Nurse Licensure Compact Notice

From the Colorado Board of Nursing:

Important Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) Notice

As of January 19, 2018, the 21 states in the original Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) that enacted the new Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) will cease to be members of the original NLC.

This means that beginning January 19, 2018, a nurse with a license from Wisconsin, Colorado, New Mexico, and Rhode Island will hold a multistate license valid in only those four states rather than the original 25 states. These nurses will need to obtain additional licensure in order to practice in any of the new eNLC states. Conversely, it also means that nurses in the new eNLC states will no longer have the authority to practice in Colorado and will need to obtain a Colorado single-state license in order to continue practicing in Colorado after January 19, 2018.

As a Colorado practicing nurse, it is very important you understand how this change will impact where you are able to practice. Nurses practicing in Colorado fall into one of the following four scenarios and should act accordingly:

1. Nurses practicing exclusively in Colorado with a Colorado-issued nursing license are not impacted by the change and no action is needed.
2. Nurses who will maintain a multistate compact license from a state that is leaving the current NLC, and plan to practice in Colorado after January 19, 2018, will need to obtain a Colorado single-state license.
3. Nurses who have a Colorado-issued multistate license will no longer be able to use their Colorado license to practice in any state that is leaving the current NLC. Please remember that you must have a license to practice in the state where your patient is located for telehealth practice.
4. Advanced Practice Nurses in Colorado using a Registered Nurse license issued by a state that is leaving the the current NLC will need to obtain a Colorado single state license. All Colorado issued “C-Type” APRN authorities with an RN license from a state that is leaving the current NLC will be expired after January 19, 2018.

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document related to the changes to the nurse compact. If you have questions not addressed in this notice or the Frequently Asked Questions, please contact the Colorado Board of Nursing at dora_nursingboard@state.co.us.

The Colorado Board of Nursing does not regulate employers. If your employer has questions about the new Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) they can visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website at www.ncsbn.org/nlc, or contact the National Council of State Boards of Nursing at info@ncsbn.org or 312-525-3600.