Compact licensure is the closest thing there is to a national licensure. Presently there are 25 participating states in the licensure compact. The ability to use a compact state's license in the other participating states is not simply a matter of holding that license. The rules and regulations for compact licensure are often confusing.

What is a compact license?

A compact license is a nursing license in one of the compact states that is eligible for use as a valid nursing license in all other compact states. At present, half of the states are compact states. Compact licensing operates under the Mutual Recognition Model.