The APRN Compact is an interstate agreement that would let CRNAs and other APRNs hold one multistate license and practice in every member state. As of October 2026, 4 states have enacted it. It needs 7 to take effect, so it is not in effect yet.
Until it is, you need a separate APRN license or authorization in each state where you practice as a CRNA.
What the APRN Compact is
The compact is modeled on the Nurse Licensure Compact, which covers RN and LPN licenses. It is supported by NCSBN, the national council of state boards of nursing.
It covers all four APRN roles: CRNAs, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse practitioners. Your home state would issue the multistate license, and other member states would recognize it.
Which states have enacted it
| State | Enacted |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | March 2021 |
| Delaware | August 2021 |
| Utah | March 2022 |
| South Dakota | February 2024 |
Seven states must enact it before it can be implemented. That means 3 more are needed.
No state enacted it in 2026 as of this update. A 2025 Arizona bill died in committee.
What about Wyoming?
Some websites list Wyoming as a member. Wyoming passed an older APRN compact in 2016, which has been replaced by the current version. NCSBN and the South Dakota Board of Nursing do not count Wyoming among the 4 states.
What would change if it takes effect
The compact text, as enacted in Delaware, spells out how it would work. Here are the parts that matter most to CRNAs.
One license, many states
You could practice as an APRN in any member state on your home state's multistate license. You would practice in the same role and population focus as your home state license.
Who would qualify
To get a multistate APRN license, you would need to meet requirements that include:
- An active, unencumbered RN license and APRN authorization
- Completion of an accredited graduate-level APRN program
- A passing score on a national certification exam, with current recertification (for CRNAs, NBCRNA certification)
- A passing score on the NCLEX-RN
- At least 2,080 hours of practice as an APRN, not counting hours in school
- Fingerprint-based state and federal background checks
- No felony convictions and no current participation in an alternative program
The 2,080-hour rule matters for new grads. In your first year or so of practice, you would likely hold single-state licenses even in a compact state.
Independent practice in member states
A multistate APRN license would let you take responsibility for patient care without a supervisory or collaborative agreement. This applies in your home state and in any member state where you practice under the compact.
Prescribing has limits
A multistate license would include authority to prescribe non-controlled drugs. To prescribe controlled substances, you would still meet each state's own requirements.
State rules still apply
Each state keeps its nurse practice act and its power to discipline. You would follow the laws of the state where the patient is located.
Residents of non-member states could still apply for single-state APRN licenses, as they do now.
What it means for you today
The compact is not active, so nothing changes yet. If you work in more than one state, plan as you do now:
- Get an RN license (or multistate RN privilege) for each state.
- Apply for APRN licensure or recognition with each state's board.
- Keep NBCRNA certification current, because every state relies on it.
- Track renewal dates and continuing education rules for every license.
Our guides to licensure by endorsement and APRN credentialing walk through each step. You can find each state's board on our board of nursing page.
If you want to follow progress, NCSBN publishes updates at aprncompact.com. Your state's nurse anesthesia association can also tell you if a bill has been filed.
FAQ
Is the APRN Compact in effect?
No. As of October 2026, 4 states have enacted it, and it needs 7 before it can be implemented.
Does the Nurse Licensure Compact cover CRNAs?
Only your RN license. The NLC does not cover APRN authority, so you still need a CRNA or APRN license in each state.
Would the APRN Compact cover CRNAs?
Yes. The compact names CRNAs as one of the four recognized APRN roles.
Would I need a multistate RN license too?
The compact requires an active, unencumbered RN license. Member states would also accept a multistate RN privilege as meeting their RN prerequisite for APRN practice.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Check with your board of nursing for current rules.
Sources
- APRN Compact: About
- South Dakota Board of Nursing: APRN Compact (4 states, not in effect, needs 7)
- NCSBN: South Dakota Enacts APRN Compact (February 2024)
- Delaware Code Title 24, Chapter 19B: APRN Compact text
- APRNCompact.com map with enactment dates, via NM Legislature handout (November 2025)
- Arizona HB2310 (2025)
- Nurse Licensure Compact FAQs