Pending & partial nursing compact states
Which states are pending or partial in the nursing compact?
A few jurisdictions are in between: enacted but awaiting implementation, or partially implemented. In these places you generally cannot assume compact privilege is active yet — treat them as non-compact for now and verify with the board before you practice.
Enacted — awaiting implementation
The law passed, but multistate licenses aren’t being issued and privilege isn’t recognized yet. Plan as if these were non-compact until a start date is announced.
- Massachusetts — Massachusetts has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation but has not yet implemented it. Multistate licenses are not available to Massachusetts residents, and compact privilege does not apply in Massachusetts, until implementation is complete. Treat Massachusetts as non-compact for day-to-day practice until the board announces a start date.
- U.S. Virgin Islands — The U.S. Virgin Islands has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation but is awaiting implementation. Multistate licenses are not yet issued and compact privilege does not yet apply. Verify current status before relying on the compact here.
Partial implementation
- Guam — Guam has partial implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Nurses who hold an active multistate license from another compact state may practice in Guam under privilege, but nurses whose primary state of residence is Guam generally cannot obtain a Guam-issued multistate license until full implementation is complete.
Why this matters before you accept work
“Enacted” headlines can be misleading. A state can announce it’s joining the compact long before nurses can actually use it. If you’re counting on compact privilege for a job, confirm the jurisdiction is fully implemented first — use the compact state checker and check the official board, and confirm your own license type in Nursys.