Nursing Students NCLEX
Published Sep 27, 2013
Uncle Rico
130 Posts
Hi Everyone....
I graduate from a school in Florida this December but my family will PCS to Virginia in November. I was told i would be able to take the NCLEX in Virginia after graduation but i have run into a couple of problems that my university seems to be unfamiliar with. I visited the Virginia board of Nursing website to register for Licensure by Examination - Registered Nurse, but i received the following error "[COLOR=Red]STOP. You are not eligible to apply for licensure in VA. You will need to apply for licensure in your home state first." My state of residence is Tennessee which is also a member of the Nurses Compact. I contacted the Virginia board of Nursing and the rep stated i would either have to test in Florida or Tennessee, or i could change my state of residence to Florida then i would be allowed to test in Virginia since Florida is not a member of the NLC. I explained to the rep that i am a military spouse and if there was a waiver or exemption but the rep replied there are no exceptions to the rule. Changing my state of residence would be a last resort so i was hoping someone here could provide some guidance. I'm not sure if i followed the steps correctly or not, or if its just a major blunder on my behalf; any input would be greatly appreciated.
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
On Virginia's license information page I see nothing that indicates you have to sit your state of training first.
If you are a recent graduate from a RN state approved nursing education program that prepared you to be a nurse and need to take the NCLEX (state board), you will need to complete the application for licensure by examination.
Virginia Board of Nursing Forms and Applications
Tks Silverdragon,
I figured the same as well but when i attempt to register for the test I receive following STOP error listed below. Maybe i should try applying for Licensure in my home state and see if i can test in a different state would help. This has become so confusing for a nursing student.
[TABLE=width: 100%]
[TR]
[TD=class: moduleLabel]Application[/TD]
[/TR]
[TD]Primary State of ResidenceVirginia began participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 1, 2005. If your primary state of residence is a compact state, you must apply for licensure in your primary state of residence (compact state). If your primary state of residence is Virginia or a non-compact state, you can apply in Virginia for licensure. "Primary state of residence" is defined by the Compact as "the state of a person's declared fixed permanent and principal home or domicile for legal purposes." Evidence of a primary state of residence may be required.[TABLE=width: 100%]
[/TABLE]
[TD=class: ctrlLabel, width: 60%][/TD]
[TD=colspan: 2][TABLE=width: 100%]
[TD=class: ctrlLabel, width: 60%, bgcolor: white]Is your primary state of residence one of the following :
AR, AZ, CO, DE, IA, ID, KY, MD, ME, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI:[/TD]
[TD]YesNo*
[/TD]
[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]
[TD=class: ctrlLabel, width: 60%, colspan: 2]
[COLOR=red]STOP. You are not eligible to apply for licensure in VA. You will need to apply for licensure in your home state first.
To read more about the Nurse Licensure Compact, please click here
If you are employed by the military/federal government and declare a compact state as your state of residency, you need only have one license from any state or territory per U.S. federal government/military policy. A federal or military nurse who also practices in a civilian health system is bound by the Compact law and rules. If you reside in a non-compact state, the rules regarding mutual recognition licensure do not apply and the federal exemptions apply.[/TD]
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 5,115 Posts
If you're moving in November, VA will become your state of residence. Then you can take it there. Why not wait?
If you don't want to wait, take NCLEX where you are now; there's no reason not to. Then all you have to do is get the VA license by reciprocity/endorsement/Compact, whatever applies.
I may be thick but I'm not seeing the problem.
If you're moving in November, VA will become your state of residence. Then you can take it there. Why not wait? If you don't want to wait, take NCLEX where you are now; there's no reason not to. Then all you have to do is get the VA license by reciprocity/endorsement/Compact, whatever applies. I may be thick but I'm not seeing the problem.
My class graduates in December but all of my clinical hours, preceptor, and course load will be completed by mid November. The earliest available test for me in the area is mid January, but i will be in Virginia by then. Even though i will reside in Virginia it will not be my primary state of residence. My primary state of residence is a member of the nursing compact which for some reason i am not eligible to apply for licensure in another compact state without acquiring a license in my primary state of residence.
You don't have to be physically in FL to sit the exam. May just be easy to apply to FL take exam in VA for FL and then endorse to VA
chicagoboy
141 Posts
Silverdragon102 is right. This is what i am doing.
chare
4,246 Posts
Have you contacted the Tennessee Board of Nursing? If you are in fact a legal resident of Tennessee, you license should grant you multi-state privileges. After relocating to Virginia you would be able to work 90 days with your Tennessee license.
As long as the OP lists Tennessee as her/his legal state of residency Virginia will not issue a license.