CA RN license question

[Zoeyisme]

I have a question I hope someone can help with. I am trying to get my CA license but my issue is that I never had a proper public speaking class. I did have a nursing class that was basically a public speaking class but not in name, and the communications aspect is one of many things listed in the description of the class, so I am concerned they won't accept it. My question is: if i apply and they don't accept it, will i have to pay the $150 again and go through the process? or do they hold your application and give you time to complete the missing requirements? I tried contacting the board, but I was constantly placed on hold, and that's when I was even able to speak to someone. Thanks for any help.

[Michi66]

Those sound like they should qualify (to me as a logical person!). If you're not in a rush, I would just sit tight (and try to forget about it, if that's possible) and check on the Breeze website 2-3 weeks after you send those transcripts in. If your license does not come up, then try calling again. FYI, I found this number on the blog in the link below in the comments and was able to get a hold of someone more quickly: 18008386828.

How to get Your California RN License by Endorsement | BluePipes Blog

[smusher83]

So I was just looked at the CA BRN website processing times (it was updated this morning). They are currently processing applications received March 1-15. This mean that the actual average processing time is even longer than the 10-12 weeks quoted on the website!! Nurses that applied the beginning of March have been waiting 15-17 weeks!!! OMG this is ridiculous. I am surprised that there isn't more outrage or even a nurse advocacy group or association involved in trying to get this problem fixed. From all the research that I have done this problem has been going on for at least 3 years!! *****Thank you for reading my rant. I feel slightly better to get this off my chest***** #FrustratedImpatientNurse #IJustWannaWork

[NedRN]

There has been plenty of outrage and political action and even a state audit of the BON. That misleading site statement aside (mailed applications and fingerprint cards can indeed take up to three months), it is possible to receive a CA temp license in under a week if you do the Livescan of fingerprints in CA.

This issue first began with a 2009 Propublica piece about dangerous applicants from other states not investigated for two years about past BON reports. That led to Governor Schwarzenegger replacing the entire board and slowing things down tremendously with more due diligence performed on applicants, including Livescan based background checks. This also caused the loss of walk through licensure.

Even worse was the implementation several years later of Breeze software for all state agencies. This required considerable extra manual entry by decreasing numbers of personnel. Only in the last year has it been working smoothly and application times have dropped dramatically.

By law, a final decision or outcome of a license application must be completed in three months. The audit done during the slowest of times found they were still meeting the letter of the law. Thus no additional funds or personnel were provided to the BON.

[smusher83]

I flew to CA to do Livescan fingerprints and took my application for a temporary license to the BRN in person. It has been 6 weeks since I did this and my temporary application is still not showing on the Breeze website. When I contacted the BRN they said that they cannot help until the 12 weeks is over. I have not heard of anyone receiving a temporary license in a week for quite a long time. I will try calling them again to see if I can find out more information.

[NedRN]

It certainly sounds like something has gone wrong with your application.

[smusher83]

I think that you may be correct but no one will help me until it has been the 12 weeks, now quoted for temp licenses. My regular application by endorsement shows up but not the temp. I will just continue to wait, with the daily checking of the website.

[Argo]

I got my temporary license in a week. That was in November/Dec time frame.

[smusher83]

Nov/Dec of 2015? Could you please tell me how you did this???? :)

[laurasuern]

I recently obtained my CA license by endorsement and my transcripts show no formal public speaking classes, so must not be an issue.

[NedRN]

Did you have a communications course? Public speaking is not a required part of nursing education, at least it wasn't in 1992 when I graduated in California.

[blahaie2013, RN]

Has anybody applied for licensure coming from out of state? So, California license through examination (NCLEX), not endorsement?

[NedRN]

It is by endorsement. But NCLEX is a prerequisite for endorsement to any BON, unless you graduated before 1982 when it was called the SBTPE (which also qualifies you for endorsement).