Frequently Asked Questions
(Refer to the Nurse Practice Act - page 17- for the Nurse Licensure Compact) The North Carolina Board of Nursing has participated in the Nurse Licensure Compact since July 1, 2000. This interstate compact is the basis for the mutual recognition model of nursing regulation among states whose legislatures have enacted the compact. These states are called compact (party) states. Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri (effective 06-01-2010), Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin are participating in this interstate compact. Each of these compact states "recognizes" or honors the nursing licenses issued by other compact states. In order for nurses to have a better understanding of this new model for nursing regulation, the following questions are addressed:
- What other states are planning to implement the Nurse Licensure Compact in the next year?
- How do I get more information about mutual recognition and the Nurse Licensure Compact?
- Will nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and certified registered nurses anesthetists (CRNAs) be affected by the Nurse Licensure Compact?
- How will complaints about nurses be handled within this mutual recognition model?
- How will employers and other members of the public verify licensure status of nurses under this mutual recognition model?
- How will primary residency for licensure purposes be determined?
- What does a multi-state licensure privilege mean?
- Will the nurse who lives in a non-compact state and practices in North Carolina still need to have a license to practice in North Carolina?
- Where will nurses obtain/renew their license under this mutual recognition model of licensure?
- How will the Nurse Licensure Compact affect nurses who live in North Carolina?
- I'm doing a travel assignment in another compact state. How can my new employer verify my multi-state privilege to practice?