Texas is a compact nursing state. Graduating from a nursing school in Texas, passing the NCLEX, and obtaining a multistate license will open job opportunities by enabling you to work across states. You could become a travel nurse, disaster relief nurse, or telehealth nurse with a multistate license.
All aspiring nurses must obtain a nursing license from the state where they plan to work. Not all nurses stay in one state for their entire career, however. Some nurses, such as travel nurses, frequently live and work in many states throughout their practice. Thanks to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), nurses do not necessarily need a separate license for each state, including Texas.
At the University of St. Thomas (UST), we believe in empowering our nursing students to serve as leaders in the field, no matter where they end up working. The University of St. Thomas’ Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program provides a pathway toward pursuing nursing licensure sooner, whether you plan on applying for a single-state license or a multistate license. In our program, which can be completed in as few as 12 months, you’ll be immersed in hands-on nursing education to help prepare you for the licensure exam and professional practice.
As you look ahead to your nursing career, you may want to consider the benefits of obtaining a multistate nursing license. Discover what the NLC is and what it does for nurses and learn how to apply for a multistate nursing license as a nursing school graduate in Texas.
What is an ABSN program? Learn the hows and whys as you begin your nursing journey.
Understanding Nursing Compact States and the NLC
Before the NLC was formed in 2000, nurses were required to obtain a separate state-issued nursing license for every state they worked in. This created a significant barrier to career opportunities for nurses and patient care. Often, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are short-staffed and need to hire temporary nurses on assignments ranging in length from several weeks to several months. Due to licensure requirements, it was difficult for hospitals to hire nurses from out of state.
The Nurse Licensure Compact was formed to reduce regulatory barriers and create greater access to care and work opportunities. It is a voluntary agreement that U.S. states and non-state jurisdictions can enter. All nursing compact states agree to recognize and accept the multistate nursing license. This means that nurses practicing in any of those member states and jurisdictions only need that multistate license.
Note that the multistate license is also referred to as the compact license. It’s also important to note that the multistate license only applies to RNs and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) still needs to obtain an individual state-issued license for every state where they want to work.
Is Texas a Compact Nursing State?
Is Texas a compact state for nursing? Texas is a compact member, offering diverse career opportunities to Texas nurses and nursing students. As of April 2025, 43 U.S. states and jurisdictions belonged to the NLC. Two other states and the Virgin Islands have legislation pending that could allow them to become members. Various jurisdictions and states are in the process of becoming members and have partially implemented the multistate license, including Guam and Pennsylvania.
Those planning on attending the ABSN program at UST may be interested to know that not only is Texas a member state, but so are its border states: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In fact, most of the country now belongs to the NLC.
How to Obtain a Compact Nursing License in Texas
There are different pathways toward obtaining a multistate license, such as upgrading a current single-state license to a multistate license or seeking a license by endorsement if you’re already licensed in another state.
For nursing students and recent graduates, however, the process is simple. You’ll apply via licensure by exam. This means that when you apply for your authorization to test, you’ll indicate that you request a multistate license.
The complete process for earning a compact nursing license includes:
- Earn a nursing degree.
- Choose a compact state.
- Apply for the NCLEX.
- Pass the NCLEX.
- Receive your license.
Discover what to expect and how to succeed during your nursing clinicals.
1. Complete an ABSN Program
The first step in earning your compact nursing license is graduating from an accredited ABSN program like the one at UST. UST’s comprehensive curriculum prepares students to become confident nurses through a blended model, which includes:
- Online courses
- Skills and simulation labs
- Clinical rotations at top healthcare facilities around Texas
You are not required to apply for your nursing license in the state where you attended school unless you plan to work there after graduation; however, Texas is an NLC state, so it could benefit you to apply for the multistate license while residing there.
2. Choose a Compact State
The Nurse License Compact enables nurses to enjoy considerable career mobility. It does, however, require that RNs with a multistate license designate one state as their primary residence. Your primary residence will be where you call home, regardless of whether you own real property there. It’s where you legally reside, as evidenced by your voter registration, driver’s license, and similar official documents.
To apply for a multistate license, your primary state of residence must also be a member of the NLC, such as Texas. Your state does not have to be the same state where you graduated from nursing school. Attending nursing school in one state, taking the NCLEX, and obtaining a multistate license from another member state is possible.
3. Apply for the NCLEX
You can begin navigating the application process after choosing your primary state of residence.
As a recent nursing school graduate, you must apply for licensure by exam and authorization to test (ATT). This means you’ll need to take the NCLEX to earn your license.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the process:
- Apply for licensure from the state by following the procedures and requirements listed on the Board of Nursing (BON) website.
- Be granted eligibility by the state’s BON.
- Take and pass the NCLEX.
- Receive your multistate nursing license.
4. Pass the NCLEX and Receive Your License
The NCLEX is a rigorous licensure exam designed to ensure you have the knowledge and clinical skills to work safely as a nurse. It will test you on various topics such as safe and effective care environments, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. You can expect to work through numerous case studies, for which you’ll need to apply critical thinking skills to identify the most appropriate nursing response.
Upon passing the NCLEX, you’ll receive your nursing license. If you applied for a multistate license in one of the nursing compact states, you are also eligible to work as a nurse in any other compact state.
Advantages of a Compact Nursing License
There are plenty of reasons why you might want a multistate license. NLC nurses can work in telehealth, travel to other states for jobs as travel nurses, and aid in disaster relief efforts. They can also move between locations more easily, as nurses licensed in an NLC state like Texas can work in another NLC state without applying to transfer their license.
Holding a compact license is helpful if you:
- Reside on the other side of the state border from your workplace
- Work as a travel nurse
- Work as a nurse offering disaster relief assistance
- Deliver remote healthcare services to different states
Learn More about Nursing School at UST
If you’re considering nursing, earning your BSN from the University of St. Thomas is a perfect place to start. Our 12-month accelerated program in Houston offers three start dates each year so you can finish sooner. We support our students with small classes, personalized attention, academic success coaches, and exceptional clinical partners.
Contact an admissions advisor to learn more.