Celebrating Pennsylvania’s Multistate Health Care Workforce

June 23, 2025

Pennsylvania is on the verge of fully implementing its vision for a multistate health care workforce.

Starting July 7, Pennsylvania will become a full participant in three interstate health care licensure compacts, the Department of State announced today. The compacts will make it easier for qualified doctors, nurses, and physical therapists to provide care in Pennsylvania and other participating compact states.

The change comes after state officials worked with federal leaders to address administrative requirements that had prevented Pennsylvania from fully participating in these multistate compacts.

“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,” HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings said in a statement. “Full implementation of interstate licensure compacts helps bring providers to our communities and supports access to care.”

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

State and federal leaders have been working with the Department of Justice to resolve issues associated with federal background checks that had prevented the compacts from being fully implemented.

“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,” said U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick in a statement.

HAP has been a longtime champion of interstate compacts and has been working at the state and federal levels to address administrative issues that prevented these compacts from being implemented.

HAP thanks the Shapiro administration, state lawmakers, Representative Fitzpatrick and other state and federal stakeholders for their shared commitment to supporting our health care workforce.

See additional information about the announcement online.