Nurse Licensure Compact · District of Columbia · 2026
Is District of Columbia a compact state for nurses?
Not a compact state · verified September 21, 2026
No — District of Columbia is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
- District of Columbia single-state license by endorsement
- Set by the state board
District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, in person or by telehealth, and a nurse whose primary state of residence is District of Columbia cannot hold a multistate license. The route into District of Columbia is a District of Columbia license from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The compact's map lists a bill to join in District of Columbia (B69) as of September 21, 2026; a bill is not membership, and this page changes only when the official status does.
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This page follows the compact's official list. When District of Columbia's status changes, you get one email saying so — nothing else, no newsletter.
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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 District of Columbia
District of Columbia single-state license by endorsement
Set by the state boardApply to the District of Columbia Board of Nursing for a District of Columbia-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
District of Columbia Nurse Licensure Compact FAQ
Is District of Columbia a compact state for nurses?
No. District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia with a compact (multistate) license?
No. You need a District of Columbia license by endorsement or by exam from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. Telehealth counts as practice where the patient is, so remote care into District of Columbia needs the District of Columbia license too.
I live in District of Columbia. Can I get a multistate license from another state?
Not while District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia going to join the NLC?
Not yet. The compact's map lists a bill to join in District of Columbia (B69) as of September 21, 2026; a bill is not membership, and this page changes only when the official status does. Until the compact lists District of Columbia as implemented, nothing changes for a nurse.
Sources
Ruleset last verified July 23, 2026.
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Take this District of Columbia page as a dated PDF
Everything above, laid out as a one-file nurse checklist with the verification date and every source link — ready to attach to a credentialing or board packet. No account, one field.
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.
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