Structured licensing data
U.S. Nursing Licensing Jurisdiction Types
Only information captured from listed official sources is displayed. Missing amounts are not guessed.
What this comparison answers
Use the table to identify the published jurisdiction rule, then open the state-specific page and linked official source before acting. Missing amounts are not estimated.
| Jurisdiction | Type | Region | Authority | Authority model | NLC status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State | South | Alabama Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Alaska | State | West | Alaska Board of Nursing | Board within Alaska professional licensing | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| American Samoa | U.S. territory | Territory | American Samoa Health Services Regulatory Board | Territorial health-professions regulatory board | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Arizona | State | West | Arizona State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Arkansas | State | South | Arkansas State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| California | State | West | California Board of Registered Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Colorado | State | West | Colorado Board of Nursing | Board within the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations | Compact jurisdiction |
| Connecticut | State | Northeast | Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing / Department of Public Health | Board within a state health department | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Delaware | State | South | Delaware Board of Nursing | State professional licensing board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| District of Columbia | Federal district | District | District of Columbia Board of Nursing | Board within DC Health | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Florida | State | South | Florida Board of Nursing | Board within Florida Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance | Compact jurisdiction |
| Georgia | State | South | Georgia Board of Nursing | Board within Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division | Compact jurisdiction |
| Guam | U.S. territory | Territory | Guam Board of Nurse Examiners | Territorial board within Guam DPHSS | NLC enacted — implementation pending |
| Hawaii | State | West | Hawaii Board of Nursing | Board within Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Idaho | State | West | Idaho Board of Nursing / Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses | Board administered through a state licensing division | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Illinois | State | Midwest | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | State professional licensing department | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Indiana | State | Midwest | Indiana State Board of Nursing | Professional licensing board within the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency | Compact jurisdiction |
| Iowa | State | Midwest | Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing — Nursing & Professional Midwifery | State licensing department | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Kansas | State | Midwest | Kansas State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Kentucky | State | South | Kentucky Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Louisiana | State | South | Louisiana State Board of Nursing | RN/APRN regulatory board; practical nursing is regulated by a separate board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Maine | State | Northeast | Maine State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Maryland | State | South | Maryland Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Massachusetts | State | Northeast | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing | Board within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health | NLC enacted — implementation pending |
| Michigan | State | Midwest | Michigan Board of Nursing | Health-profession board administered by Michigan LARA | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Minnesota | State | Midwest | Minnesota Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Mississippi | State | South | Mississippi Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Missouri | State | Midwest | Missouri State Board of Nursing | Board within the Division of Professional Registration | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Montana | State | West | Montana Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Nebraska | State | Midwest | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — Nursing | Nursing licensure program within a state health department | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Nevada | State | West | Nevada State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| New Hampshire | State | Northeast | New Hampshire Board of Nursing | Board within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification | Compact jurisdiction |
| New Jersey | State | Northeast | New Jersey Board of Nursing | Board within the Division of Consumer Affairs | NLC member jurisdiction |
| New Mexico | State | West | New Mexico Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| New York | State | Northeast | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Nursing | State education department professional licensing authority | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| North Carolina | State | South | North Carolina Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| North Dakota | State | Midwest | North Dakota Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Northern Mariana Islands | U.S. territory | Territory | Commonwealth Board of Nurse Examiners | Territorial nursing regulatory board | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Ohio | State | Midwest | Ohio Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| Oklahoma | State | South | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Oregon | State | West | Oregon State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Pennsylvania | State | Northeast | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing | Board within the Pennsylvania Department of State | Compact jurisdiction |
| Puerto Rico | U.S. territory | Territory | Puerto Rico Board of Nurse Examiners | Territorial board within Puerto Rico Department of Health | Non-compact jurisdiction |
| Rhode Island | State | Northeast | Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education | Board within the Rhode Island Department of Health | Compact jurisdiction |
| South Carolina | State | South | South Carolina Board of Nursing | Board within the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation | NLC member jurisdiction |
| South Dakota | State | Midwest | South Dakota Board of Nursing | Board within the South Dakota Department of Health | Compact jurisdiction |
| Tennessee | State | South | Tennessee Board of Nursing | Board within the Tennessee Department of Health | Compact jurisdiction |
| Texas | State | South | Texas Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | U.S. territory | Territory | Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure | Territorial nursing regulatory board | NLC enacted — implementation pending |
| Utah | State | West | Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Nursing | Nursing licensing program within a state commerce department | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Vermont | State | Northeast | Vermont Board of Nursing | Board within the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation | Compact jurisdiction |
| Virginia | State | South | Virginia Board of Nursing | Health regulatory board within the Virginia Department of Health Professions | Compact jurisdiction |
| Washington | State | West | Washington State Board of Nursing | Independent state nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |
| West Virginia | State | South | West Virginia RN Board and West Virginia LPN Board | Split authority by nursing credential | Compact jurisdiction |
| Wisconsin | State | Midwest | Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services | Board within a state professional-licensing department | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Wyoming | State | West | Wyoming State Board of Nursing | State nursing regulatory board | Compact jurisdiction |