The Enhanced Nurse Licensure

Compact

ALABAMA

JANUARY 1, 2020

Peggy Sellers Benson RN, MSN, MSHA, NE-BC

Objectives❖ Identify key provisions

of the Enhanced National Licensure Compact (eNLC).

❖ Examine definition changes inherent to the eNLC.

❖ Discuss license verification changes for employers.

❖ Explain Subscription Service changes.

What is an Interstate

Compact?

❖ A statutory agreement between two or more states established for the purpose of remedying a particular problem of multistate concern

❖ A contract between two or more party states

What is the Nurse

Licensure Compact?

▪ The NLC is an interstate compact.

▪ It allows a nurse to have one

multistate license (in his or her

primary state of residency).

▪ This permits the nurse to practice

in other member states (both

physically and electronically),

subject to each state’s practice

laws.

Mutual RecognitionModel of Licensure

The NLC is modeled

after the driver’s license

compact, which follows

the mutual recognition model of licensure.

Primary Concepts

Nurse is issued a multistate license in the declared primary state of residence(PSOR), known as the home state.

Nurse holds only one multistate license (issued by the home state).

Nurse has a multistate licensure privilege in other Compact states (remote/party states).

Public Policy Goal

Nurse Licensure Compact

State-Based License

Nationally Recognized

Locally Enforced

Current NLC Participating

States

What Does it Take to Join?

✓ A state must enact the enhanced NLC model language into law.

✓ A state must have the ability to conduct a federal criminal background check of a nurse, upon initial licensure or licensure by endorsement.

Key New

Provisions in the

Enhanced Nurse

Licensure

Compact (eNLC)

Definitions You

Need to KNOW

PSOR - Primary state of residence (where you actually live).

MSL - Multistate license; you may practice in any party state.

SSL - Single state license; you may only practice in the state that issued the license.

MSP - Multistate Privilege; when you practice in any party state, the practice is on the privilege granted by the state issuing the MSL.

Definitions Continued

Home State - where you live and are licensed.

Party State (Remote State) – a state (that has enacted the eNLC) where you may practice on a multistate license.

Non-Party State – a state that is not part of the compact; you cannot practice on a MSL, but may apply for an individual license.

Definitions Continued

Deactivate – to change a

license from a MSL to a SSL

VDAP - Voluntary Discipline

Alternative Program

CBC – Criminal Background

Check

Definitions Continued

NURSYS - a coordinated license

management system made up of all state

boards of nursing. NLC verification for out

of state licensees will occur through

Nursys.

NLC Commission – The governing body of

the NLC. The commission consists of one

member from each party state. The

Executive Officer of the ABN is the

Alabama commissioner/administrator .

What’s

New?

Authority to obtain and submit criminal background checks (CBCs).

Uniform Licensure Requirements

(ULRs)

MSLs are not issued to all licensees in a state; will require vetting process for

applicants.

What’s

New?

Prompt reporting to Nursys® of participation in alternative to discipline programs (VDAP).

Establishes Interstate Commission (NLC).

Provides for rulemaking by the Commission.

Improves dispute resolution and termination (if necessary) by the NLC commission.

Uniform Licensure Requirements

To receive a multistate license, a nurse

must:

▪ Have permanent residence in a

Compact state (home state).

▪ Meet the home state’s

qualifications.

▪ Graduate from a qualifying

education program.

▪ Pass the NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN®

exam (or predecessor).

Uniform Licensure

Requirements▪ Hold an active, unencumbered license.

▪ Submit to a criminal background check.

▪ no prior state or federal felony convictions or entered into an agreed disposition.

▪ misdemeanor convictions/agreed dispositions evaluated by each state on a case-by-case basis.

▪ Not currently enrolled in an alternative program.

▪ Have a valid U.S. Social Security number.

▪ Have legal residence in the U.S.

Uniform Licensure

Requirements

▪ If foreign educated:

▪ Prelicensure education program approved by authorizing accrediting body in applicable country.

▪ Education verified by independent credentials review agency to be comparable to US education requirements.

▪ Successfully pass English proficiency examination with components of reading, speaking, writing, listening.

▪ Exceptions – prelicensure education program taught in English or English is individual’s native language.

Authorities of Home State Licensing Boards

▪ Required to deactivate multistate license (convert to a single state license):

▪ when license is encumbered or participant is in alternative to discipline program

▪ when licensee changes primary state of residence to a non-party state

▪ Required to deactivate multistate license (according to Compact rules):

▪ when licensee changes primary state of residence (PSOR) to a party state

Enactment, Effective Date

& Implementation Date

Enact

• 2019 Alabama passes eNLClegislation.

Development

• Sets implementation date of January 1, 2020.

• Develops rules for implementation.

• Develops application infrastructure and completes staff/licensee training.

Implement

• Implementation Date: January 1, 2020

•Accept multistate license applications and issue MSLs.

•Nurses with MSLs can practice on the MSP in Alabama.

Important to Know

Why isn’t the compact implemented

on the date the state enacts the

legislation?

Can a nurse with an MSL in a current

compact state start practicing in

Alabama on the effective date?

Why does the eNLC implementation

date need to occur within 6 months of

the effective date?

Nurse LicensureCompact Commission

Governing body of the NLC; also a public agency

The commission consists of one member from each party state. The Executive Officer of the ABN is the Alabama

commissioner/administrator.

NLC Rulemaking

▪ Rules adopted directly by the

Commission.

▪ Legally binding in all party

states and carry the effect

of law.

▪ No requirement that rules be

ratified or adopted by

individual states.

▪ Such rulemaking authority is

permitted and exercised by

other current interstate

compacts that have been

enacted in all 50 states.

More on Rulemaking

▪ The procedural requirements include:

▪ Notice to the public of

proposed and adopted rules

▪ Opportunity for comment

▪ Opportunity for public hearing

▪ Consideration and voting

upon proposed rules

▪ Responding to comments

received

Note: In Alabama, links to the

commission will be provided on

the ABN website.

▪ Procedures followed in the event of

noncompliance with the Compact:

▪ Technical assistance to address noncompliance

▪ Dispute resolution processes

▪ Termination from the Compact, if compliance

has not been successful

NLC Commission: Oversight,

Dispute Resolution,

and Enforcement

Nursys Implementation November 1, 2019

Certified verifications will be completed by Nursys.com.

Nursys Quick Confirm allows for rapid look up.

eNotify will be available to employers and nurses to register (free) to track both Alabama and non-Alabama nurses.

NURSYS.COM

License Verification for Endorsements

All licensees are to use

Nursys.com to request license

verification. The cost is $30.00

per verification.

ABN will no longer provide

license verification for

endorsement to other states;

this will available only through Nursys.com.

Employer

License

Verification

License verification for MSL applicants must occur through Nursys.com.

Alabama employers should enroll in Nursys e-Notify for all MSL licensees (and Alabama single state licensees, if desired).

Alabama license lookup will still exist for Alabama licensees only.

ABN Subscription Service remains in effect for Alabama licensed nurses only.

NOTE: DO NOT ACCEPT CARDS FOR LICENSURE VERIFICATION and validate both SSN and DOB.

Employer

Need To

Know

Determine how many nurses work for you that have an MSL elsewhere. The Alabama license will lapse on renewal.

Be sure the MSL nurse is listed in the ABN Subscription Service as an MSL from another state for your annual report.

ABN Subscription Service

The Subscription Service will be utilized for discipline reports, licensure changes, and the annual report.

Employers are required to list all MSL nurses hired and allowed to work in Alabama.

NOTE: The ABN Subscription Service provides discipline and other license status change reports in real time, much more quickly than other services.

New Service Offered

Alabama nurses may request a

report of Nursys individual

licensee data to review what is

on file with Nursys.com.

The fee is $50.00 and the

request may be made through

the ABN website.

Common Questions

1. Can I start practicing now in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas with my Alabama license?

Answer: No, you cannot start working in another state until after January 1, 2020 and after you have applied for and received a MSL license from Alabama.

2. Am I required to have an MSL?

Answer: No, you are not required to obtain a MSL and may stay as a single state licensee (SSL).

3. What is the fee for an RN or LPN MSL?

Answer: $200.00

Questions

4. Can I just renew my SSL to an MSL?

Answer: You will need to apply for an MSL. You may do that at any time.

5. I had a CBC for my initial RN license; do I have to obtain another CBC for the MSL?

Answer: Yes. If you are a first time applicant for a MSL license in Alabama, you must have an updated CBC and fingerprint.

6. My felony conviction was 20 years ago – am I eligible for an MSL?

Answer: No, you will not meet the uniform licensure requirements.

Questions Continued

7. I have a Missouri MSL and am moving to Alabama in February 2020; will my Missouri MSL be grandfathered into Alabama?

Answer: No, if you change your primary state of residence (PSOR), you will need to apply for an MSL in Alabama within 30 days of moving to Alabama.

8. My license was disciplined 5 years ago – am I eligible for an MSL?

Answer: Yes, if all disciplinary encumbrances have been met, you are eligible.

Information

The ABN will provide links to all NLC information on the ABN website, including:

•Nursys verification

•NLC Commission

•NLC rule changes, etc.

QUESTIONS