Compact States

The following is taken from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing regarding the Nurse Licensure Compact:

The mutual recognition model of nurse licensure allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physical and electronic), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Under mutual recognition, a nurse may practice across state lines unless otherwise restricted.

In order to achieve mutual recognition, each state must enact legislation authorizing the Nurse Licensure Compact. States entering the compact also also adopt administrative rules and regulations for implementation of the compact.

Each compact state designates a Nurse Licensure Compact Administrator to coordinate implementation of the compact.



Primary Residency for licensure purposes.

The compact administrators defined primary residence in the compact rules and regulations. The sources used to verify primary residence may include, but are not limited to, driver's license, federal income tax return or voter registration.



Compact States (updated April 2003) as per ncsbn.org


Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Idaho
Indiana (pending)
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Jersey (pending)
New Mexico (anticipated date Jan 1 2004)
North Carolina
North Dakota (anticipated date Jan 1 2004)
South Dakota
Tennessee (anticipated date July 1 2003)
Texas
Utah
Wisconsin
Virginia (anticipated date Jan 1 2005)



Below is a great explanation of the compact states as per The Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
 

How would you like your Texas nursing license to be similar to your Texas driver's license, enabling you to practice nursing throughout the country with your home state license, just as you can drive throughout the country with your Texas driver's license? Well, times are changing, and a few states have moved toward allowing a RN license from one state to serve as a privilege to practice nursing in other states. The legislation, passed in Texas and other states and known as the Nurse Licensure Compact (Compact), serves as an agreement among states to mutually recognize each others' licensees. These states who have adopted the Compact are referred to as party states.

As the Compact legislation becomes effective, the party states will begin to recognize a single nurse license rather than the cumbersome practice of obtaining duplicative licenses for each state where a nurse practices. Mutual recognition of a license increases nurse mobility and facilitates delivery of health care by innovative communication practices such as telenursing. Additionally, the Compact will better promote the public health and safety by encouraging cooperative efforts among the party states in nurse licensing and regulation. As more state legislatures enact the Nurse Licensure Compact the number of party states will increase and the nation will move closer to allowing one home state license to grant a nursing privilege nationwide.

It is important that Texas RN's understand multistate licensure because Texas is one of the first states to enact it and will be at the front of this innovation in regulation in the new millennium.

In order to enjoy the multistate licensing privilege, the Compact requires that the RN be licensed in the party state in which he/she permanently resides. This license is known as a home state license. The RN must meet the criteria of their home state law to obtain and retain the home state license. With the home state license, the RN may practice in any other party state without obtaining any additional licenses. A nurse practicing in another party state pursuant to the multistate privilege must comply with the state practice laws of the state in which the patient is located at the time care is given. Compact states where a nurse practices using a multistate privilege are known as remote states.

A nurse in a party state can hold a home state license in only one party state at a time. If a nurse changes permanent residence from one party state to another party state then the RN must relinquish licensure in the previous state of residence and apply for, and meet the requirements for licensure, in the new home state. The Compact does allow a nurse to apply for a new home state license prior to moving. Further, the RN may move back to their previous party state and re-establish licensure or move to another party state and apply for licensure there.

When a RN moves to a state which has not enacted or does not recognize the Compact, the previous home state license converts to a license valid in only the former home state and does not entitle the nurse to a multistate privilege in other party states.

A RN practicing in a remote state will be subject to the nursing practice laws and regulations of that remote party state. The RN must know and conform to the laws, rules and regulations affecting his/her practice in the remote party state. If a nurse violates the Nursing Practice Act (NPA), the remote state may discipline a nurse practicing under a multistate licensing privilege. Although a remote party state may not directly effect a home state license, it may revoke or restrict the RN's multistate privilege to practice nursing within its own state boundaries. Additionally, the home state may also take disciplinary action for a violation which occurred in a remote state. In other words, any party state can issue a disciplinary order against a multistate privilege and restrict the RN's practice within its party state borders, but only the state of residence (the home state) can discipline a license. Administrative procedures according to individual state law, including due process rights of a RN, will apply to disciplinary action by any party state on a multistate license or privilege.

It should also be noted that the Compact creates a shared information system which enhances the party states' ability to monitor nursing practice to protect public health and safety. The Compact creates a coordinated licensure information system called NURSYS which will include information on the licensing and disciplinary history of each nurse. Each party state must timely report any adverse disciplinary action against a home state license or a multistate privilege. The party states must also submit information on any current significant investigation and any denials of applications for licensure. State confidentiality laws will still control the release and use of such information, but the database will be an invaluable tool to the party states in tracking and monitoring ongoing investigations and disciplinary action of nurses.

The Compact privileges and requirements only affect those states who have implemented the Compact through the legislative process. If a RN currently hold a license in a non-party state, that license will not be affected. Therefore, if a RN desires to practice in that non-party state, they will need to continue to renew their license there until such time as the state enters into the Compact through legislative action.

If you currently live in a non-party state but have a Texas license, the Texas license will not be considered a home license which grants a multistate licensing privilege. A non-resident Texas license is still required in order for a non-resident RN to practice nursing in Texas. As new states enter into the Compact, an RN holding a resident license in that state will be eligible for a multistate privilege. If you live in Texas after this date your license will be a home state license, granting the multistate privilege in all party states. At this time, there is no plan by the Board to increase licensure fees.

As other states join the Compact, the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners will keep you fully informed so that you will have sufficient and timely information to inform you of the implications of multistate licensure.

If you have any questions regarding the Compact or its impact on your license, please refer to the Board's website. General questions about the Compact language or the concept of mutual recognition of licensure can be obtained from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website at www.ncsbn.org.

This new model of licensure facilitates nursing practice across state lines while assuring public protection. Through new practice options using distance technologies, nurses in party states will be able to reach more patients in the future. The Texas Board of Nurse Examiners is pleased to be on the frontier of a new model for nursing regulation for the 21st Century.

 written by
Katherine A. Thomas, MN, RN
Executive Director, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners

for more info see the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners site
 
 
 

compact states

STATE  STATUS   IMPLEMENTATION DATE
Arizona   Signed by Governor   7/1/2002
Arkansas   Signed by Governor   7/1/2000
Delaware   Signed by Governor   7/1/2000
Idaho   Signed by Governor   7/1/2001
Indiana   Signed by Governor   TBD
Iowa   Signed by Governor   7/1/2000
Maine   Permission to implement Compact by rule   7/1/2001
Maryland   Signed by Governor   7/1/1999
Mississippi   Signed by Governor   7/1/2001
Nebraska   Signed by Governor   1/1/2001
New Jersey   Signed by Governor   TBD
North Carolina   Signed by Governor   7/1/2000
North Dakota   Permission to implement Compact by Rule. Signed by Governor   *
South Dakota   Signed by Governor   1/1/2001
Tennessee   Signed by Governor   TBD
Texas   Signed by Governor   1/1/2000
Utah   Signed by Governor   1/1/2000
Wisconsin   Signed by Governor   1/1/2000