Florida's Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact to be Implemented Statewide January 19, 2018 

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Tallahassee, Fla. — On January 19, 2018, applicants and currently licensed Florida nurses will be eligible to apply for a multi-state license under the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, or eNLC.

The eNLC allows registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold licensure in one Compact state to practice in any of the 27 Compact states without having to obtain additional licenses. This reduces regulatory requirements by eliminating the need for nurses to obtain a separate license to practice in different states.

“Florida, along with many states in the U.S., is committed to addressing nursing shortages,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary Dr. Celeste Philip. “By joining the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact we are reducing regulatory burdens on nurses with the goal of increasing patient access to quality nursing care.”

Florida joined the Nurse Licensure Compact upon the passage of HB 1061 during the 2016 regular Legislative Session. The bill was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. Senator Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring and Representative Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park, sponsored the legislation.

“This Compact will give our nurses the flexibility they need to perform their high-demand services,” said Senator Grimsley. “We’re also ensuring standards are preserved while removing hurdles to first-class care.”

Representative Pigman said, “I’m proud to have sponsored this important law that gives great advantage to nurses in our state and welcomes those highly trained and skilled nurses from other states to come practice in Florida. In addition to responding to Florida’s nursing shortage, it removes expensive and time consuming redundancies that nurses have had to pay. This law will reduce costs, make nurses’ lives easier and improve the health of Floridians.”

Beginning January 19, Florida will issue a multi-state license to new applicants who meet the Compact licensure requirements; and, nurses who reside in Florida and hold an active, unrestricted license will also have the option to convert from a standard Florida license to a multi-state license.

For more information regarding the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, please visit the Florida Board of Nursing web page at http://floridanursing.gov/.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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