Does the Nurse Licensure Compact Apply to APRNs?

There is a nationwide nursing shortage during one of the worst public health crises in this country’s history. During the pandemic, nurses have experienced increased burnout and distress, causing many of them to leave their jobs and take higher-paying travel nursing assignments. While the transition to travel nursing can be quite simple for a registered nurse, it is not as simple for an Advanced Practical Registered Nurse seeking to travel and practice in a foreign state.

Does the Nurse Licensure Compact apply to APRNs?
Implemented in 2000, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an interstate agreement allowing a nurse to have one license and the privilege to practice in other compact states. The Nurse Practice Act, Section 464.0095, FS, talks about the requirements specific to the Nurse Licensure Compact:

“A multistate license to practice registered or licensed practical/vocational nursing issued by a home state to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each party state as authorizing a nurse to practice as an RN or as an LPN/VN under a multistate licensure privilege in each party state.” (Emphasis added.)

The Nurse Practice Act, Section 464.0095, Florida Statutes

Notably, the NLC only applies to Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse Licenses. Other states have implemented similar interstate agreements applicable to APRNs. The APRN Compact, adopted August 12, 2020, allows an advanced practice registered nurse to hold one multistate license with a privilege to practice in other compact states. The APRN Compact is currently implemented in only 3 states (Delaware, North Dakota, and Utah). https://www.ncsbn.org/aprn-compact.htm.

The State of Florida has enacted no APRN Compact legislation. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses licensed in a state other than Florida cannot practice in Florida under their foreign state license.

Are you an APRN seeking to practice in Florida?

If you are an APRN and are seeking to practice in Florida, you will need to apply for a Florida APRN license with the Florida Department of Health, Board of Nursing.
For Licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Section 464.012, F.S.

1. Hold a valid Registered Nurse License from any US jurisdiction (at initial APRN licensure)
2. Education Requirements:
   o (a) Applicants who graduated on or after October 1, 1998, must have completed the requirements for a master’s degree or post-master’s degree certification.
   o (b) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist applicants who graduated on or after October 1, 2001, must have completed the requirements for a master’s degree program.
   o (c) Applicants who graduated prior to the applicable date are exempt from this requirement.
   o (d) Graduates from either a certificate or currently closed program should submit supporting documentation that demonstrates program compliance with Board guidelines.
3. After July 1, 2006, applicants for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse pursuant to section 464.012(1), F.S., shall submit proof of national advanced practice certification from an approved nursing specialty board.
4. Proof of malpractice insurance or exemption.
   

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