Interstate Licensing Compacts: How to Practice Across State Lines
Interstate licensing compacts allow professionals to practice across state lines without obtaining a separate license in each state. As of 2026, there are over 35 active compacts covering dozens of professions, and more states join each year.
This is one of the most significant trends in professional licensing — and it directly affects your career mobility.
What Is a Licensing Compact?
A licensing compact is an agreement between participating states that allows licensed professionals to practice in other member states under a single license or through a streamlined process. Think of it like how your driver’s license works in every state — compacts aim to bring that same portability to professional licenses.
Major Active Compacts
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)
The largest and most established compact, covering both RNs and LPNs:
- Participating states: 38 (as of 2026)
- How it works: Nurses holding a multi-state license in their home state can practice in any other compact state without additional licensure
- Eligibility: Must meet Uniform Licensing Requirements (ULRs) including background check
- Impact: Over 2 million nurses can practice across state lines
This is transformative for travel nursing, telehealth, and nurses living near state borders.
See which states participate: LicenseCompass Compacts
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)
- Participating states: 40+
- Covers: Psychologists practicing telepsychology and temporary in-person practice
- How it works: E.Passport for telepsychology, IPC for temporary in-person practice
- Requirement: Must hold license in home state + meet PSYPACT requirements
Particularly important for telehealth, where a psychologist in New York can treat a patient in Florida.
Physical Therapy Compact (PTC)
- Participating states: 37+
- Covers: Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants
- How it works: Compact privilege allows practice in member states
- Fee: Small compact privilege fee per state ($75)
Counseling Compact
- Participating states: Growing (recently enacted)
- Covers: Licensed professional counselors
- How it works: Home state license grants privilege to practice in member states
Other Active Compacts
| Compact | Professions | States |
|---|---|---|
| EMS Compact (REPLICA) | EMTs, Paramedics | 24+ |
| Audiology & SLP Compact (ASLP-IC) | Audiologists, Speech Pathologists | 30+ |
| Occupational Therapy Compact | OTs, OTAs | 25+ |
| Physician Assistant Compact | PAs | New (growing) |
| Social Work Compact | Social Workers | New (growing) |
| Dental Compact | Dentists, Hygienists | New (growing) |
How Compacts Work in Practice
For the Professional
- Get licensed in your home state (the state where you legally reside)
- Verify your state is a compact member for your profession
- Meet compact requirements (which may differ slightly from basic state licensure)
- Practice in other member states — no separate application needed in most compacts
- Some compacts charge a small privilege fee ($50 to $100 per state)
Compact vs. Licensure by Endorsement
| Feature | Compact | Endorsement |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Immediate | Weeks to months |
| Cost | $0 – $100 | $100 – $400 per state |
| Requirements | Home state license + compact eligibility | State-specific (may require exam, education) |
| Validity | Ongoing while compact member | Independent state license |
Compacts are clearly superior when available — faster, cheaper, and simpler.
Which States Are in the Most Compacts?
States vary in their adoption of compacts. Some are early adopters across multiple professions, while others have been slower:
Compact-friendly states (participating in many compacts):
- Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina
States with limited compact participation:
- California, New York, Massachusetts (often slower to join)
Check our compacts page for the current list by profession.
Why Compacts Matter for Your Career
Remote Work and Telehealth
The post-2020 shift to remote work has made compacts critical. A therapist doing telehealth, a nurse doing phone triage, or a counselor seeing clients via video all need authorization in the patient’s state — compacts solve this.
Military Families
Military families move every 2 to 3 years. Without compacts, a military spouse who is a licensed nurse must re-apply (and sometimes re-test) in each new state. Compacts eliminate this burden.
Border Communities
Professionals living near state borders (Kansas City, greater DC area, Memphis, etc.) can serve clients in neighboring states without maintaining multiple licenses.
Travel Professionals
Travel nurses, locum tenens physicians, and traveling therapists depend on compacts for their entire business model.
Limitations of Compacts
Compacts aren’t perfect:
- Not all states participate — notably, California and New York are absent from many compacts
- Home state must be a member — you can’t use a compact privilege if your home state isn’t in the compact
- Disciplinary actions are shared between all compact states — a complaint in one state affects your license everywhere
- Some professions don’t have compacts yet — real estate, accounting, cosmetology, massage therapy
The Future of Licensing Compacts
The trend is clearly toward more compacts and more participating states:
- Federal support: The MAPS Act and other legislation encourages compact adoption
- New compacts in development: Teacher, veterinary, and additional healthcare professions
- Universal licensing recognition: Some states (like Arizona) have adopted laws recognizing any out-of-state license
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a compact license or does my regular license work? In most compacts (like the NLC), you receive a multi-state license when you get licensed in a compact state. There’s no separate “compact license” — your state license includes compact privileges.
What happens if I move to a non-compact state? You’ll need to apply for licensure by endorsement in that state, which typically requires an application, fee, and verification of your current license.
Can I practice in a compact state if my home state isn’t a member? No. Compact privileges are based on your home state (state of legal residence). You must apply for individual state licensure the traditional way.
Are there any downsides to compacts? The main consideration is that disciplinary actions are shared across all compact states. If you face a complaint in one state, it may affect your privileges in all member states.
How do I know if my profession has a compact? Check our interstate compacts guide for a current list of all active compacts and participating states.
Information current as of February 2026. Compact membership changes frequently — verify current participation at LicenseCompass or the relevant compact commission website.