Applying for Nursing license without taking Philippines NLE. Regardless of what State

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Hi, I'm new here and I just wanna say thank you to the people who made this site and those who participated in it. I bet there are a lot of people who is lost and found the answers they were looking for here.

I did a lot of searching and found some close answers to my questions here however some are outdated and policies may have changed. Or maybe the answer is posted and I just didn't know where to look for it.

I want to be a registered nurse here in the US. I have a student visa studying something else to buy some time. I came here about 3 years ago. I graduated BSN in the Philippines but I didn't take the NLE there. I'm wondering is there a way to take the NCLEX without going back to the Philippines to take the NLE?

I did a little reaserch and I heard California, Vermont and New mexico could do that but recent posts say that its too late for that because their policies have changed. I confirmed that because I called the BON of Vermont this morning and they said I needed a license in the Philipppines before I could apply to their NCLEX.

Any advice would be much appreciated...

By the way, I'm from Washington state. People here say a lot that its better to work on a state where you want to live in. Lets say, what if I'm open in living in any State...

To be honest, for those NOT wanting to take the Phils NLE for whatever reasons (either because the PH nursing board usually do not allow US or dual citizens to take the exam but the exempted nurse could take it, there are ways or for those of PH citizenship, they don't want to take it for the primary fear of FAILING it), it is really to your own best self interest to TAKE and PASS the NLE.

Why?

For the main reason, if a hiring manager or nursing manager sees two job applications: (a). one resume shows a PH nursing license and numbers and (b). the other resume nothing as far as a nursing license, who do you think looks better on paper and may be more considered for hire?

Think of the PH nursing license as another form of certification, a good one at that. I say the hiring percentage goes up if the PH nursing license is on the resume or at least for consideration rather than one showing "blank" license information, which ends in the "not interested" pile with the other 100's or 1000's of rejected applications.

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I would disagree, I see the NLE as as a waste of precious time and energy. When my fiancé graduated I had her interview scheduled at US embassy the next month, we were not going to sit around and wait for her to take the NLE and burn time waiting in the Philippines for a RN license from Philippines that is basically worthless in the USA.

Employees want to see your US License number, they have no cares for a RN licenses in Philppines...

Indiana most definitely does require license in country of education:

"VERIFICATION OF LICENSURE - Graduates of foreign schools of nursing shall meet the following qualifications before being licensed in Indiana: Be licensed in the territory or country in which they graduated. We must receive official verification of your nursing license from the territory or country you graduated in."

Printed in bolded red letters on the website and application.

Lol. I just visited the site and it does state in red bold letters. I guess Indiana is out..

Specializes in Emergency, Tele, Med Surg, DOU, ICU.
I would disagree, I see the NLE as as a waste of precious time and energy. When my fiancé graduated I had her interview scheduled at US embassy the next month, we were not going to sit around and wait for her to take the NLE and burn time waiting in the Philippines for a RN license from Philippines that is basically worthless in the USA.

Employees want to see your US License number, they have no cares for a RN licenses in Philppines...

Except that some states like Indiana requires a foreign graduate to have one.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I would disagree, I see the NLE as as a waste of precious time and energy. When my fiancé graduated I had her interview scheduled at US embassy the next month, we were not going to sit around and wait for her to take the NLE and burn time waiting in the Philippines for a RN license from Philippines that is basically worthless in the USA.

Employees want to see your US License number, they have no cares for a RN licenses in Philppines...

Also if caught up in retrogression, because not everyone is marrying, if you have no nursing experience it will make it harder to find a employer because they will want to know what the nurse has been doing during the waiting time from qualifying to getting immigrant visa which can take anything from 3-10 years depending on where born and what the visa bulletin states for waiting time once a PD is issued

I would disagree, I see the NLE as as a waste of precious time and energy. When my fiancé graduated I had her interview scheduled at US embassy the next month, we were not going to sit around and wait for her to take the NLE and burn time waiting in the Philippines for a RN license from Philippines that is basically worthless in the USA.

Employees want to see your US License number, they have no cares for a RN licenses in Philppines...

Don't forget that you'll never know if like 13grad71 mentioned, some states do REQUIRE verification of a valid and current PH nursing license as part of either the first-time applicant or for endorsement purposes, so say, one day, you find yourself with a nice job offer in CA or NV or any other state that NEEDS proof of the license.

If you can't provide them with one, then, the application will be rejected and possible loss of the application fees once that state BON evaluator opens the package.

Any state can implement the minimum requirement of proving the local country's nursing license at any time, just like NV did in 2013. No foreign nursing license proof = no state license.

Don't forget that you'll never know if like 13grad71 mentioned, some states do REQUIRE verification of a valid and current PH nursing license as part of either the first-time applicant or for endorsement purposes, so say, one day, you find yourself with a nice job offer in CA or NV or any other state that NEEDS proof of the license.

If you can't provide them with one, then, the application will be rejected and possible loss of the application fees once that state BON evaluator opens the package.

Any state can implement the minimum requirement of proving the local country's nursing license at any time, just like NV did in 2013. No foreign nursing license proof = no state license.

Question.... Not to seem blunt but everybody is making it sound like there's no hope if you haven't taken the nursing exam in the Philippines.. Is that really the case?

Question.... Not to seem blunt but everybody is making it sound like there's no hope if you haven't taken the nursing exam in the Philippines.. Is that really the case?

Of course not.

Most people in Philippines are brainwashed that in order to sit for NCLEX in USA and to find work in USA as a RN you must pass your NLE and have 2 years work experience.

Of course this is pure non sense.......

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Question.... Not to seem blunt but everybody is making it sound like there's no hope if you haven't taken the nursing exam in the Philippines.. Is that really the case?

Not at all, we just want people to be aware that there are some issues with certain states. Not just the Philippines that have been affected, we have seen other countries mentioned. You just have to decide where you want to live and work and see what state requirements are and whether you need to adapt and look elsewhere

Not at all, we just want people to be aware that there are some issues with certain states. Not just the Philippines that have been affected, we have seen other countries mentioned. You just have to decide where you want to live and work and see what state requirements are and whether you need to adapt and look elsewhere

That makes sense. I understand.. So all I have to do, is look for a state that accepts my requirements then find a hospital that accepts me to work there and live in that state..

Thanks Silverdragon102.. I'll let you know what happens..

Of course not.

Most people in Philippines are brainwashed that in order to sit for NCLEX in USA and to find work in USA as a RN you must pass your NLE and have 2 years work experience.

Of course this is pure non sense.......

You are being sarcastic I hope? To obtain an RN license in the United States of America you must pass the NCLEX ( if there is another method is probable really hard to do).

And yes most hospitals require 2 years of experience , specially if you are a foreign trained nurse.

Its the crude reality, but it is the way it is.

You are being sarcastic I hope? To obtain an RN license in the United States of America you must pass the NCLEX ( if there is another method is probable really hard to do).

And yes most hospitals require 2 years of experience , specially if you are a foreign trained nurse.

Its the crude reality, but it is the way it is.

No I'm not.. If I start assuming what your saying is the only way and I follow it then all hope is lost. Tell me, would you say confidently that anyone who doesn't have what you mentioned and yet still tried, that they all failed? If yes then it is pointless to even try but if you can't say for certain then why not try.. The worst thing that could happen anyway is I'll get a "no" and I'll still be in the same position I am in.

That why i said to still try even if it seems futile. My intention is not to discourage but to prepare this person for the possible disappointment. If this person is planning her life and hopes on the false pretense that obtain a nursing job in the USA is easy for a foreign trained nurse, then we are misinforming her and affecting her decisions.

I always prepare myself to expect the worse outcome on a situation and then let myself be surprised by the good result of it. But at least if it went not how i wanted then at least i am prepared to deal with the blow.

Best of luck!

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