Applying for Licensure by Examination for NCLEX in California (CA)

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Hi! I am currently in a nursing program in Florida and scheduled to graduate this December. I plan on moving back to California and taking the NCLEX there, but I am a little unsure about the timeline for the application process.

I noticed that the CA board of nursing website has an estimated processing time of 10-12 weeks for these applications for "Licensure by Examination". I was wondering if anyone knows if it was possible for me to start the application process before my degrees has been officially conferred (probably not until January). If I start the application (including sending Live Scan, transcripts, etc.) early, does the board start processing the application, or do they wait until all components have been received (including conferred degree), and start the processing from there?

I understand it's a lengthy process, I'm just trying to do as much as possible ahead of time so that I can take the exam as soon as possible after graduation. Please let me know if you have had experience with this process from a school outside of California or have any suggestions/insight. Thanks!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Critical Care.

Definitely see if you can send in some of your paperwork now (application, photo, prints, fees). To my understanding, the processing time frame is more like a waitlist; they may not even look at your application until about 10-12 weeks. You'll probably have to wait until your transcripts indicate "degree conferred on x date" before you can send those in. But chances are, by the time you send in your transcripts, it'll be about that time when the board is actively processing the other components of your application.

I didn't know that CA had such a long processing time when I moved back. I ended up applying by exam for CA in January as well as in VA in February. I got my ATT for VA in late March, and my ATT for CA came in April.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

Do you already have a job offer in CA? The wait times (not just for exam but for endorsement to other states) coupled with the oversaturated market make getting your license in CA risky unless you already have a job in place.

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Thank you, it's good to know that the info I have been reading isnt too far off from what actually happens. Did you end up taking it in VA since you got your ATT there first? If so, did you transfer your license from VA to CA? I'm considering that option as well, but have been reading that that process takes a long time as well.

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Thank you, it's good to know that the info I have been reading isnt too far off from what actually happens. Did you end up taking it in VA since you got your ATT there first? If so, did you transfer your license from VA to CA? I'm considering that option as well, but have been reading that that process takes a long time as well. And no I don't currently have a job lined up, but my family is in California, so even if getting a job takes a little longer, it'll be worth it in the long run to me.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Critical Care.

I was able to physically take the test in CA, but since the ATT I registered with was issued from VA, I'm licensed to practice in VA. I applied to endorse my license in CA, but it seems they lost some of my paperwork, so the endorsement hasn't been accepted yet. :sarcastic:

Endorsement vs exam does take about the same amount of time. Right now it's just a question of which board would allow you to take the exam quicker!

Hopefully you can find a job in CA - new grad programs are insanely competitive over there. Definitely look into any opportunities you can even outside of acute care - LTC/SNF, medical offices, etc. I would also look into the smaller rural hospitals or even hospitals that are new grad friendly but don't offer a big formal new grad program.

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