Registered and licensed practical nurses accredited in 40 other states and U.S. territories will soon be able to practice in Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, the state will begin partial implementation of the multi-state Nurse Licensing Compact. Through the compact, nurses licensed in other states who have passed a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check may practice in other member states.

“With a shortage of nurses, to allow these qualified individuals already practicing to cross state lines makes a lot of sense,” state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21, said.

A survey conducted by The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania found that nearly one-third of needed direct care positions for registered nurses were unfilled.

Pennsylvania approved joining the licensing compact in 2021. Currently, the state is awaiting FBI authorization for the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to perform criminal background checks that will allow nurses within the state to practice in other compact member states.

Currently, all states and U.S. territories except Michigan, California, Connecticut, Nevada, Oregon, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands have passed legislation or have legislation pending to join the compact.

“This key step will help address Pennsylvania’s severe nursing shortage and increase health care access for patients across the Commonwealth,” according to a release from Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt.

“This is a critical first step in the full implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact. The Department of State continues to work diligently with its state and federal partners to satisfy the preconditions necessary to fully implement the NLC,” Schmidt said in the release. “Once that occurs, Pennsylvania’s State Board of Nursing will be able to issue NLC multi-state licenses to Pennsylvania nurses, allowing them to practice in compact member states and territories.”

Information for state Department of Health licensed facilities wishing to employ nurses with multi-state licenses can be found on the department’s website.

Warren General Hospital and the state Department of Human Services, which operates Warren State Hospital, did not respond to requests for comment on the potential impact of partial implementation of the licensing compact.