Interstate compacts: working in more than one state

How compacts work

Each compact is a law passed by every member state. In general you hold a license in your home state (where you live) and get permission to practice in other member states, either through a multistate license or a "privilege to practice." You still follow the practice laws of the state where your patient is.

The four compacts that matter here

• Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for RNs and LPN/LVNs. A nurse whose primary state of residence is a member can hold one multistate license. NCSBN's official map lists the member jurisdictions. California is not a member.
• Physical Therapy Compact for physical therapists and PT assistants, who get a "compact privilege" to practice in member states.
• Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact for occupational therapists and OT assistants.
• Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) for audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

Check before you count on it

States join, pass laws that haven't taken effect yet, or are still setting up. The compacts' own maps show who is fully active:

• Nurse Licensure Compact map
• Physical Therapy Compact map
• OT Licensure Compact map
• ASLP-IC map

If your state isn't a member

You'll need a license from each state where you practice, usually by endorsement (applying based on a license you already hold). How endorsement works for nurses.