Michigan is not currently a compact nursing state. As of 2025, the state has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), meaning nurses licensed in Michigan hold a single-state license that does not allow them to practice in other states without obtaining a separate license. However, active legislation in 2025 could change that.
Where Michigan Stands on the Compact
Michigan has tried and failed multiple times to join the Nurse Licensure Compact. Bills were introduced in the 2017-2018, 2019-2020, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 legislative sessions. Most never made it out of committee. The closest Michigan came was House Bill 4042 in the 2019-2020 session, which actually passed both chambers of the legislature before being vetoed by the governor in December 2020.
A new bill, House Bill 4246, was introduced in April 2025 to amend the Public Health Code and formally enter Michigan into the NLC. It is substantively identical to the bill that was vetoed in 2020. If enacted, it would take effect 90 days after the governor signs it, at which point nurses holding a multistate license from another compact state could legally practice in Michigan.
What This Means for Michigan Nurses Now
Without compact membership, Michigan nurses who want to work in another state must apply for and complete that state’s full licensing process, including any required background checks and fees. The same applies in reverse: a nurse licensed in a compact state like Ohio or Indiana cannot use their multistate license to practice in Michigan. They need a separate Michigan license.
Michigan’s current licensing fee for an RN or LPN (whether by exam or endorsement from another state) is $212.90, covering the application and a two-year license. That endorsement process is the only pathway for out-of-state nurses right now.
What the Nurse Licensure Compact Would Change
The NLC allows a nurse to hold one multistate license, issued by their home state, and use it to practice in any other compact member state without applying for additional licenses. Over 40 states have already joined. For Michigan nurses, joining would mean the ability to pick up travel assignments, provide telehealth across state lines, or relocate without waiting weeks or months for a new license application to process.
For nurses moving to Michigan from compact states, it would eliminate the need to go through Michigan’s endorsement process entirely. They could begin working as soon as they establish residency or simply practice across the border using their existing multistate credential.
Why Michigan Has Taken So Long
Michigan already participates in similar interstate compacts for physicians (the Interstate Medical Licensing Compact) and psychologists (the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact). The nursing compact, however, has faced repeated political resistance. The 2020 veto was a significant setback, and subsequent bills stalled in committee during the next two legislative sessions.
The reintroduction of nearly identical legislation in 2025 suggests there is renewed momentum. Whether it clears both chambers and avoids another veto remains an open question. Nurses and healthcare employers watching this issue should track House Bill 4246 through the Michigan Legislature’s website for updates on committee hearings and votes.
How to Prepare If the Compact Passes
If Michigan enacts the NLC, the transition would not be immediate. The 90-day implementation window gives the state’s licensing agency time to update its systems. During that period, nurses would likely need to confirm they meet the compact’s uniform eligibility requirements, which include holding an unencumbered license, completing a federal background check, and declaring a primary state of residence.
If you currently hold a Michigan-only nursing license, you would not automatically receive a multistate license. You would need to apply for one through the state and meet all compact criteria. If you already hold a multistate license from another compact state and Michigan joins, you would gain the ability to practice in Michigan under that license without a separate application.
For now, if you need to work in Michigan and hold an out-of-state license, the endorsement application through Michigan’s licensing portal remains your only option.