Pennsylvania fully implements interstate healthcare compacts for doctors, nurses and physical therapists

Pennsylvania has now fully entered into three interstate healthcare compacts allowing medical professionals to work in multiple states with minimal complications.

Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt made the announcement on Monday after much urging from nurses' organizations and lawmakers.

There are currently over 300,000 nurses, 65,000 doctors and 17,000 physical therapists licensed in Pennsylvania that under these compacts can be employed in or transferred to over half of the U.S. without needing to be recertified.

The agreements also allow practitioners from out of state to come to Pennsylvania and work which can help alleviate healthcare labor shortages. 

In 2016 the Pennsylvania General Assembly voted to enter the Commonwealth into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact for physicians. 

They also voted to enter the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact for physical therapists in 2020 and the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2021. 

However, these agreements have taken time to be fully integrated into Pennsylvania's healthcare industry with Monday marking the first day registered healthcare professionals can take full advantage of all three of the compacts.  

"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," says Governor Shapiro.