NCSBN Delegate Assembly Adopts Revised Nurse Licensure Compacts

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - May 4, 2015) - A special Delegate Assembly of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®), www.ncsbn.org, today approved the revised Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact (APRNC).

The NLC allows for registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VN) to have one multistate license, with the ability to practice in both their home state and other NLC states. There are currently 25* states in the NLC. The APRNC allows an advanced practice registered nurse to hold one multistate license with a privilege to practice in other APRN compact states.

Boards of nursing (BONs) were the first health care provider regulatory bodies to develop a model for interstate practice with the original adoption of the NLC in 1997 and its implementation in 2000. While other health care provider regulatory bodies are just getting started in this process, the NLC has been operational and successful for more than 15 years.

Influenced by the growing need for nurse mobility and clarification of the authority to practice for many nurses currently engaged in telenursing or interstate practice, BONs have worked over the past several years to revise the NLC to ensure it reflects best practices and provides for continued high standards of public protection. The new NLC and APRNC are the result of their diligent work.

To learn more about the NLC view "The Nurse Licensure Compact Explained" video at https://www.ncsbn.org/364.htm. Additional information about the NLC and APRNC can be found at https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm.

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 21 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 4.5 million licensed nurses.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

*NLC, states include: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

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