Is New York a Compact State for Nursing Licensure?

No, New York is not a compact state for nursing. It has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact, so the state issues only single-state licenses, and a New York license authorizes practice only inside New York. As of 2026, 43 jurisdictions have joined the NLC, but New York is not one of them, meaning nurses here need a separate license for every other state where they want to work.¹

The compact is an interstate agreement that lets registered nurses and licensed practical nurses hold one multistate license, valid in their home state and in every other compact state. All four of New York’s neighbors participate: New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. To hold a multistate license, a nurse must declare a compact state as their primary residence, which rules out anyone whose home is in New York.²

Is New York Likely to Join Soon

The NLC has been introduced in Albany more than once, and Governor Hochul has included it in executive budget proposals. The current attempt, Senate Bill S3916 in the 2025–2026 session, would enact both the NLC and the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact. As of January 2026, the bill remains in the Senate Higher Education Committee with no floor vote scheduled.³ Plan around the current single-state system; if the law changes, it will change publicly and with a lead time.

If You Hold a New York License and Want to Work Elsewhere

A New York license gives you no automatic practice rights in any other state. To work in another state you apply for licensure by endorsement there, which typically means an application to that state’s board of nursing, transcripts from your nursing program, verification of your existing license, and any state-specific extras such as a jurisprudence exam or minimum practice hours. Fees, timelines, and conditions vary by state.

Most states verify licenses through the Nursys system, which charges $30 per license type per endorsement state.⁴ If you hold both an RN and LPN license and endorse into a single state, verification alone costs $60. The fees compound with each additional state.

Telehealth Across State Lines

Nursing practice happens where the patient is, not where the nurse sits. If you hold only a New York license and provide telehealth to a patient in New Jersey, you are practicing in New Jersey and need a New Jersey license or a multistate license with New Jersey privileges. The reverse also applies: a nurse in a compact state providing telehealth to a patient in New York needs a New York license, because compact privileges stop at the New York border.

If You Want to Work in New York With an Out-of-State License

Every nurse who wants to practice in New York must hold a New York license, including nurses who already hold a multistate compact license. There is no shortcut, no reciprocity, and no temporary compact privilege. The route is licensure by endorsement through the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions.

The Endorsement Application

The endorsement process involves several forms and supporting documents:

Form 1, the Application for Licensure, with a $143 fee that covers the $70 application charge and $73 initial registration (including a $15 Nurse Fund Fee).⁵
Form 2, Certification of Professional Education, documenting your nursing program.
License verification. If your current state participates in Nursys, you must verify through Nursys rather than the state board directly; otherwise you use Form 3. You must also verify any other nursing licenses you hold in other states.⁶
A criminal background check via fingerprinting through an approved vendor.
Any required coursework, which may include child abuse reporting and infection control depending on your background.⁶

The $143 application fee is the same for registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses.⁵ Renewal after the initial three-year registration period costs $50. With Nursys verification, fingerprinting, and any coursework, total out-of-pocket expenses generally run $200 to $300.

NYSED advises allowing at least six weeks for processing once all documentation is in. Foreign-educated nurses should expect longer, and typically need to complete a credentials evaluation through an independent review agency before applying.⁷

Military Spouse Exception

One federal exception cuts through New York’s endorsement process. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, effective December 23, 2024, a military spouse who relocates to New York on military orders can have their out-of-state nursing license recognized as valid in New York without going through full endorsement.⁸

The license must be in good standing, with no pending investigations or active discipline. A state licensing authority can require only three documents: proof of military orders, a copy of the marriage certificate, and a notarized affidavit. The law prohibits states from asking for transcripts, test scores, or anything else. If the licensing authority cannot process the application within 30 days, it must issue a temporary license carrying the same rights as a permanent one.⁸

Penalties for Practicing Without a New York License

Treating a compact or out-of-state license as good enough in New York carries serious consequences. Under New York Education Law Section 6512, practicing a licensed profession without authorization is a Class E felony, whether you never held a New York license, your license lapsed, or it was suspended or revoked.⁹ Using a nursing title without proper authorization is a separate misdemeanor under Section 6513.

Discipline does not stop at New York’s border. Boards of nursing share disciplinary information across states, and a violation in New York can trigger license review in every state where you hold a license. Consequences range from fines and mandatory remediation to suspension or permanent revocation.¹⁰ For nurses who cross state lines for in-person work or telehealth, that is the real cost of assuming compact rules cover New York. They don’t.

1
NCSBN. NLC Map
2
NCSBN. Uniform Licensure Requirements for a Multistate License
3
New York State Senate. Senate Bill S3916 – 2025-2026 Legislative Session
4
NCSBN. What Is the Fee for Nurse License Verification for Endorsement?
5
Office of the Professions. Fees
6
Office of the Professions. How Do I Apply for Licensure by Endorsement?
7
Office of the Professions. NYS Nursing – Status
8
U.S. Department of Justice. Professional License Portability Under the SCRA
9
Office of the Professions. New York Education Law 6512 – Unauthorized Practice a Crime
10
Office of the Professions. Unauthorized Practice of the Professions