our last check, the compact covers: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Membership changes as states pass and implement the compact, so confirm at nursecompact.com before you apply for a job.
States outside the compact
To work in Alaska, California, Washington, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, you need that state's own license. Processing can take weeks to months, and some boards issue temporary licenses while you wait. Start early for a contract you want there.
Allied health and therapy
Many allied roles, such as surgical and imaging technologists, rely on national certification rather than a state license, though some states license specific roles. Physical therapists have the PT Compact, and occupational therapy and audiology/speech-language pathology have newer compacts that are still rolling out.
Finding compact-state jobs
On the Bypass job board, the state filter has a "Compact states" option that shows every open contract you can take with a multistate license.
Quick answers
Which states are in the nurse licensure compact?
39 states, including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Confirm the current list at nursecompact.com.
Can I get a compact license if I live in a non-compact state?
No. A multistate license is issued by your primary state of residence, which must be a compact member.
Do travel nurses need a license in every state?
Only for states outside the compact. With a multistate license you can work in any member state; non-member states each require their own license.