Late last month we met with representatives of the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) as part of our continuing efforts to address the BRN's previous decision to discontinue issuing RN licenses to Excelsior College associate degree graduates after December 2003. This meeting was productive and I want to share with you how we are moving forward toward a positive resolution of this matter.
First, let me point out that for those of our students who were enrolled in our associate degree nursing program prior to December 5, 2003, the question of your eligibility for licensure is not at issue. The plan being laid out below does not pertain to you. The BRN has assured us that if you remain enrolled in the program and proceed to graduation that you will be permitted to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination. Furthermore, the BRN has stated that if you pass the exam you will be eligible for licensure in California, assuming that you meet all the other, non-education related requirements.
During our March meeting with the BRN, several aspects of the situation were discussed in frank and open dialogue. The result is that the BRN has agreed to grant original licensure, under defined circumstances, to Excelsior College graduates who enrolled after December 5, 2003. In simplest terms, the BRN has indicated its willingness to license our graduates who are already licensed vocational nurses and who have completed a 400-hour precepted experience in concert with an approved in-state nursing program. This concept has already been communicated by the BRN to directors of associate degree nursing programs in California.
The College is currently in the process of contacting and working with California-based nursing schools to make the necessary arrangements for these precepted experiences. Once these arrangements have been made and approved by the BRN, Excelsior College will be able to resume enrolling California residents into our associate degree nursing program.
In addition, the BRN assured us that graduates of Excelsior College who hold current, valid RN licenses from another state will be considered for licensure by endorsement on the same terms as are graduates of other out-of-state associate degree programs.
We are pleased with this turn of events and are diligently pursuing the necessary arrangements that will once again make the Excelsior College option available to residents of California. In the meantime, we thank you for the letters, emails, and phone calls that you have sent in support of the College.
