Pennsylvania’s Multistate Health Care Workforce Launches Today

July 07, 2025

Pennsylvania reached a key milestone today, becoming a full participant in three multistate health care licensure compacts that will support the health care workforce and access to care.

During an event this morning at WellSpan Education Center, Governor Josh Shapiro, HAP, and state and local leaders celebrated the full implementation of the licensure compacts for doctors, nurses, and physical therapists.

The full compact implementation will allow qualified professionals to provide care in Pennsylvania and dozens of other participating compact states.

“My administration is working to expand our health care workforce and address these critical shortages so more Pennsylvanians can get the care that they need care that they deserve in the community where they live,” Governor Shapiro said during the press conference this morning.

Added Patty Donley, senior vice president and chief nursing executive, WellSpan Health: “This will have a positive impact on both patients and team members. For health systems like WellSpan, this means there are more hands, more support, and more time to focus on what matters most: our patients.”

Here are four things to know:

• How we got here:  The implementation comes after HAP and state and federal leaders worked to address an administrative hurdle that had prevented Pennsylvania from fully participating in these multistate licensure compacts.
• Why it matters:  Pennsylvania is facing a serve workforce shortage. HAP’s 2025 workforce survey found a 19 percent average vacancy rate for registered nurses statewide and a 21 percent rate in rural communities.
• Supporting our workforce:  Fully implementing the licensure compacts is one of the recommendations in HAP’s Roadmap for Growing Pennsylvania’s Health Care Talent.
• Bottom line:  “Implementation of the interstate licensure compacts removes a barrier to growing Pennsylvania’s health care workforce,” said Stephanie Watkins, HAP’s senior vice president of advocacy and policy. “Recruiting from out of state just got more streamlined and doctors and nurses who are already licensed can begin caring for Pennsylvanians sooner.”

Watch today’s press conference online. The Department of State also has provided resources highlighting how to apply for a multistate license.