Anyone taken NCLEX in CA for WA?

[smellyacres, BSN, RN]

Hey all!

I live in CA and am finishing up my BSN program next month. My school has already sent my RN application to the CA BRN. I have a possible job in Washington (pending second interviews, but outlook seems promising). If hired, this would be my dream job.

My question is, can I/my school apply for a WA license at the same time? I don't mean test for two states, I know that is not allowed. Can I apply for both states and choose/change to WA or CA last minute, before taking the NCLEX?

I don't want to test for WA if I don't have a secured job, but I don't want to lose the WA job because I tested in CA and can't get WA endorsement in time.

Timeline: Second interview(s) late July/early August -- Graduate Mid August -- Recruiter said job offer by beginning of September -- WA new grad job starts end of October.

If anyone has any helpful insight into this predicament I'd appreciate it!

Thanks!!

[BonnieSc]

Hmm. I don't know the answer to your question about whether you can apply for ATT in both states and then just do one (probably want to ask on the NCLEX forum or somewhere like that). But I'd strongly encourage you to get your first license in Washington if at all possible. I got my first license in California, which means I have to have California verify that every time I get a new license, and it's both expensive and time-consuming. The last time I did it was a couple of years ago and they claimed they were doing things to make the process easier, but even if they manage that, it will probably still be expensive. I think for all of my licenses (I've had five) it's cost more to have California verify my original license than to actually get my new ones.

On the other hand, Washington does have a fairly easy process for getting a temporary license if you're endorsing from another state (though you should doublecheck to make sure that applies to nurses without experience), so there's less of a concern that your WA license wouldn't be ready in time to start the new job.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

No you can only apply to a single board of nursing for an initial nursing license by examination.

[nata1230, BSN]

I am in the same boat as you. I initially applied to California back in March, because I had no interview in Washington just yet. In may I got interviewed and I got the job up in Seattle. California has taken forever to send the ATT, so I decided to send an application to test in WA last week. Early this week I received my ATT for California, but I do not want to take it here because I will not have my WA license in time.