CA License as a Texas New Grad

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Hope I've got this topic in the right place! I know there have been several questions asked about this but I haven't been able to find the exact information that I've been looking for.

I am currently in a Texas Nursing program, graduating in August and I am planning to move to California ASAP, as in a few days after I graduate. I am planning on just getting licensed there, but I have had trouble getting guidance on how to complete the licensing process with as much ease and speed as possible.

Can anyone who has done this before tell me, is it possible to START the application process before I actually get my degree? I want to take my NCLEX and get licensed as soon as possible and seeing as how I know it'll take SOME time to get all my paperwork from Texas there and sorted, I want to know if I can start sending them things, like my fingerprints, previous transcripts etc, in the weeks prior to graduation.

Any information/advice on the process would be much appreciated! Thanks!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Moved to our California Nursing forum.

You are smart to apply directly to CA BON for license. See CA BON site:

The Board of Registered Nursing’s Application for Licensure by Examination is now online! Click here for detailed information on how to apply and pay your application fees online, or go directly to BreEZe to begin filling out your application and pay your fees.
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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Yes, you can start the application process now. We all submitted our apps prior to graduation. You'll want to make sure that your curriculum and prereqs meet the requirements for CA (I'm not sure with TX to CA). Contact the CA BRN to be sure. It's $150 to apply, $50 to get your IP if you want it, and $200 to test.

Use the links NRSKarenRN provided, as that was copied and pasted from the CA BRN website.

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Yes, you can start the application process now. We all submitted our apps prior to graduation. You'll want to make sure that your curriculum and prereqs meet the requirements for CA (I'm not sure with TX to CA). Contact the CA BRN to be sure. It's $150 to apply, $50 to get your IP if you want it, and $200 to test.

Use the links NRSKarenRN provided, as that was copied and pasted from the CA BRN website.

Thank you both for the information! I went ahead and applied for a California License. I was actually reading a different thread about moving to California as a New Grad and most of the comments mentioned that the outlook for out of state new grads was pretty grim.

I do have a few friends in the Los Angeles area who are currently working and are willing to help me network a bit to line up some interviews. I also have the luxury of giving myself a few months to search before I would consider throwing in the towel and coming back to Texas.

I'm just wondering if I were to have more luck with non-hospital settings, just to get some experience, would I still eventually be able to transition back to a hospital setting?

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Thank you both for the information! I went ahead and applied for a California License. I was actually reading a different thread about moving to California as a New Grad and most of the comments mentioned that the outlook for out of state new grads was pretty grim.

I do have a few friends in the Los Angeles area who are currently working and are willing to help me network a bit to line up some interviews. I also have the luxury of giving myself a few months to search before I would consider throwing in the towel and coming back to Texas.

I'm just wondering if I were to have more luck with non-hospital settings, just to get some experience, would I still eventually be able to transition back to a hospital setting?

The outlook for new grads is really grim in CA, with an unemployment rate among new grads hovering around 40-50%. Most jobs are obtained through people you know and connections made during school. The people I know in LTC (that graduated awhile ago) are having a hard time getting out and into a more acute setting. The job I have waiting for me (I take the NCLEX Wednesday) was offered by a manager who liked my performance in clinicals and lined up my preceptorship for me, then offered the position. My classmates that have had job offers that I've heard about are either through people they know or are out of state.

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