Graduating in PA, moving to NC, advice on NCLEX

[Duqsn]

Hi everyone, I attend nursing school in Pennsylvania and will be graduating with my BSN in May 2018. I plan to move to North Carolina shortly after graduation. Does anyone have advice on whether I should take my NCLEX in PA before I leave and then transfer to NC, or if I should just move and then take my NCLEX in NC. I also would like to know if anyone has recommendations on applying to jobs in February/March or waiting until I pass my NCLEX and already live in North Carolina.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

You should submit your application to the state you intend to work in, you can take the NCLEX-RN exam in any state you want, the results will be sent to the state you applied for licensure.

You cannot apply to positions until you have a license, most hospitals do not hire graduate nurses any longer. best of luck.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

You can, when the time comes, apply to the NC BON to receive your ATT and then take the NCLEX in PA but have it "count" for NC.

[Duqsn]

Thank you for your advice! Where I currently live and work most people do apply in the early spring before graduation and are hired as GN's, so its helpful to know that it isn't like that everywhere. Thanks again!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

You can graduate from school in PA, apply for licensure in NC but take NCLEX in West Virginia, Ohio, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, wherever you please if they have better dates available. NCLEX is a national exam. Whatever state you apply for licensure in is the state that Pearson Vue will send your results to.

The person who said you cannot apply for jobs until you have a license is incorrect. I applied for, was offered and accepted my new grad position before I graduated from nursing school. The offer was, of course, contingent upon my passing NCLEX and obtaining a nursing license prior to my start date. Apply away and just explain in your cover letter that you expect to graduate in May, take NCLEX in (June, July, whenever) and would be available to start working in whatever month you anticipate being settled in NC.

[SandyScrubs]

North Carolina is one of the state's in which the large majority of new graduate nurses apply and are accepted for jobs prior to graduation. Many applications open up in January, and I knew of job acceptances going out as soon as two weeks after the semester started. I had all of my applications in before I started my last semester because I didnt want to worry about it in addition to classes. The majority of my class had their jobs secured by the end of March.

If you are interested in a highly desired specilaty, you should especially apply early because those jobs tend to go quicker. Find the hospitals that are in the area you're looking to apply to and start checking in December for when the applications will open so you know wyen to look back. Good luck!