California & Excelsior College

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

All:

- Please read before replying.

- I've seen where California does not accept Excelsior Graduates (either by examination or endorsement), due to the lack of clinical hours in the Excelsior program.

- In my particular situation, I failed the 2nd semester medical-surgical class (at the brick-and-mortar college) causing me to drop out of the program. However, I was able to sit for my LPN license, as New York (at the time) allowed students who completed three of four semesters of an RN program to sit for LPN boards.

- I then went on to complete my ASN-Nursing through Excelsior College.

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- My questions:

- I am currently attending a brick-and-mortar college (here in Pennsylvania) for my BSN.

- 1. If I were to take the 2nd semester medical-surgical class (with clinical) and satisfy the California BON clinical requirements, would I be able to endorse into California?

- 2. What if just completed a BSN program (brick-and-mortar), and also obtained 2 years hospital experience as an RN. Note: The BSN program does not have a clinical portion.

- Would either of the above situations allow me to endorse into California?

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- Note: I have contacted the California BON with the above scenarios. Unfortuantely, I received the standard "we evaluate applicants on a case-by-case basis" form letter.

- I talked with the Excelsior College administration (multiple times during the two years I attended), and received the same generic response, "California evaluates applicants on a case-by-case basis."

- Note: I can no longer return to the original brick-and-mortar program and re-take the medical-surgical class, due to that particular college's requirements of being able to complete the program in so many years.

- I would have to believe someone out there has endorsed into California after graduating from Excelsior and then meeting the clinical hour requirements.

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- So here I am, asking ... Has anyone out there attempted to endorse into California after completing the Excelsior Program, and going to a brick-and-mortar school to get the required clinical hours?

- Thanks in advance,

Johnny

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I haven't heard of anyone doing that, but somehow I think the CA BRN would turn you down ... I think the crux of the matter is "clinicals concurrent with theory," so even with later experience and or clinicals, the answer would probably be no. I have nearly 5000 hours as an RN, and I'm pretty sure they'd turn me down because my ADN was from EC. Even with my BSN and all those hours, I wouldn't count on it.

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

LunahRN:

- If I were to take the 2nd semester Med-Surg class (with clinicals) ... I would take both the theory portion as well as the clinical portion. It would be a 7 credit class.

- I find it hard to believe that no one has even attempted to do this. More amazingly, no one at either Excelsior or the CA-BON will give me a straight answer.

Thanks!!!

Johnny

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I'm not surprised you're not getting straight answers ... EC can't speak for the CA BRN, and the CA BRN doesn't like to commit to anything where EC is concerned. :D It's a gamble, and it makes sense the way you explain it, but ... yeah, it's a gamble. Let us know if you go this route, and what happens!

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

LunahRN:

- I sent another e-mail to the CA-BON this afternoon. Unfortunately, it will take

another 3 months to hear back from them.

- As you said ... very frustrating.

- In the meantime, I am hoping someone has already taken the path (or attempted

to take the path) that I am proposing. I would think someone at Excelsior has

attempted to do this. Unfortunately, no one in the Excelsior College administration

knows of anyone either succeeding or failing at the attempt.

Again, thanks for your comments.

Johnny

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

LunahRN:

-- Sent you a PM.

Johnny

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Nobody on this board has been able to answer that question as it seems that when it comes to Excelsior and CA everyone seems to stay away from it. Hopefully there is someone else out there who can help. I personally am trying to go the Arizona route as I am from Nevada and I am planning on doing the 120 clinical preceptorship after the CPNE. Will it work? I do not know but we shall see.

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I've researched and have contacted the BRN with similiar scenarios and their answers are very short and vague. Honestly, I don't think you will ever get the answers until you actually submit the transcripts and wait for your acceptance or denial. Have you taken the NCLEX-RN yet? If you haven't taken it yet and you have that clinical experience you may want to try anyway and see what they say. If your plan is to work in CA it's beneficial for you to attempt to try anway. If your plan isn't to work in CA then I wouldn't go for it unless you're just curious to see what happens. Either way I wish you the best of luck in your studies.

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SirJohnny, please give an update on what your experience has been with the CA Board since your post was made. Thank you.

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The reason CA BON tells people, it's on a case by case basis, is it depends on when you obtained your degree from EC. For those that graduated before a certain year, you may be eligible to take the exam or get in via endorsement, but for those pass that certain year, they will most likely deny your application.

One person was able to get his license endorsed into CA but had to fight for it, read on:

https://allnurses.com/california-nursing/california-rn-endorsement-650723.html

You can go to the CA BON site and there's a few pieces of information talking about the EC problem and why EC grads are being rejected. It's under one of their main heading.

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Specializes in Lpn Lvn.

Hi I wanted to know if California allowed you to get a license or not. I am from Calirornia and plan on going back home after I get my RN I have signed up with excelsior and I do not want to pay for this school if I can not get a RN license in California when I am ready to go back home.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

No you cannot be licensed in California by license or examination if your entry to RN practice degree is the ASN from Excelsior College. They have not made exceptions in years. CABRN has not made an exception

ETA the original poster had a unique situation as they had completed some of their clinical & theory hours in a traditional program. There have been EC grads with thousands of hours of paid clinical nursing experience, BSN and /or MSN degrees but still denied by CABRN since their initial degree was the ASN from Excelsior.

If you want to be licensed as an RN in CA you need to not go to Excelsior.

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