We’ve got great news for travel nurses! The nationwide enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) has grown over the past year, and it seems likely to continue to grow even more in the years to come. As 2022 winds to a close, let’s take a look at the newest enhanced nurse licensure compact states, and a look ahead to what other states might join the eNLC in 2022.
Who’s on the List of Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact States?
As of December, 2022, there are 39 eNLC states and jurisdictions in the United States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Guam, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the Virgin Islands are the newest enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact states and territory, although the eNLC isn’t yet up and running in those places. (Ohio is scheduled to implement its version of the compact on January 1, 2023.)
> Is your state in the eNLC? View an updated map of current Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact States at Nurse.org
On top of that, eight more states are considering joining the eNLC, with lawmakers currently hammering out the details. While Alaska, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island and Washington State aren’t on the list of enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact states yet, chances are pretty good that they soon will be. And as some of America’s most popular destinations for travel nurses, Alaska, New York and Washington would be especially welcome additions!
Why Is the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact Important?
Traditionally, nurses have only been able to work in the state where they’re licensed. But the eNLC lets them work in any member state with a single license, making it faster, easier and less expensive to start a new job in a different part of the country.
That’s a real advantage for nurses who are moving to a different state and need to find immediate work, as well as travel nurses who want to cut downtime and out-of-pocket expenses between assignments. It may also benefit nurses who are staying put by giving them more opportunities to treat patients in other states using telehealth technology.
The enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact also helps patients because it makes it easier for small towns or rural communities to hire out-of-state workers. And because access to more nurses helps healthcare employers with their staffing shortages, many hospital groups and healthcare associations in states that haven’t yet joined the compact are pushing their local lawmakers to do so.
But that’s not the only reason why the list of Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact states is growing faster than ever before. Reports also show that nurses themselves are demanding it. For instance, a survey by the Alaska Board of Nursing found that 89% of Alaskan RNs are in favor of joining. And 87% said that they would apply for a compact nursing license if that were an option.
“Minnesota nurses overwhelmingly support joining the compact,” according to the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus. “A 2022 survey by the Minnesota Board of Nursing shows nurses favor Minnesota’s joining the compact by a ratio of nearly 10 to 1.”
> Wondering if you’re eligible to apply for a multistate license? Check out our guide to the eNLC for more information on the licensing compact.
Learn more about the Nurse Licensing Compact
Land a Job in an eNLC State with CareerStaff!
Do you live in an eNLC state, or want to work in one? If so, we can connect you with great employment opportunities across the United States, and help you get the ball rolling on your eNLC licensure. CareerStaff travelers get great pay with and benefits, including direct deposit, 24/7 support, medical insurance, referral bonuses and much more. You can learn more about traveling with CareerStaff here.
Ready to find your next assignment? Start your quick online application here, or view all available travel nursing jobs here.