Forty-one states and territories have joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses to practice in person or via telehealth in all participating states under one multistate license.
Rhode Island became the most recent state to join the compact June 24. Pennsylvania joined the contact in July 2021 and will start implementing it Sept. 5.
The compact aims to improve access to care by making it easier for nurses to work across state lines, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Here are the states and territories hat have implemented the compact as of Aug. 23:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States and jurisdictions that signed the compact into law, but are awaiting full implemention:
Pennsylvania (implementation takes effect Sept. 5)
Rhode Island
Washington (partial implementation)
Virgin Islands
States with pending NLC legislation:
Alaska
Hawaii
Illinois
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New York
Washington, D.C.
States with no legislative actions:
California
Connecticut
Nevada
Michigan
Oregon
Editor's note: This article was updated Aug. 23.