Travel Nurse Compact License
What is the eNLC?
CareerStaff offers eNLC licensure assistance for our travelers to make sure they’re licensed in the states where they choose to work. Launched in 2000, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) expanded into the enhanced nurse licensure compact (eNLC). Today, over three dozen states and U.S. territories are members, and a few other states have legislation to join.
Effectively a multi-state nursing license, the eNLC applies to registered nurses as well as LVNs/LPNs. As a result, the compact helps speed up the timeframe for travel nurses to work in other states. This is a benefit that became mission-critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw an enormous demand for travel nurses that continues today.
The requirements include that a nurse has a primary residence in a member state (see map), has a current license in good standing, and can pass a federal and state criminal background check. Contact your state nursing board for details on how to acquire an eNLC.
Please note that this map is meant as an informal guide. We take no responsibility for unexpected changes to the current list of nursing compact states. You can always find an updated list on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
Travel Opportunities for eNLC Holders
Travel jobs are much more streamlined for eNLC members. Therefore, if you have an active nursing compact license and are interested in helping facilities in other states meet their patient care needs, apply with us today! With travel nursing, you can help communities meet growing demands and shortages of healthcare workers nationwide.
Have questions? Contact your CareerStaff recruiter for more details on how compact licensure can help expand your job opportunities. You can also find a current eNLC map here, and FAQs from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing here.
Travel Nurse Compact License Facts & Resources
Check whether you have a multi-state nursing license at Nursys, a national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline, and practice privileges.
Some of the organizations that support the NLC include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), the National Patient Safety Foundation, and many others. Find a full list at the NCSBN’s NLC fact sheet.
How is the Extended Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) different from the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)? Nurse.org has the details.
Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about the nursing compact at this list of NLC FAQs from the NCSBN.