Excelsior College Grads in CA....any tips or tricks?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2013

If California has issues with Excelsior....they will have Excelsior regardless what state you test in. California is one of the MOST difficult if not THE most difficult state to become licensed. Everyone, is subject to their stringent licensing requirements. One of their largest disqualifying requirements is concurrent clinical.

I wish you the best. If you want to be licensed as a RN in California....then you need to go to an approved California school.

Another word of caution. Hospitals are requiring a BSN more and more frequently. I do not know if Excelsior is a BSN program. Additionally.....California (as is much of the country)is expereincing a plethora of nurses with unemployment of nurses as high as 47%.

Good Luck!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 15, 2013

I was wondering if anyone had done Excelsior while living in California? I'm a Paramedic who is looking to get my RN online from Excelsior. I was also wondering if anyone had gotten their license in another state first, say AZ and then endorsed into California? I'm trying to figure out the best way attack this......anything would be appreciated. I know the CA nursing board is super picky about schools especially Excelsior.

The people I know who have done EC in California who did not meet the enrollment deadline in 2003 had to move out of state to work as RNs. EC is not an option for you if you want to be a nurse in California, unless you work for the VA or some other federal entity that will recognize you working in California under a license from another state.

I have more than 10,000 hours of time as an RN working ED/Trauma under a Virginia license, and there is no way on earth Cali will license me. Just the way it is.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2013

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I have more than 10,000 hours of time as an RN working ED/Trauma under a Virginia license, and there is no way on earth Cali will license me. Just the way it is.

And this is why this rule is stupid.

I can understand (but don't agree) with the rule of not wanting to license without clinicals (15 states do this), but they all have a provision for hours worked (from 240 hours as a RN to 2000 hrs) or a preceptorship (of varied hours) to be allowed to gain a license/endorsement, except California.

I knew this going in and since Texas has no problem with Excelsior, I did it with them. I have no plans nor desire to go work in California, so it is not an issue with me.

Only other states I may ever work in that have restrictions with Excelsior are Arizona (can endorse with 960 hrs experience) and Colorado (2000 hrs experience).

Not that I ever plan on leaving, but you just never know.

So to the OP, if your in Cali or plan on working there, do not do Excelsior.

I would not bet your license and job on getting a VA or federal job either. With all the unknown changes in healthcare that are coming, you need every opportunity you can get.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2013

California has been notorious as being difficult to obtain licensure by endorsement for the 35 years that I have been a nurse. It'swhat they are known for.