The current APRN Compact status is not active for multistate APRN licensing. As of September 8, 2026, the official map lists four enacted states. The compact requires seven enactments before limited effect, followed by commission rulemaking and implementation. An enacted law is not yet a usable APRN privilege.
Official compact and nursing-regulatory sources were verified September 8, 2026. Legislative and implementation status can change. Recheck the official tracker before every cross-state practice decision.
Is the APRN Compact Active Right Now?
No. The official APRN Compact map lists four states with enacted legislation. The official compact text requires enactment by seven party states before the agreement takes limited effect for establishing the commission and adopting rules.
Because the threshold has not been reached, APRN Compact multistate privileges are not available as of the verification date. An NP should continue following the APRN licensing requirements of every state where the patient is located.
Which States Have Enacted the APRN Compact?
The official map lists these four enacted states:
| State | Enactment date shown on official map |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | March 9, 2021 |
| Delaware | August 4, 2021 |
| Utah | March 24, 2022 |
| South Dakota | February 5, 2024 |
This is a dated snapshot, not a permanent count. A new bill may be introduced, pass one chamber, reach a governor, or become law after publication. Only the official APRN Compact tracker and a state’s enacted law should update the “enacted” row.
Why Does Enactment Not Equal Implementation?
Enactment means a jurisdiction has adopted the compact language into law. It does not prove that the compact threshold is met, a commission is operating, rules are final, boards can issue multistate APRN licenses, or an individual has received a privilege.
The compact text describes limited effect after seven enactments for the purpose of establishing the commission and adopting rules. Operational steps still follow. Therefore, even a future seventh enactment should not be treated as same-day practice authority.
The official APRN Compact site explains the intended multistate model. Use it for current status, not as evidence that privileges already exist.
What Are the Four Compact Status Stages?
Future NP Club’s tracker uses four stages so legislative momentum cannot be mistaken for legal authority.
| Stage | Evidence | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Proposed | Bill number and legislative page | Passage or enactment |
| Enacted | Signed law and official compact map | Seven-state threshold or implementation |
| Threshold-counted | Official count reaches the required seven | Rules, systems, or privilege issuance |
| Privilege-issuing | Commission and board instructions confirm availability | Individual eligibility without an application |
Record the source URL, date checked, effective date, implementation notice, board instructions, and individual license status. Only the final row can support a claim that privileges are currently available.
Keep a separate row for each jurisdiction. One state’s enactment or eventual launch would not automatically establish the same effective date, application process, or practice rules in another state.
How Do You Check APRN Compact Status Correctly?
Use this sequence:
- Open the official APRN Compact map and record its update date or access date.
- Confirm any newly enacted jurisdiction through its legislature or board.
- Compare the official enacted count with the seven-state threshold in the compact text.
- Look for commission formation, adopted rules, and board implementation instructions.
- Verify your individual APRN license or privilege with the home and destination boards.
Do not use the RN compact map for step one. NCSBN’s licensure compacts page lists the NLC and APRN compact separately.
The RN compact vs. APRN license guide explains why an RN multistate privilege cannot be copied into the APRN row.
What Should an NP Do Until Privileges Are Active?
Apply for and maintain the APRN authority required in every patient jurisdiction. Verify the destination board’s role, population focus, national certification, education, prescribing, controlled-substance, collaboration, telehealth, renewal, and reporting requirements.
The official NLC FAQ states that the RN and LPN/VN compact does not itself include APRN practice. Keep the RN license, RN multistate privilege, APRN license, and prescribing authority as separate records.
Use the planned moving-states NP endorsement checklist for a relocation and the online-program licensure guide when education occurred across state lines. For the certification boundary, see the planned NP certification vs. licensure guide once published.
Compare NP programs before choosing a licensure state. Treat compact status as a current regulator check, not a substitute for program eligibility or a destination board application.
Official Sources
- Official APRN Compact status map, verified September 8, 2026
- Official APRN Compact text, verified September 8, 2026
- APRN Compact home page, verified September 8, 2026
- NCSBN licensure compacts, verified September 8, 2026
- Nurse Licensure Compact FAQs, verified September 8, 2026