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New Yorklicense portability inDistrict of Columbia
Minimal Reciprocity — no shared compacts; relicense required

District of Columbia

Shared Compacts
0
Universal Recognition
No
Nursing (NLC)
No
Portability
Moderate

License Portability Summary

District of Columbia does not share any interstate compacts with New York. A full separate licensing process will be required for most professions. District of Columbia's general portability rating is "moderate." NLC legislation introduced but not yet enacted; participates in several compacts.

Interstate Compact Memberships

District of Columbia is a member of 4 compacts: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, Physical Therapy Compact, Counseling Compact. None of these overlap with New York's compact memberships.

Nursing — Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

Neither New York nor District of Columbia are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A separate state nursing license is required.

Teaching License Reciprocity

Teaching license portability from New York to District of Columbia: Accepts out-of-state certificates through reciprocity agreements. Most states participate in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, but specific requirements vary by state and endorsement area.

Professional Engineer (PE) Comity

District of Columbia supports PE license comity through NCEES. Licensed Professional Engineers from New York can apply for licensure by comity, which is a streamlined process using your NCEES Record. This typically requires verifying your education, exam passage, and experience meet District of Columbia's requirements.

Military Spouse License Portability

Expedited licensing for military spouses and veterans. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), updated December 2024, all states are now required to recognize valid professional licenses from other states for military personnel and their spouses.

Recent Legislative Changes

Joined Counseling Compact; NLC bill introduced 2025.

Official State Licensing Board

For the most current licensing requirements and compact participation details, visit the official District of Columbia licensing page at https://dchealth.dc.gov/. Requirements and compact memberships may change as new legislation is enacted.

District of Columbia Licensing Board: https://dchealth.dc.gov/
Law last updated: 2025Row last reviewed: May 7, 2026

Interstate compact memberships and universal-recognition laws are updated regularly — always confirm with the destination state's licensing board before relocating or practicing. Coverage varies by profession (nursing, psychology, PT, counseling, engineering, teaching, real estate). Data reflects laws in effect as of early 2026.