Glossary
Compact License
A professional license obtained through a multi-state compact, such as the IMLC for physicians or the NLC for nurses.
A compact license is one issued through an interstate agreement that allows a clinician to practice across several member states under a coordinated process. For physicians, the most common route is the IMLC, while nurses may use the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). These arrangements reduce duplicate paperwork and speed up multi-state authorization, which is especially useful for telehealth. Even so, the underlying authority to license and discipline still rests with each participating state medical board.