News Release

NCSBN Applauds the Mayo Clinic for their support of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

Posted 02/17/2022
The Mayo Clinic's support of NLC legislation acknowledges that multistate licensure benefits both nurses and the citizens of Minnesota by increasing access to care, assisting in workplace shortages and responding to times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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NCSBN recognizes the Mayo Clinic for their longstanding advocacy of the NLC. Their support of NLC legislation acknowledges that multistate licensure benefits both nurses and the citizens of Minnesota by increasing access to care, assisting in workplace shortages and responding to times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Sen. Carla Nelson is sponsoring Senate bill 2302 to enact the NLC in Minnesota. It will be heard in the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee on Feb. 21 from 1:00- 2:30 pm in the Minnesota Senate Building.
 
Currently, there are 39 jurisdictions that have enacted the NLC which allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) to have one multistate license, with the ability to practice in-person or via telehealth, in both their home territory/state and other NLC states.
 
NCSBN CEO David Benton, RGN, PhD, FFNF, FRCN, FAAN, commented, “The NLC is at the vanguard of modern, safe, health care access and since the beginning of the pandemic, qualified nurses with compact licenses have been able to travel throughout the U.S. seamlessly providing safe care and vital services in areas of greatest need.” 
 
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 a federal and state fingerprint-based criminal background check.
 
With the multistate license, nurses are able to provide telehealth nursing services to patients located in NLC states without having to obtain additional licenses. A multistate license facilitates cross-border practice for many types of nurses who routinely practice with patients in other states, including primary care nurses, case managers, transport nurses, school and hospice nurses and many others. Further, military spouses who experience moves every few years also benefit greatly from the multistate license. 
 
For more information, contact  Email Link nursecompact@ncsbn.org or visit External Link www.nlc.gov.
 
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.