Where should a new grad apply?
Pick where you'll live, where you're finishing school, and where you want to work. You'll get plain-English next steps based on the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) rules. Starting states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. More states are coming. We'd rather leave a state out than guess.
Confirm with your board. This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Boards set their own forms, fees, fingerprint steps and timelines, and compact rules can change. Check with the board of nursing in the state where you apply before you submit anything.
The four starting states
| State | In the compact? | Board of nursing |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Yes, implemented Jan. 31, 2024 | Washington State Board of Nursing |
| Idaho | Yes, implemented Jan. 19, 2018 | Idaho Board of Nursing (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) |
| Oregon | No, single-state licenses only | Oregon State Board of Nursing |
| California | No, single-state licenses only | California Board of Registered Nursing |
Compact status and implementation dates are from the NLC map on NurseCompact.com (NLC map PDF; nursecompact.com, checked Nov 10, 2026). Oregon and California do not appear on the compact list.
Rules that apply everywhere
- You can take the licensing exam (NCLEX®) in any state. Your results go to the board you applied to for your Authorization to Test and license. Apply in the state where you plan to live or work. (Source: NurseCompact.com FAQs.)
- Multistate licenses come only from your home state. Your "primary state of residence" is the state on your driver's license, voter registration and federal tax return. Owning property somewhere doesn't count. (Source: How the NLC works.)
- To get a multistate license you must meet the uniform licensure requirements. These include graduating from a board-approved program, passing the exam, state and federal fingerprint background checks, and having a U.S. Social Security number. (Source: Applying for licensure.)
- The 60-day rule. If you move your legal home from one compact state to another, you must apply for a license in the new home state within 60 days. You can start the application before you move. (Source: NurseCompact.com, FAQs.)
- Living in a non-compact state? You can't hold a multistate license, but you can hold as many single-state licenses as you need. (Source: FAQs.)
- NCSBN also runs an official Nurse Licensure Guidance tool. Use it to double-check your situation.
Exam prep
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