Nurse Licensure Compact · California · 2026
Is California a compact state for nurses?
Not a compact state · verified September 21, 2026
No — California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
- California single-state license by endorsement
- Set by the state board
California is not one of the 43 NLC jurisdictions in the official table this page models. A multistate license from another state does not authorize practice in California, in person or by telehealth, and a nurse whose primary state of residence is California cannot hold a multistate license. The route into California is a California license from the California Board of Registered Nursing. The compact's map lists no pending NLC legislation for California as of September 21, 2026.
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Last verified September 21, 2026. Informational only — state boards and compact commissions control eligibility, timing, fees, and scope.
Working routes into California
California single-state license by endorsement
Set by the state boardApply to the California Board of Registered Nursing for a California-only RN or LPN/VN license: the route for nurses whose primary state of residence is not an implemented NLC state, and for practice into any state outside the compact — telehealth included, because a nurse must be licensed where the patient is.
Timeline: Set by the state board
California Nurse Licensure Compact FAQ
Is California a compact state for nurses?
No. California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of the verification date on this page, so it neither issues multistate licenses nor recognizes them.
Can I work in California with a compact (multistate) license?
No. You need a California license by endorsement or by exam from the California Board of Registered Nursing. Telehealth counts as practice where the patient is, so remote care into California needs the California license too.
I live in California. Can I get a multistate license from another state?
Not while California is your primary state of residence: only the home state issues a multistate license, and only if that state is in the compact. A nurse who moves their primary residence to an implemented NLC state can apply there.
Is California going to join the NLC?
It has not joined as of the verification date on this page, and the compact's map lists no pending NLC legislation for California as of September 21, 2026. This page does not predict legislation.
Sources
Ruleset last verified July 23, 2026.
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We use your email to deliver this checklist and handle replies. We do not share it with licensing providers without separate consent. Informational only — not legal advice. State boards control eligibility.