The Shapiro Administration continues to open doors to opportunity and cut red tape to address critical workforce shortages.

Harrisburg, PA – As part of the Shapiro Administration’s work to cut unnecessary red tape, Governor Shapiro and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced today that, starting July 7, Pennsylvania will become a full participant in three health care compacts that provide additional flexibility for qualified medical professionals to provide care to patients in dozens of states. These health care compacts make it easier for qualified doctors, nurses, and physical therapists to provide care in multiple states.

“Thanks to diligent, continuous hard work, the Department of State is leveling the playing field for doctors, nurses, and physical therapists in Pennsylvania,” said Governor Shapiro. “We have listened to the calls from our nurses and our lawmakers to get full implementation of these health care compacts done, and I applaud everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen for the health care professionals across our Commonwealth, from our team at the Department of State to the chairs of the House Professional Licensure Committee, Representatives Burns and Emrick, and the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee, Senators Stefano and Boscola. My Administration is committed to cutting red tape, reducing processing times, and opening the doors of opportunity for all Pennsylvanians who want to walk through.”

Health care compacts allow qualified, licensed professionals to streamline the application process to prove they meet all licensing requirements to provide care to patients in dozens of compact member states.

“Since Governor Shapiro took office, the Department of State has been laser focused on working with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Pennsylvania State Police, and a bipartisan collection of Congressional allies to complete the steps necessary for Pennsylvania to fully participate in three General Assembly-approved multistate health care compacts. Previous Administrations began the work to fully implement these compacts, but after years of waiting, the Shapiro Administration finally got it done,” Secretary Schmidt added.

Pennsylvania currently licenses more than 300,000 nurses, about 65,000 doctors, and more than 17,000 physical therapists.

Compacts’ History in Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth’s journey to joining interstate health care compacts began in 2016, when the General Assembly passed legislation for Pennsylvania to participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) for physicians.

Since then, the Legislature approved Pennsylvania’s participation in additional health care compacts, including the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact), enacted in 2020; and the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), enacted in 2021.

The Department has worked diligently to complete the multitude of federal requirements for Pennsylvania to fully participate in these compacts, culminating with the full implementation of these compacts on July 7, just two weeks from today.

“Patient safety has always been our top focus in this process,” said Secretary Schmidt. “The Department has a solemn responsibility to protect public health by thoroughly vetting all professional health care applicants to ensure the applicants meet the qualifications to work in their chosen field.”

Prior Partial Implementations

While working to secure final DOJ approval, the Shapiro Administration partially implemented the nurse compact in September 2023 and the physician compact in August 2024.

These initiatives allowed nurses licensed in NLC member states to provide care for Pennsylvania patients and expedited the licensure process for physicians from IMLC member states so they could begin caring for Pennsylvania patients more quickly. These key steps are helping expand the health care workforce in the Commonwealth.

“The Shapiro Administration has been committed to reducing barriers to licensure for qualified professionals entering life-saving health care professions,” said Secretary Schmidt. “Making it easier for qualified out-of-state physicians and nurses to practice in the Commonwealth helped ease severe health care worker shortages and increased health care access for patients across Pennsylvania.”

For more than two years, Governor Shapiro’s Administration has focused on delivering better government services and positioning Pennsylvania as a leader in efficiency, accountability, and digital innovation. From reducing bureaucratic delays and cutting red tape to driving job creation and economic development, the Governor is proving that government can operate at the speed of business while always putting Pennsylvanians first.

The Shapiro Administration is setting a new standard for good governance — making Pennsylvania a place where government works to create real opportunity and gives people the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. As part of that effort, the Governor instituted a money-back guarantee, PAyback, to ensure greater certainty and accountability in the Commonwealth’s permitting, licensing, and certification processes.

Thanks to this work, processing times for key professional licenses have dropped significantly: Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse licenses have gone from 25 business days at the beginning of the administration to just 5, Physician/Surgeon (M.D.) licenses from 43 to 10 days, and Physical Therapist licenses from 31 to just 3 days. These improvements mean nurses, doctors, and other professionals can get to work faster — and more Pennsylvanians can get the care and services they need.

Other Health Care Compact

In 2020, Pennsylvania fully implemented the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which allows psychologists licensed through the compact to practice telepsychology in participating states. Nearly 1,000 Pennsylvania psychologists are licensed by PSYPACT.

Bipartisan Support for Full Implementation

«For two years, I worked closely with the FBI and the Pennsylvania Department of State to get this critical approval across the finish line,” said U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents PA District 1 just north of Philadelphia. “Now, with federal approval secured, Pennsylvania can fully implement its licensure compacts — streamlining the process, expanding our health care workforce, and getting more qualified providers to patients faster.

“I’m grateful to Pennsylvania State Representative Kristin Marcell and State Senator Frank Farry for their partnership in helping to drive this effort forward,” Representative Fitzpatrick continued. “This is a big win for our PA-1 community, our health care system, and every Pennsylvanian counting on access to timely, high-quality care.”

“In the midst of historic and persistent workforce shortages, we need every tool available to attract the health care providers who will meet Pennsylvania’s growing need for care,” said Nicole Stallings, President and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. “Full implementation of interstate licensure compacts helps bring providers to our communities and supports access to care.

“Pennsylvania’s hospitals thank the Shapiro Administration, General Assembly leadership, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, and many others who worked together on this critical step,” Stallings added.