CA RN to FL RN

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Hello! I just recently passed the NCLEX-RN in CA and I'm in the process of applying for licensure by reciprocity here in FL. I did the application online, submitted my payment then when I logged back into my account, it gave me additional instructions/documents required for the completion of my application. This includes 2 fingerprint cards, license verification, & education credentialing. I'm a bit confused about the education credentialing.

It said, "The Board of Nursing requires you to have your nursing education evaluated by an approved credentialing agency for

examination candidates. Request the nursing or healthcare profession & science course-by-course credentials review.

You are responsible for all fees charged by these services."

Approved credential review services include CGFNS. However, when I tried to purchase a credential evaluation service from cgfns, it said that the FL Board of Nursing doesn't require CES for Licensure by Endorsement. And it won't let me proceed any further. Also, as I read the above instructions over and over again regarding the education credentialing, it said "The Board of Nursing requires you to have your nursing education evaluated by an approved credentialing agency for examination candidates." Judging from the way it was stated, it seemed to me that the credential evaluation only applies to persons who are just about to take the NCLEX exam. I'm a BSN grad from the Philippines by the way that's why it also made sense to have my credentials re-evaluated. So has anyone been through this? Does anyone have any opinion or input about this? I'm trying to rush into getting a FL RN license asap so I could already work at a hospital so any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Hello ajackrn,

I'm a new RN located in Tennessee and hold a multistate license. I too am in the process of gathering everything I need to apply for my RN license in Florida. The first thing I did was contact the Florida Board of Nursing call center at 1-850-488-0595. They told me that since I already hold a license that I'd be applying for a RN license by Endorsement.

Instructions were as follows: Go to the website FLhealthsource.com to download the license by endorsement application. Once you download the application, all of the instructions are clearly outlined and it tells you everything you need to do.

The two finger print cards need to be of the type FD258

There are instuctions to a website to do a profile and print out a barcode to be sent in with the finger print cards. The profile is free.

FL also requires that you complete a 2 hour prevention of medication errors course. They use CEBroker.com to track your CEU's through www.nurse.com. Nurse.com is only 39.99 a year for a membership to unlimited CEU's and required FL courses.

Also, since you are licensed in CA, you should be able to use www.Nursys.com which will provide the verification of your current nursing license to the Florida Board of Nursing. The cost for it is $30.

The instructions for downloading the RN/LVN license by Endorsement application were to log onto FLhealthsource.com.

You will see 5 blue boxes. Click on the box that says licensed provider.

On the next page, in the smaller box on the top right, use the down key and select Nursing. Then click GO.

Next page- Apply for License- Click on RN license

Then click Forms

There you will find RN/LVN by Endorsement download. It's 19 pages.

Follow instructions and mail back.

Best of luck to you in this process. I'm going through it myself. I would read the instructions carefully as there is something about timing with the verification through Nursys. It may only stay in the system for 30 days. If not there when the Florida Board of Nursing is looking for it, you may be responsible for an additional $30. Just read carefully.

Again, Best of luck to you. What part of Florida are you desiring to work and live. I'll be in the Daytona/Ormond Beach area.

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what hospitals is everyone looking at to applying to?

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Hello ajackrn,

I'm a new RN located in Tennessee and hold a multistate license. I too am in the process of gathering everything I need to apply for my RN license in Florida. The first thing I did was contact the Florida Board of Nursing call center at 1-850-488-0595. They told me that since I already hold a license that I'd be applying for a RN license by Endorsement.

Instructions were as follows: Go to the website FLhealthsource.com to download the license by endorsement application. Once you download the application, all of the instructions are clearly outlined and it tells you everything you need to do.

The two finger print cards need to be of the type FD258

There are instuctions to a website to do a profile and print out a barcode to be sent in with the finger print cards. The profile is free.

FL also requires that you complete a 2 hour prevention of medication errors course. They use CEBroker.com to track your CEU's through www.nurse.com. Nurse.com is only 39.99 a year for a membership to unlimited CEU's and required FL courses.

Also, since you are licensed in CA, you should be able to use www.Nursys.com which will provide the verification of your current nursing license to the Florida Board of Nursing. The cost for it is $30.

The instructions for downloading the RN/LVN license by Endorsement application were to log onto FLhealthsource.com.

You will see 5 blue boxes. Click on the box that says licensed provider.

On the next page, in the smaller box on the top right, use the down key and select Nursing. Then click GO.

Next page- Apply for License- Click on RN license

Then click Forms

There you will find RN/LVN by Endorsement download. It's 19 pages.

Follow instructions and mail back.

Best of luck to you in this process. I'm going through it myself. I would read the instructions carefully as there is something about timing with the verification through Nursys. It may only stay in the system for 30 days. If not there when the Florida Board of Nursing is looking for it, you may be responsible for an additional $30. Just read carefully.

Again, Best of luck to you. What part of Florida are you desiring to work and live. I'll be in the Daytona/Ormond Beach area.

Thanks for the tips! CA actually is a non-participant of Nursys. My license would pop up on the quickconfirm but not on the verfication for licensure by endorsement. So unfortuantely, I had to pay CA $60 for the license verification to be sent directly to FL. I did my licensure application online and have already submitted my fingerprint cards as well. Just waiting for the my background check and license verfication to finish. Hopefully it won't take long. I'm in the Jacksonville area btw.

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Hi ajackrn. Where in the Philippines were you from, if you don't mind? I am a 2007 graduate from PI too, and currently applying for an Endorsement here in FL from CA as well :)

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Hi ajackrn. Where in the Philippines were you from, if you don't mind? I am a 2007 graduate from PI too, and currently applying for an Endorsement here in FL from CA as well :)

I'm from Manila. Where in FL are you?

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I see:) Will be staying in Tampa in the next few months. You from Jacksonville? Is there any news from your application yet? I'll forward mine early next week.

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I see:) Will be staying in Tampa in the next few months. You from Jacksonville? Is there any news from your application yet? I'll forward mine early next week.

Yeah. Everything's good. They're just waiting for the licensure verification from CA. I assume I should be getting my license on the first week of next month.

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Hi! We're you able to get your license already? I'm also planning to get mine. Where do I start? I'm still here in Ca but maybe be moving to Fl. in the next month. What's your advice for me to do or get while I'm still here, so i'll be able to get a reciprocity for floridalicense. Thank you

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Specializes in ER.

Florida was super quick. I got my license in a week!

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FL is not hard at all to get a license assuming everything is all clear. It is really hard to get jobs in certain areas though. Especially in the Jax area because there are a ton of nursing schools here.

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I spoke to a recruiter in one of the big hospitals in Broward and he told me that a few hospitals are cutting back and a lot of the nurses are moving over to Broward hospitals. Of course they get priority since they have experience. Then he said that they consider internal candidates and new graduates who were given scholarships by the hospitals. And then they consider people who went to school in Florida and then they consider out of state. He also told me that the new graduates like myself are having a tough time getting jobs in South Florida or all of Florida. He also said that they start the new grads out at $22.50/hr which I think is really low esp cause the cost of living is not so cheap down there. And he said that they get 100s of applications a week and now they are starting to get back to people who applied back in May 2011 and keep in mind they graduate nurses at 3 times a year. So basically the conversation was nothing positive....so I am still not sure if I want to spend so much applying for a license for a state that most likely have no jobs for new graduates :( pretty sad, right?

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