As we all know, nurses play an important role in the healthcare industry, working hard day and night, taking care of the patients. But sometimes, healthcare facilities face a staff shortage due to various reasons such as emergencies, disasters, etc. Here, travel nurses play a vital role, travelling from one city to another to provide patient care. However, for nurses, navigating the complex state-by-state licensing requirements might seem challenging. Enter the world of nurse licensure compact (NLC). It is a compact state nursing license that allows travel nurses to work in multiple states without applying for additional licenses, saving them both time and money. In this blog, we will discuss whether New York is a part of the compact states or not. So, let’s dive in.
What is a compact state nursing license?
A compact state nursing license is a part of Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) that allows registered nurses to travel and work in other states without applying for additional licenses in those states. For now, in 2025, 39 states in the US are part of the nurse licensure compact (NLC).
Is New York a compact nursing state?
No, New York is not currently part of the nurse licensure compact (NLC) despite its benefits. This means that the nurses have to apply for the additional license to work legally in New York.
What are the benefits of NLC, and what advantage can Nurses take if New York becomes part of Nurse Licensure?
New York is not part of the nurse licensure compact, even though it is known for its bustling healthcare system. But what are the advantages if New York become the part of NLC? let’s dive into it.
Easy for travel nurses to get temporary jobs:
If New York becomes part of the NLC compact state, then it will be easier for travel nurses to work there on short assignments. This will also help nurses not to apply for additional licenses, which will save them both time and money. As for now, travel nurses have to apply for separate licenses to legally work in New York.
Greater job opportunities.
New York is known to be the state that pays higher salaries to travel nurses. Becoming part of NLC will help the travel nurses to go and work in New York without any difficulty and will have access to a broader job market across compact states.
Ease in using telehealth practices:
Nurses use tele health practices to provide care to the patients remotely through digital devices such as phone, video calls, etc. If New York becomes part of NLC, then nurses in other states will have ease in using telehealth practices to provide effective patient care. Telehealth is valuable in providing patient care in underserved or rural areas.
Reduce license cost and administrative burden:
Healthcare employers can hire qualified nurses to work in New York without going through the complicated process of obtaining a state license for New York. This will lower the administrative burden and will also reduce the license cost. Travel nurses have to apply only for compact nursing licenses in order to work in multiple states without worrying about applying for additional state nursing licenses.
What happens if the nurse moves to non-compact state?
If a nurse moves to a compact state, then her license becomes valid. The nurse should apply for a license in the new state to legally practice there.
How many states are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
Currently, 39 states and 2 territories (Virgin Islands and Guam) are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC).
Conclusion
New York is the important and largest state in the healthcare industry but is still not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which results in challenges for both travel nurses and healthcare facilities. There are 41 states that are part of NLC, and New York is not one of them. There are a lot of benefits if New York becomes part of NLC, such as travel nurses working freely without applying for additional licenses, reduced cost and administrative burden, greater job opportunities, etc. If you are a travel nurse and want to work in the top healthcare facilities of New York, then download our app, join SkillGigs and become a part of our travel nursing world.
