Nurse Licensure Compact Annual Report Now Available

CHICAGO – The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) Annual Report for fiscal year 2020 (FY2020), the period from Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020, is now available on NCSBN’s website. It provides a snapshot of recent events and accomplishments, including strategic plan progress, an update on legislation and a description of NLC resources.

The past year has been filled with unexpected challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. More than ever before, these challenges have highlighted the importance of the NLC as the solution for modernizing licensure of nurses. The NLC allows for greater nurse mobility, public protection and access to care. It enables nurses to provide telehealth nursing services to patients located in other NLC states without having to obtain additional licenses.

During the pandemic, nurses from multiple states were easily able to respond and supply vital services in other NLC states. Primary care nurses, nurse case managers, transport nurses, school home health and hospice nurses, among many others, need to routinely cross state boundaries to provide the public with access to nursing services, especially in states heavily impacted by the pandemic. A multistate license facilitates this process.

“This NLC annual report reflects the tremendous success that has been achieved thus far, as well as the current and ongoing work of the Commission,” says NLC Commission Chair Kimberly Glazier, MEd, RN, executive director, Oklahoma Board of Nursing. “I am proud of the collaboration and commitment we have towards improving nationwide access to care, protecting the public and eliminating unnecessary and burdensome regulatory processes for nurses and employers. 

“It is evident that we continue to have extraordinary impact in the realm of occupational licensing, paving the way for other health care compacts,” continues Glazier. “I am particularly excited to present, in electronic format, a synopsis of our achievements for FY20. A review of this report captures the very nature of our work.” 

For more information about NLC see, www.nlc.gov or contact nursecompact@ncsbn.org

About the NLC

The NLC is an interstate agreement that allows nurses (RNs and LPNs/VNs) to practice with one multistate license, issued from the home state, to practice in all states that are part of the NLC. Licensure requirements are aligned in NLC states, so all nurses applying for a multistate license are required to meet those same standards, including submission to federal and state fingerprint-based criminal background checks.

About the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (ICNLCA)

The commission is a quasi-governmental and joint public agency of the party states created and established on July 20, 2017. The Commission fulfills the compact objectives through a means of joint cooperative action among the party states. The Executive Committee is the seven-member elected leadership of the commission.

ICNLCA Core Purpose

To enhance cross border practice and nurse mobility, thereby providing for greater accessibility to safe health care.

ICNLCA Mission

The mission of the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (ICNLCA) is:

To facilitate cross border nursing practice through the implementation of a nationally recognized, multistate license. ICNLCA enhances nurse mobility and public protection primarily through:

• Maintaining uniform licensure standards among party state boards of nursing,
• Promoting cooperation and collaboration between party states, Facilitating the exchange of data and information between party states; and
• Educating stakeholders.

About NCSBN

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was initially created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together nursing regulatory bodies (NRBs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. It has evolved into one of the leading voices of regulation across the world. 

NCSBN’s membership is comprised of the NRBs 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 three exam user members. There are also 27 associate members that are either NRBs or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories. 

Mission: NCSBN empowers and supports nursing regulators in their mandate to protect the public.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not individual members.