DCI News

Jefferson City, Mo – The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact was implemented today. As of this date, nurses with eNLC multistate licenses may begin practicing in all eNLC states.

Nurses residing in an original NLC state that also enacted the eNLC are “grandfathered” into the eNLC if they held a multistate license on July 20, 2017. Missouri is an original NLC state.

“Today is a historic day as the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) is implemented in 29 states,” says Lori Scheidt, Executive Director and Nurse Licensure Compact Commissioner. “If you hold an active multistate license in one of the compact states, you can practice in a total of 29 states without obtaining an additional license. The eNLC benefits nurses with increased practice mobility and benefits patients with increased access to nursing care. We extend our thanks to the Missouri Legislature for passing this important measure allowing us to continue our public protection mission while expanding access to care.”

The eNLC allows for 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 state and other eNLC states. Licensing standards are aligned in eNLC states so all nurses applying for a multistate license are required to meet the same standards, which include a federal and state criminal background check that will be conducted for all applicants for multistate licensure.
 
The eNLC also enables nurses to provide telehealth nursing services to patients located across the country without having to obtain additional licenses. In the event of a disaster, nurses from multiple states can easily respond to supply vital services. Additionally, almost every nurse, including primary care nurses, case managers, transport nurses, school and hospice nurses, among many others, needs to routinely cross state boundaries to provide the public with access to nursing services, and a multistate license facilitates this process.

A number of eNLC Employer Webinar Forums will be held throughout January and February. More information on those forums and the registration form can be found  on the NCSBN website.
 
Boards of nursing (BONs) were the first health care provider regulatory bodies to develop a model for interstate practice with the original adoption of the NLC in 1997 and its implementation in 2000. While other health care provider regulatory bodies are just getting started in this process, the NLC has been operational and successful for more than 15 years.