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The Nurse Licensure Compact for Per-Diem Nurses: One License, Dozens of States
How the NLC multistate license works, the 60-day rule, renewal basics, and which live AllShifts markets it unlocks, with real posted rates.
Updated September 21, 2026 · live AllShifts shift data
Why the compact matters more for per-diem than for staff jobs
A staff nurse uses one license in one building. A per-diem nurse gets paid for flexibility, and state lines are the hardest limit on that flexibility. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) removes it: hold one multistate license issued by your home state and you can practice in every other compact state without applying for a new license, paying another fee, or waiting on another board. As of mid-2026, 43 jurisdictions participate, per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). If you live near a state border, or you travel at all, the compact can multiply the shifts you can legally accept overnight.
How a multistate license works
- You qualify through your home state. Your primary state of residence must be a compact state, and you apply for the multistate license there. It covers RNs and LPNs/LVNs; CNA certification is separate and always state-by-state.
- One renewal, in one state. You renew with your home-state board on its normal schedule and meet its continuing-education rules. The multistate privilege renews with it; the other 42 jurisdictions do not send you separate paperwork.
- The 60-day rule. If you move your primary residence to another compact state, you must apply for licensure there within 60 days. Your multistate license from the old state does not follow you indefinitely.
- Non-compact states still need their own license. A multistate license does not cover states outside the compact; for those you apply for a single-state license by endorsement the traditional way.
Where a multistate license works on AllShifts right now
AllShifts posts per-diem CNA, LPN, and RN shifts in 31 states today. Here is how they line up with the compact, so you can see what one multistate license unlocks:
Compact states with live AllShifts markets (24): Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Maryland (MD), Maine (ME), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), North Carolina (NC), Nebraska (NE), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), Ohio (OH), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), Tennessee (TN), Washington (WA), Wisconsin (WI), West Virginia (WV), Wyoming (WY).
Enacted the compact but not yet implemented (4): Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), New York (NY). Nurses in these states still need that state's own license for now; watch the NCSBN implementation dates, because Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and New York inventory switches from single-state to multistate the day each one goes live.
Single-state licensure only (3): California (CA), Illinois (IL), Oregon (OR). California and Illinois have not enacted the compact, so working there always means holding that state's license.
What the compact-state shifts pay right now
These are live posted rates, not estimates. Highest-paying RN markets in compact states on AllShifts today:
| City | Posted rate | Open slots |
|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg, PA | $48.30-$74.52/hr | 50 |
| Sunnyside, WA | $72.00/hr | 1 |
| Camden, NJ | $55.00/hr | 1 |
| Londonderry, NH | $53.71/hr | 1 |
| Jaffrey, NH | $50.75/hr | 3 |
| Danbury, CT | $50.40/hr | 1 |
| Camden, ME | $48.30-$49.68/hr | 28 |
| Waupaca, WI | $48.30-$49.68/hr | 24 |
And the highest-paying LPN markets in compact states:
| City | Posted rate | Open slots |
|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, NE | $46.80/hr | 2 |
| Burwell, NE | $45.00/hr | 3 |
| Arkansas City, KS | $44.00/hr | 1 |
| Shelton, WA | $43.00/hr | 1 |
| Mescalero, NM | $41.32-$42.77/hr | 3 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $40.71/hr | 8 |
| Palisade, CO | $39.33-$40.71/hr | 5 |
| Arvada, CO | $39.33-$40.71/hr | 4 |
Full tables for every market are in our RN pay by city and LPN pay by city guides, refreshed from the same live data.
Renewal without the scramble
- Know your home state's cycle. Most boards renew every two years, some annually, and continuing-education requirements differ by state and by role. Your home-state board's website is the source of truth.
- Do not let a license lapse mid-schedule. An expired license means every booked shift after the expiration date is cancelled, in any state. Set a reminder 90 days out; most boards let you renew early.
- Keep your certifications current too. BLS and role-specific certifications expire on their own schedules, separate from your license, and facilities verify both.
- Let the app carry the file. The AllShifts app tracks your credential file with a 10-point check and flags what is missing or expiring, so a renewal never surprises you on the morning of a shift.
Common questions
Does the compact cover CNAs?
No. The NLC covers RNs and LPNs/LVNs only. CNA certification is issued state-by-state through each state's nurse aide registry, and Maryland additionally certifies GNAs. AllShifts posts CNA shifts in 25 states; check the CNA pay guide for live rates.
I live in a compact state but my license is single-state. Can I upgrade?
Usually yes. If your primary residence is in a compact state, you can apply to your home board to convert a single-state license to a multistate one; boards verify residency and run the compact's uniform requirements.
Which states joined the compact most recently?
Pennsylvania implemented in July 2025 and Connecticut in October 2025, bringing participation to 43 jurisdictions. Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York have enacted the compact but had not implemented it as of September 2026, per NCSBN.
How do I put a multistate license to work?
Download the AllShifts app (iPhone / Android), create a free profile, and upload your license once. Shifts in every state your license covers become bookable as soon as your credentials clear, with the full rate visible before you book and instant pay after every verified shift.
Pay figures on this page come from shifts currently posted in the AllShifts app and change daily. AllShifts is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.