This summer, licensure compacts are growing in popularity as more states pass legislation to expand provider access.
Licensure compacts allow clinicians to hold interstate licenses and practice in participating states. Currently, there are compacts for most clinicians, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and dentists. Many states are turning to compacts as a way to relieve clinician shortages.
In the last month, four states have joined a licensure compact:
1. On July 1, North Carolina became the 19th state to join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Connecticut also joined the compact in June. The physician assistant compact is one of the newest, having been launched by seven states in April 2024.
2. Pennsylvania became the 43rd state to join the Nurse Licensure Compact. Connecticut and Massachusetts have also chosen to join the NLC, though no date for implementation has been determined.
3. Louisiana became the first state to implement the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact June 11.
