Anyone challenge the California NCLEX-PN by using your RN courses from another state?

[former RN student]

Hi guys - need some advice...

I started off at a bachelor's program in Illinois and transferred out to an associate's program (sigh) because of personal reasons and lost some credits in the transfer but all in all have completed all of the prerequisites and all of the first-year core Nursing courses plus Med-Surg 2, but not OB or PEDS (but I have taken Gerontology and Mental Health). I failed a course this semester and am now out of the program.

I would like to challenge California's LVN boards (the NCLEX-PN) by showing them my formal education training. Method 3 allows the substitution of a Pharmacology course or the equivalent in formal RN education (the website does state that education can be submitted although most of the written information is on the 51-months of work experience).

My question is this: Has anyone out there know exactly what the formal education requirements are to sit from the LVN exam in California by using your core Nursing courses as equivalency? The board says this can be done but doesn't specify exactly what the courses or number of credits required are. I think I may be able to do this because I have completed all of the first-year courses and even the MedSurg2 and Mental Health and Gerontology, but not OB / Peds or the last Medsurg3 and Community Health courses.

I called the California board and the woman gave me information that I didn't really know how to assimilate; she said you need 1552 theory "hours" 598 clinical hours and 954 lab hours, and something like 54 hours for a Pharmacology class. What exactly does this mean? My school works on credit hours, and each course is approximately between 3 and 5 credit hours each. I don't know what the conversion factor is. There must be one because by the system I'm working with there's no way you could accumulate that many hours.

Can anyone shed some light on this? I really need to take this exam and am open to the idea of going to other states to do it...

THANKS!

[sasyone]

I use to work there and sitting here bored on my friend's computer.

The numbers are not totally correct. You do need approximately 1530 hours of which you must have 54 theory hours of pharmacology and 30 theory+15 clinical each in maternity and pediatrics. The rest are in nursing courses. The Board gives you a maximum 54 theory hours only for anatomy, nutrition, psychology, communication, growth and development, ethics. The rest they want in nursing courses. You can make up the rest with paid experience as a CNA. (the Board gives you 150 hours for having a CNA certificate). You can work in a long term skilled facility to make up your hours or in an hospital on an inpatient type ward. Some people get their peds and maternity working in a doctor's office or clinic. Volunteer is not accepted.

The only way to really give you an answer is to apply and have your transcripts sent with the form that the director of nursing fills out. Without that, they will not be able to give you a definite answer.

Hope that helps.

[former RN student]

That is helpful. It doesn't sound like I'm eligible at this moment, though.

I forgot to mentioned that I do have my CNA certificate / license, although only time working as a home healthcare aide - not technically a CNA.

Peds was the course I failed, but I do have OB from my first school.

So if I apply and wait the 2-3 months or whatever, will they send me a letter back stating exactly what it is I'm short in and what I can do to achieve it?

Thanks again...