Over 3,500 Nurses Apply for Multistate Licenses as Connecticut Joins Compact
Connecticut's October entry into the 43-state Nurse Licensure Compact has already drawn thousands of applications, signaling strong demand for multistate practice flexibility.
More than 3,500 nurses have applied for multistate licenses since Connecticut joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in October, state health officials announced, signaling robust demand for the practice flexibility the agreement provides.
The compact, which allows registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to practice in 43 participating states and territories with a single license, took effect October 1 following Governor Ned Lamont’s signature on the enabling legislation in May 2024.
“This is exactly the response we hoped to see,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani. “Connecticut nurses now have unprecedented mobility to serve patients across state lines without the burden of obtaining separate licenses in each jurisdiction.”
The streamlined licensing comes at a critical time for healthcare workforce challenges. Hospitals and healthcare facilities across Connecticut have struggled with staffing shortages that intensified during the pandemic and have yet to fully recover.
Under the compact, nurses whose primary residence is Connecticut can apply for a multistate license through the state’s online portal at elicense.ct.gov. The only additional cost beyond standard licensing fees is a background check. Applicants must meet uniform requirements including criminal history checks at both state and federal levels.
The compact particularly benefits nurses who work in telehealth, travel nursing, or live near state borders. Connecticut’s proximity to New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island—none of which have joined the compact—limits some immediate benefits, though nurses can now practice freely in states from Maine to Florida on the eastern seaboard.
“For nurses considering travel assignments or those with patients who cross state lines, this eliminates significant administrative hurdles,” Juthani noted.
Healthcare industry groups praised the milestone. The Connecticut Hospital Association called the early application numbers encouraging and predicted the compact would help facilities recruit nurses from other participating states.
The legislation adopts the compact through January 1, 2028, after which the General Assembly would need to extend or renew participation. Advanced practice registered nurses are not covered under this agreement; a separate APRN compact will require additional states to enact enabling legislation before taking effect.
Connecticut became the 42nd jurisdiction to join the compact, which has grown significantly since its creation to address the increasing mobility of the healthcare workforce and the rise of telehealth services.