Applying for RN license in CA...need some advice!

[Roni725]

Hello everyone!

I have a little dilemma. I am graduating in May and currently applying for my license to practice in California for the first time. On the application it says to report all convictions even if they have been expunged from your record. Well two years ago I was convicted for Illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor in the state of Indiana, which is where I'm from...I was 19 at the time...I am now 21. I did a diversion program and had it expunged from my record. I am still going to report it on the application...I have a letter typed out explaining everything along with copies of the court documents. I was just wondering if you think they would deny me from getting my license because of this. Also, how much longer do you think it will take before I hear anything from them because I heard it takes much longer to get your paperwork back from California.

Please help me! All advice is appreciated!

[Vsummer1]

I think you are doing the right thing by being up front with your history. Because you are providing the board with evidence of the diversion program, I don't think they will hold this against you. I have no idea how long it will take, but I heard they have a backlog right now and it may take several weeks.

[CA CoCoRN, RN]

You are doing EXACTLY what you should do: be upfront. Show it to them before they (possibly) find it after. Quarterly, the CA BRN publishes a bulletin of NPA changes, updates, and the list of those whose apps have been denied and/or licenses revoked suspended.

I remember the first time I saw it and saw that some apps had been declined for nondisclosure, I was RELIEVED because I'd done the right thing when I first applied for my license. I, too, have a juvenile record which has since been sealed for many years. However, because we are fingerprinted and those prints run through the D.O.J. and FBI, I felt I should be upfront and let them know what's probably still out there "somewhere in some record" that can be drudged...if they tried hard enough, through the right means.

If you included in your letter how you've since been on the straight and narrow, learned your lesson, etc. you should be fine.

I wish you luck

[bukko]

I had a minor ETOH-related issue in college two decades ago. (Don't wanna say more -- never hurts to be paranoid...) The details on that were so well-sealed that when I first applied for a nursing license in another state, I got grief from the board there because they COULDN'T find any evidence of what I was telling them. When I transferred my license to California, this unmentioned non-event was a non-issue. In general, full disclosure IS best. Remember, Nixon got Watergate trouble for the coverup, not the burglary. There are few people outside of nunneries who have lived a totally trouble-free life, so they can't reject us all, especially with the nursing shortage.

California is TERRIBLE for delays, though! I applied for a nursing license in October while living in another state. Several long-distance calls later, I got a temporary license in January, just before I moved to Cali. I gave them a few months, then started calling the state board in April. It took until the FOLLOWING January before I got my for-real license. The excuse was always "We have to wait for the FBI to complete your background check." Maybe the G-men are too busy fighting terrorism... The state DID send me a second temp license at no charge (they're only good for 6 months) but I found the whole experience frustrating. When Human Resources kept asking "where is your valid license?" I felt like a fraud.

[NPJohnson]

I'm glad this was brought up. I have a "wet reckless" on my record and didn't know if I had to report it. I guess I will along with a letter. Do I need to attach court documents? What is that? How do I get them?

TIA!