Licensure requirements for CA for foreign grad

hazelblue · Dec 17, 2007

hi! after reading this thread, i've decided that i'll apply for vermont for licensure as RN...my problem is, i already got my eligibility from the cali bon...is it ok to apply for another state (vermont)?? won't there be a problem if i have 2 existing application in 2 different states?

what i plan to do after reading this thread:

1. apply for vermont for initial licensure as RN & pass toefel ( or is it ielets?)

2. after passing the nclex & getting the license, i'll apply for endoresement for licensure to cali.

3. apply for for visa screen

is this correct? i hope i made the right decision this time...

its sad that i only got to read this site only now, after i already spent much for my cali application =( .

suzanne4, RN · Dec 17, 2007

If you are asking what to do now and you are just starting the process? I would not do a thing, it is going to be more than 5 years before you even have a chance of getting a visa for the US. Licenses are only valid for two years and then they need to be renewed, you cannot renew them without a SSN#.

CA will only issue a temporary license if you endorse to them and that is only valid for 6 months.

With the retrogression in place and expected to continue for years for those from your country, would advise you to focus on another country and get experience there first, as things are also changing here where the local license as well as experience are going to be required in the near future.

hazelblue · Dec 17, 2007

hi suzanne! focus on another country like what? how about new mexico? how would i know if the retrogression is over & can apply for foreign licensure?

yes, im planning to gain work experience here first before working in a foreign land, i just want to not waste any time that's why i want to process my foreign licesure while looking for a hosp job here.

tnx. Ü

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 17, 2007

hi suzanne! focus on another country like what? how about new mexico? how would i know if the retrogression is over & can apply for foreign licensure?
yes, im planning to gain work experience here first before working in a foreign land, i just want to not waste any time that's why i want to process my foreign licesure while looking for a hosp job here.
tnx. Ü

If you keep an eye on this forum you will know retrogression will be over but doubt anything will happen until after the US elections next November

suzanne4, RN · Dec 18, 2007

hi suzanne! focus on another country like what? how about new mexico? how would i know if the retrogression is over & can apply for foreign licensure?
yes, im planning to gain work experience here first before working in a foreign land, i just want to not waste any time that's why i want to process my foreign licesure while looking for a hosp job here.
tnx. Ü

New Mexico is a state in the US, it is not a foreign country. Licensure is not the problem but the fact that there are no visas being issued right now is a problem. And the fact that you need a SSN# to renew most licenses from states that will issue them without a SSN#, so then you are back to square one.

Even if some visas are released in the spring, the issue for you is that there are still only 10,000 per year for those from your country and that includes other professions, not just nurses; and also their spouses and children, so it comes down to about 2500 visas total and then for nurses only a percentage of that. With the number of nurses from your country, the chance of getting a visa is quite slim at this time, and is only going to get worse, not better. And even if you go to another country for experience, where you were born is what determines what will happen with you and a visa for the US. Your birth certificate never changes and that is what the US goes by for the green cards.

The retrogression may lift for some countries next year, but for those from the PIC countries as well as Mexico, you are looking at years, and more than likely will not lift the way people are hoping that it would because the number of applicants keeps increasing, it is not getting less.

I would go to another foreign country and get experience. Right now getting experience in your country is not the same as what you would get in many other places and there are very few paying jobs available in your country, most of what we are seeing are training positions that you do as a volunteer and they do not count as work experience anywhere. This is the point that I am trying to make to you at this time.

Hinageshi · Jan 3, 2008

hello! i have given this a looooot of thought and have finally decided to pursue licensure in california. i've been discouraged a lot of times from what i have read in this thread but i'm just going to hope against hope that things would probably turn out well in the end. oh well, on to my questions.

i am almost through preparing the paperworks for the application.

1. regarding the application for licensure for examination form:

a. if i indicate an email address, all correspondence from cabrn would just be through email

right? and i would no longer receive any snail mail.

b. in the type of program box, i just have to tick baccalaureate degree right? would i have

to write down something under the entrance date and graduation date? i'm a bit

confused because there is no blank line on level with it but the blank line is on level with

masters degree/nursing box.

c. for the california non-graduates box, do i have to fill it up? i'm educated outside of

the us so do i need to accomplish it?

2. regarding the fingerprint card (hard card), what do i put in race? can i put asian?

3. and most importantly, i'm confused about the fees.

a. if i pay using credit card, what type of card can i use (visa, mastercard etc)? how do i got

about it?

b. how much would i exactly pay? i'm confused because what's written in the forms is $107

for method 2 using the hard card application process. that's for 1 fingerprint card only. so

if i enclose 2 fingerprint card along with my forms do i need to pay extra $32?

(application=$75 + 2 fingerprint cards=$32+$32) making it $139?

c. in this link from the ca brn website (http://www.rn.ca.gov/about_us/fees.shtml#apps),

the registered nurse examination application fee=$75. but the manual fingerprint

card (doj only) is $32 and the manual fingerprint cards (doj and fbi) is $51.

so how much do i really have to pay??

i'm totally at lost here so i hope someone could help me out.

thank you all so very much.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 3, 2008

We are telling you not to go thru CA as they will not issue a license to you when you pass the NCLEX exam as you do not have a SSN# and there is no way for you to get one until you have gone thru the immigration process. With the retrogression the way that it is, you are looking at about five years at the earliest to be able to get a visa for the US, or even have a chance at one. Your three years for your application being active will have expired, and you will need to go for licensure in another state to be able to save your exam results.

There is much on this already posted with people having their letters expiring in the next couple of months. Your choice as to what to do, but be aware that CA will not issue you a license so you cannot endorse to another state, you will have to use the License by Examination process to get a license in another state.

jiffy · Jan 4, 2008

suzanne,regarding cali for initial licensure (nclex rn ),i have mailed with them my documents,so as my school,but a friend told me that a local license is now required,is this true?..is it confirmed already?,

should i apply in vermont now? i did not take the local boards, since nclex is a priority .and i know, only vermont and california,allows applicants without local license to practice nursing..any advise?

suzanne4, RN · Jan 6, 2008

Suggest that you contact the BRN and find out the answer there.

I do not recommend CA for initial licensure in the first place, so whether or not they change their requirements is a moot point. The issue is that they will not provide you with a license but only a letter that you have passed and that letter is only valid for three years. Add into it the fact that you are looking at five years at the eaarliest for a chance at a visa, and this is not the place to go for licensure. As well as the fact of a one month wait for results.

Your choice as to what to do.

lawrence01 · Jan 7, 2008

suzanne,regarding cali for initial licensure (nclex rn ),i have mailed with them my documents,so as my school,but a friend told me that a local license is now required,is this true?..is it confirmed already?,
should i apply in vermont now? i did not take the local boards, since nclex is a priority .and i know, only vermont and california,allows applicants without local license to practice nursing..any advise?

don't be too sure about vt as well. last time i checked a local license is part of the requirement for foreign nurses in vt. at least that's what it is said on their instructions w/c is attached on their application form and what previous applicants has said. you can't miss it once you download the application form. if you want to be sure, i suggest contacting them as well (either thru e-mail or phone) and verify directly to them. rules and policies constantly change.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 7, 2008

Many states are going back to requiring the local license and to get it waived you must have a valid reason; such as being an American citizen so do not qualify to even have a chance at writing the NLE. But just not wishing to take it is not going to be valid much longer. The exam was actually required for years, until the CGFNS exam stopped being required in all states. We do not expect the CGFNS exam to be required again, but the local license, yes. Especially with the number of graduates coming out of some of the countries now, as well as two years of experience, and most other countries require the local license before they will grant a visa.

november30 · Jan 13, 2008

hi.. can anyone tell me that i could pay all my fees just by my credit card!?tnx!