boards in california

elkpark · Jan 19, 2015

You can apply for licensure in any state you choose and, once you've been authorized to test, you can physically take the test in any location that is convenient for you. You are right that it costs extra money to get licensed in one state and then turn around and apply for licensure in another state. It makes the most sense to get licensed (initially) in the state in which you intend to live and work. Best wishes!

RunBabyRN · Jan 21, 2015

May I ask why you plan to move to CA? Ca has the most saturated new grad market in the US. Almost all new grad/residency programs have a preference for students from local schools, or at least ones in CA. I would STRONGLY suggest waiting to move here until you have a few years of experience as a RN under your belt. Otherwise, you may find yourself waiting tables with your degree for a long time.

You also need to make sure that your school's program meet's California standards. CA has some of the most stringent requirements of all of the states.

Do your homework before you set yourself up for failure. I don't mean that in a mean way, I mean that in a reality check way.

Good luck with your final semester!

dcwang · Jan 21, 2015

this is the exact thread i've been looking for!

i'm from california and may attend nursing school out of state. I did my nursing prereqs here. I would like to come back here immediately upon graduation as well. i was wondering whether i could take the NCLEX in CA if I attend school in MA.

@RunBabyRN. if it is a student from a name brand university and on US News list vs. local school but not nationally ranked, would hospitals prefer hiring a new grad from a local school?

zzbxdo · Jan 21, 2015

Name brand schools mean very little.

RunBabyRN · Jan 21, 2015

this is the exact thread i've been looking for!
i'm from california and may attend nursing school out of state. I did my nursing prereqs here. I would like to come back here immediately upon graduation as well. i was wondering whether i could take the NCLEX in CA if I attend school in MA.
@RunBabyRN. if it is a student from a name brand university and on US News list vs. local school but not nationally ranked, would hospitals prefer hiring a new grad from a local school?

"Name brand" schools don't mean a thing. If they have a preference for local schools, they have a preference for local schools. End of story. School name doesn't have the same kind of pull in nursing that it has in business or law, unless the school has a poor reputation or isn't accepted in CA, like Excelsior.

Take a look at new grad/residency programs in your area. Make sure you know the market, especially if you're looking at leaving CA for nursing school.

dcwang · Jan 21, 2015

@ RunBabyRN. I am considering staying in touch with nurses with a say in hiring who I have worked with during volunteering. Would it be hard to get a job as a care partner/CNA at a hospital where I would like to work while I return to CA to take for boards and at the meantime networking?

would you say an ADN from CA would be a more ideal solution than going out of state to get a BSN?

ShondaJ · Jan 21, 2015

BSN is always better than ADN in California. Hospitals require it in these days and only ADN positions found lately are Nursing Homes and Clinics. You are better off getting a BSN to increase your chances of getting anything. But coming from out of state as a new hire may not be a good idea. The new grads already here who have went to school in California are not finding jobs. I would not think about moving here unless you have a job already in place and ready to go when you move.

Anyone here in California will tell you that.

elkpark · Jan 21, 2015

I would not think about moving here unless you have a job already in place and ready to go when you move.
Anyone here in California will tell you that.

(These days, that is good advice for anywhere in the country!)

dcwang · Jan 21, 2015

@ ShondaJ. I would think about starting as a care partner/CNA if I moved back to CA.

zzbxdo · Jan 21, 2015

@ ShondaJ. I would think about starting as a care partner/CNA if I moved back to CA.

Working as an aid always helps. But the value isn't as strong as it once used to be, maybe in smaller rural community hospitals. Bigger institutions look at magnet requirements and that includes having your BSN, or already on track with an adn to BSN program.

shiiivers · Jan 21, 2015

Just wanted to share my story in case it might be helpful to you as I was in your shoes a few months ago! I graduated from nursing school in Texas and planned to move out to CA right away. The biggest hurdle was getting the BRN to process my license app. I don't know if it is more or less time consuming to get an Indiana license and transfer vs apply for a CA license and get licensed here but I did the latter.

My timeline was, applied in June 2014. Graduated August 2014. Pestered BRN until mid September, got my ATT and tested in October 2014. California license was posted in 48 hours. They are VERY slow so just get the ball rolling on sending your stuff in now (transcripts, fingerprint cards, etc) once you apply.

As for jobs, I agree that you may want to secure something before you get out here. But in my case, and maybe I was just lucky, I was able to secure a non new grad job at a major LA hospital and I also got a spot in a new grad program at another. It took about 3 months of frustration and patience but everything worked out for me! I'm definitely not advising you to move out here jobless! But just want to say that it's possible to be from an out of state nursing school and get into a program here. Practice your interview skills and be confident in yourself! Wish you the best of luck!