New license expires a month later

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi guys! So I took my nclex January 16th and found out I passed on January 21st via BRN license verification. But my expiration date is February 29th!

Why does my license expire a month later?!

Is your birthday in January?

It depends on how the state of CA issues their renewals. In Nebraska all licenses expire on Halloween (they're good for 2 years). LPNs expire on odd years, RNs on even years. So in Nebraska it's possible to pass your Nclex in September and have your brand new license expire a month later. What they do is pro-rate the price of your license if you have less than 6 months until your expiration date and then when you renew you pay full price for your 2-yr license. I would read though CA's renewal policies and I would bet that it is something similar.

Specializes in critical care.

In my state, you are not allowed to have a license expiration longer than 2 years later. Your expiration year is even if your birth year is even, odd if your birth year is odd, on the 28th of your birth month. I had to renew my license 3 months after I passed the NCLEX. And nope, my initial license was not prorated. [emoji35]

Ok so this is what California renewal policy says...

"Renewal Cycle

Your first California RN license is issued for two birthdays - not two years - and it will expire the last day of the month following your birth date. From that date on, it will expire every two years, if renewed timely. Once a California license number is issued, it will always remain the same number whether active, inactive or delinquent. If the license lapses and is later renewed, the same license number and renewal cycle will apply."

So according to the "2 birthday rule" my license should expire next February right? Cuz my birthday is February 25th...

I don't get it!

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I wonder if they put the wrong year on accident. I would call and ask someone. They can make mistakes. Maybe they got confused by their own birthday rule. It should expire in March. I'm an October birthday and mine Always expires end of November.

Also feb 29th is a leap year and happens every four years. Does it give the same expiration when you log into the RN board website to verify your license? You might need to call them.

I'm thinking the same thing...that they accidentally put in the wrong year! Because it doesn't make sense that it would expire a month later right?

So I did go to the BRN office today (I live like 5 mins away!)...and apparently my expiration date was entered wrong because in California...your first license is good for the first two birthdays! So they're changing it to expire next march!

Just in case someone else is in the same boat as me...now you know! [emoji4]

Specializes in Pedi.

Every state is different though. In Massachusetts your license expires q 2 years, on your birthday. If you are an RN, you renew in even years. LPNs renew in odd years. I had to renew my license less than a year after I originally got it.

Specializes in critical care.
Every state is different though. In Massachusetts your license expires q 2 years, on your birthday. If you are an RN, you renew in even years. LPNs renew in odd years. I had to renew my license less than a year after I originally got it.

(Psssst... This is in the California forum... [emoji4])

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
So I did go to the BRN office today (I live like 5 mins away!)...and apparently my expiration date was entered wrong because in California...your first license is good for the first two birthdays! So they're changing it to expire next march!

Just in case someone else is in the same boat as me...now you know! [emoji4]

Im so glad you got it fixed! Huge perk to live near the board of nursing. Congrats and good luck with your job hunt! This isn't an easy area to land a job as a new grad. Try sutter. I know many nurses in the area who took ltac jobs til they could get in a hospital.

Thanks @NickiLaughs!! I'm so excited to have gotten the nclex over with! I still go on breeze every day to make sure my license is still up there! Lol

Sutter is the place that I really want to work! I've been checking every day because their next cohort is supposed to start in February and they still haven't posted any new grad positions yet! [emoji53]

What are Itac jobs? Might need to go that route too because your right...it's really hard to get into a new grad program especially when you're limited to only two new grad programs (sutter and Davis) since I live in Sacramento!

+ Add a Comment