Doing the NCLEX/license in California

[cherubhipster]

Hi everyone!

I posted a similar thread to this awhile ago, but I didn't really find the answers I needed. I think that part of the reason though is because I didn't ask my questions the right way either.

I sent the following questions to the california board of nursing and got no response (not really suprised). Can you help me please?!?!

I am currently a NJ resident going to school in NJ. I graduate my RN program in June 2010.

I am trying to move to California after I graduate. I would like to be licensed in both California and NJ. I do not know what the best way to go about doing this is.

Should I sit for the NCLEX in NJ and then apply for a temporary License in California, and then a permanent one in California?

Can I sit for the NCLEX in NJ but get a license in both states? Should I sit for the NCLEX in California and apply for one for NJ somehow?

Also, can a new grad accept work in California before they sit for the NCLEX?

Last, how many days after graduation must a new grad wait to sit for the NCLEX in California?

Thank you for your time!!

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

You can take the exam wherever is most convenient for you and apply for licensure in any state. I.e., you can apply for licensure in CA and take the exam in NJ, or vice versa. Once you've passed the exam and have your initial licensure, you apply for reciprocity in the other state, but you don't have to take the exam again.

California does have graduate nurse status -- that is, you can start work before passing NCLEX, but you have to do so within a certain time frame after starting work -- but a TON of research is in order before you pick up and move out here. New grads are having an incredibly hard time finding jobs with their licenses already in hand, so I'd imagine that it'd be even more difficult to find work as a GN.