Pennsylvania has joined three multistate licensure compacts, aiming to streamline licensing and create job opportunities for more than 380,000 professionals, effective July 7.
In an effort to improve healthcare access and address workforce shortages, the state is now a full participant in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Nurse Licensure Compact and Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, according to a July 7 news release from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office.
The move allows approximately 300,000 nurses, 65,000 physicians and 17,000 physical therapists to practice in dozens of states. Out-of-state healthcare professionals can now enter Pennsylvania’s workforce within days, bypassing the previously monthslong licensure process, according to the release.
Pennsylvania is the 43rd state to join the Nurse Licensure Compact. Across the state, about 14% of nursing jobs — and 26% in rural communities — are vacant, the release said.
“By streamlining licensure processes, we will now be able to respond faster to patient needs and ensure continuity of care across state lines,” Patty Donley, DNP, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health, said in the release. “For health systems like ours at WellSpan, this means there will be more support and more time to focus on what matters most: our patients.”
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