Excelsior Student....

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi All-

I got into the middle of another thread on this topic and wanted some guidance from you fine folk in CA.

I am working on my ADN thru Excelsior and am concerned because I realize CA's stand on EC grads.

I don't live in California but who knows if I might ever end up there. (My wife is being treated for some medical problems and I have heard of peolpe going to other areas to receive other Tx).

My question is this. If I were to have to locate there, would my Excelsior degree help me in any way in getting licensed? I see on the EC site that there are alot of colleges in CA that accept EC classes for credit but I did not know if the was nursing classes as well? What route would any of you take to get your RN there?

I guess I would like to avoid starting from square one, and wondered if any of the work I am doing would help me.

Thanks for any advice :coollook:

California actually is more lenient than many other states on what they will accept. A corpsman can sit for the LPN exam..........an LPN can take the 30 unit program and be able to sit for their RN, and that one is aonly accepted in CA, not be any other state.

There is a lot more to the story than that. Not quite that simple.

First of all, CA's ADN programs do not give any automatic recognition for LPN/LVN training like most other states.

Everything in the ADN program that an LVN intends to bipass must be challenged by exam, from Nursing 101 on up. Absolutely no credit is given to LVN's for their training, it must be earned through examination.

Many LVN's end up basically starting all over from the beginning if they can't pass the challenge exams.

Second, I've also looked into the 30 unit option and it too is a rip off. They make it sound like a fast track to RN licensure but the 30 unit option does little more than cut out a few general ed's like speech and electives.

Then, if you do go this route and obtain RN licensure, not only are you locked into CA because it won't be recognized for endorsement into other states,

the CA community colleges will not let you go back and take those general ed courses to get your associate's degree. You're stuck.

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Kansas and Illinois.

Who else?

I keep hearing about "several or many other states" but am not aware of any others.

I'm not asking about states that require you to be an LPN first, I'm asking about states that have banned EC altogether.

Who else?

Actually Kansas has set up clinicals at a few colleges free to obtain clinical hours and they will allow endorsement after so many hours. Illinois will allow licensure after two years experience as an RN in another state. I believe the only outright ban is California. There are state boards that are considering not allowing Excelsior graduates licensure...Colorado and Wyoming are two that I know are looking into this type of degree. California acted appropriately by allowing those enrolled to obtain licensure. They set a date to allow students enrolled and just enrolling to still obtain licensure. Who knows...Excelsior lost some of integrity in my opinion.

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There is a lot more to the story than that. Not quite that simple.

First of all, CA's ADN programs do not give any automatic recognition for LPN/LVN training like most other states.

Everything in the ADN program that an LVN intends to bipass must be challenged by exam, from Nursing 101 on up. Absolutely no credit is given to LVN's for their training, it must be earned through examination.

Many LVN's end up basically starting all over from the beginning if they can't pass the challenge exams.

Second, I've also looked into the 30 unit option and it too is a rip off. They make it sound like a fast track to RN licensure but the 30 unit option does little more than cut out a few general ed's like speech and electives.

Then, if you do go this route and obtain RN licensure, not only are you locked into CA because it won't be recognized for endorsement into other states,

the CA community colleges will not let you go back and take those general ed courses to get your associate's degree. You're stuck.

Same thing with Ca and the EC program. Any short-cuts for schooling will not be recognized all over, that is the point that I am trying to make. My suggestion and recommendation is to find a program that is accepted in all 50 states with full recognition and they do exist.

I think that Missouri has things in the works right now, as well as NY.

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What many nurses do not understand is that just because you are able to get a license in one state, and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, it doensn't necessarily mean that you will be able to endorse to every other state if you do not meet the educational requirements of the new state. Each state is a separate entity, and makes their own rules. Most do not know that, or may not understand that.

This is what I am trying to make sure that everyone understands. You need to make an educated decision on the program that you pick for school, not doing it because so and so is going there. Each person needs to select what will work for them, but also remember that there is always a chance that they may move later on in life.

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What many nurses do not understand is that just because you are able to get a license in one state, and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, it doensn't necessarily mean that you will be able to endorse to every other state if you do not meet the educational requirements of the new state. Each state is a separate entity, and makes their own rules. Most do not know that, or may not understand that.

This is what I am trying to make sure that everyone understands. You need to make an educated decision on the program that you pick for school, not doing it because so and so is going there. Each person needs to select what will work for them, but also remember that there is always a chance that they may move later on in life.

This is so true! Boards make changes and adaptations all the time as well. Just because today EC is accepted in a certain state does not mean it will be the same tomorrow. I am glad that Excelsior was able to offer me an option that allowed me to avoid daycare and remain working but my first choice would have been a traditional college. I am moving to CA in 2 weeks and was able to gain licensure because my enrollment was before the deadline...had it been after I would have been unable to move to California. Things come up and it is hard if you have restrictions. Thanks for pointing this out Suzanne.

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Thank you............:)

There are other programs out there that can be done similar to the one at EC but there are accepted in all fifty states.

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I think that Missouri has things in the works right now, as well as NY.

Where did you hear that Missouri has things in the works? I just called a friend that works in the Investigations dept. at the MO Board of Nursing & he hasn't heard anything about it. He said he'd love to know where the info came from.

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There were some threads here a few months ago on the topic. Please do a search on this site. It is the responsibility of each and every nurse to review the requirements of the Board of Nursing for their state, so that they know what is accepted and not accepted.............do not leave the info as is coming from friends, or even here. Do a search.

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It doesn't fall under investigations, but education and curriculum requirements. Two separate departments first of all. It was under discussion by their BON, not sure what ever came of it. Again, it is the responsibility of the nurse to do a review of the BON of their state.

California was very up front when they put restrictions on the EC program. Those that were already in the program, or who had their enrollment documents submitted by a certain time, were allowed to be able to get a CA license. So plenty of notice was given. Kansas issued a decree that became effective immediately, and those students were in a lurch until Kansas put a program into place to allow them to finish their program and meet licensure requirements.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I can understand the need for more clinicals. I graduated from EC 4 years ago and have done great being that I was an LPN for 26 years prior to EC. The clinical with EC is a real joke. You basically don't have to know anything except how to memorize the memomics and pay the $1,500 to EC. Does this law in California mean that if I did move to California I wouldn't be able to practice? That would be crazy.

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It is the responsibility of each and every nurse to review the requirements of the Board of Nursing for their state, so that they know what is accepted and not accepted.............do not leave the info as is coming from friends, or even here. Do a search.

Very well said. I remember years ago, I contacted the Missouri Nurses Association regarding a nursing program & they said it was not approved, I then asked the State Board of Nursing & they said that it was. One's own BON should be their source of information.

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It doesn't fall under investigations, but education and curriculum requirements. Two separate departments first of all. It was under discussion by their BON, not sure what ever came of it.

I'm well aware of that; that just happens to be where he works & he hadn't heard of it.

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