Clarification: Reciprocity vs. Endorsement

florencenightingale, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2006

Once you get a license in the US in your initial state, and that means having a an actual license number assigned to you, you are free to endorse that license to another state. But not until you have the actual license number. When you take the NCLEX for CA, Florida, or other states that will not grant an actual license until you have a SSN#, you do not have a license to practice as an RN in the US, so therefore cannot endorse. They only give you a piece of paper that states that you have passed NCLEX exam, but it is not a license. They can verify that you have passed NCLEX for the Visa Screen Certificate, but they cannot verify a license, and that is what is required for endorsement.
Once you take the NCLEX exam, the exam has reciprocity. Meaning that you do not need to take it for another state, your score is accepted by all states.
To endorse, the exam score can be used, but that is only one part of the licensing process. Some states have language requirements, others have extra classes that need to be done, like Florida and NY. Each state can also set their own curriculum requirements, and it may be more stringent than what is required for the VSC. It is up to the individual state.
Hope that this helps clear up things for you.

I was about to ask you to differentiate endorsement from reciprocity. It's good that you already have the answer even before we ask the question. :nurse: You're really a great help, Suzanne!!!

suzanne4, RN · Feb 14, 2006

You are welcome...............

jcsm11706 · Mar 22, 2006

hi suzanne. I am licensed in vermont but my employer is in New York--do i still need CVS for endorsement to NY? I already have my visascreen. Do i need to fill out Form1 (application for licensure and initial registration) and Form 3 (certification of approved nursing program and/or license status or licensing examination result) or just Form 3? I am still in the Philippines and my petition was filed last January. Is it wise for me to endorse now or endorse only when i get there? The reason i am asking is that my contract states that if unlicensed, the rate is 10usd/hr. I hope you can enlighten me. Thanks:) .

suzanne4, RN · Mar 22, 2006

You graduated out of the country, you need the CVS.

Start it now.

And who did you sign a contract with? $10 per hour is less than what the make at McDonald's in NY. You cannot even live on that, even by yourself.

seiko · Mar 24, 2006

Once you get a license in the US in your initial state, and that means having a an actual license number assigned to you, you are free to endorse that license to another state. But not until you have the actual license number. When you take the NCLEX for CA, Florida, or other states that will not grant an actual license until you have a SSN#, you do not have a license to practice as an RN in the US, so therefore cannot endorse. They only give you a piece of paper that states that you have passed NCLEX exam, but it is not a license. They can verify that you have passed NCLEX for the Visa Screen Certificate, but they cannot verify a license, and that is what is required for endorsement.
Once you take the NCLEX exam, the exam has reciprocity. Meaning that you do not need to take it for another state, your score is accepted by all states.
To endorse, the exam score can be used, but that is only one part of the licensing process. Some states have language requirements, others have extra classes that need to be done, like Florida and NY. Each state can also set their own curriculum requirements, and it may be more stringent than what is required for the VSC. It is up to the individual state.
Hope that this helps clear up things for you.

hi suzzane.

hi have passed the NM BON .now i would like to endorse ro PA. I heard that PA BON will not process my endorsement form until i get ssn,is it true.do u have any idea how can i endorse my license to PA. i am in US now and residing in PA.

thanks in advance.

seiko5

suzanne4, RN · Mar 27, 2006

That is correct, not all states will issue you a license without the SSN#.

You need to get a job offer and get an AOS filed on your behalf. Once you get the EAD in about two months or so, you can apply for and get a SSN#, takes about one week to get.

Then you can readily endorse. But not until then.

kiko88 · Mar 27, 2006

hello suzanne and everyone. i'm quite new here. you have a great forum. thank you suzanne and to this forum for everything that you have been doing for the nurses and their families.

florencenightingale, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

hi suzanne. i am licensed in vermont but my employer is in new york--do i still need cvs for endorsement to ny? i already have my visascreen. do i need to fill out form1 (application for licensure and initial registration) and form 3 (certification of approved nursing program and/or license status or licensing examination result) or just form 3? i am still in the philippines and my petition was filed last january. is it wise for me to endorse now or endorse only when i get there? the reason i am asking is that my contract states that if unlicensed, the rate is 10usd/hr. i hope you can enlighten me. thanks:) .

hi, jcsm11706. i also applied for vermont license. i would just like to know how long did you wait before you got your eligibility? my application was received by vermont bon last december and no eligibility up to now. i was asked by bon to present documents like course description and ched certification.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 30, 2006

hi, jcsm11706. I also applied for vermont license. I would just like to know how long did you wait before you got your eligibility? My application was received by vermont BON last december and no eligibility up to now. I was asked by BON to present documents like course description and CHED certification.

Sounds like they never had someone from your school go thru there. It can take you several months if they were requesting additional documentation like that. So it will not be the same as anyone else. Usually it is leass than two months to get it. How long ago did they ask for the additional info?

Be aware that there are some programs in the Philippines that have been found to be lacking in hours in some of the required areas. That is probably what they are trying to verify. There are several nurses that post here that got turned down from CA for missing hours from their curriculum.

So, it can happen.

florencenightingale, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2006

Sounds like they never had someone from your school go thru there. It can take you several months if they were requesting additional documentation like that. So it will not be the same as anyone else. Usually it is leass than two months to get it. How long ago did they ask for the additional info?
Be aware that there are some programs in the Philippines that have been found to be lacking in hours in some of the required areas. That is probably what they are trying to verify. There are several nurses that post here that got turned down from CA for missing hours from their curriculum.
So, it can happen.

Hi, suzanne! I missed you, . Yeah I though so too, I am the first to apply in Vermont from my school. Anyway, I have sent the documents they have requested and hopefully I will get a positive response from them soon. Regarding the "lack of hours problem" I don't think it would be an issue with my application(fingers crossed), many of my schoolmates have applied and passed the CA BON already. It's been 3 months from the time they received my application, but it's okay, at least I know that they are processing my papers already.:)

kiko88 · Apr 2, 2006

i learned from suzanne that CA requires an SSN for initial licensure, and that NY does not require an SSN for initial licensure.

how about in getting a license in CA or NY thru endorsement from another state such as VT or NM, will CA still require an SSN before issuing a license? and will NY still not require an SSN before issuing a license?

thank you suzanne.