California Board of Registered Nursing now requires local NLE

This new information regarding the CA BRN now requiring local NLE has really gotten me so worried right now! I just got back here to California 6 weeks ago, have started going to work while waiting for my licensure application to process, am financing a newly bought car, at the same time reviewing for the NCLEX! Having to go back to the Philippines just to take the local boards is gonna bring up a new slew of problems for me: time, energy, and MONEY! I always knew that I couldn't even take the local Philippine NLE since I'm not a Filipino citizen. Even all my instructors and level coordinators said that I wouldn't be able to take it since I'm a US Citizen. I've never heard from anyone that the PRC would allow a non-Filipino citizen to take the local NLE but simply wont issue a license to them. If that's truly the case, I'm really screwed! And I mean REALLY!

This statement gave me a light of hope. I am a natural-born citizen of the USA born in Maryland. I am not a dual-citizen and have never established citizenry with the Philippines. Does this mean that I really can't sit the Philippine NLE at all? This is what I've always known from the start even before I came back in the Philippines to take up nursing. This is also exactly what I stated in my letter of explanation of why I don't hold a license in my country of instruction. Somebody please answer this question of mine...I'm really panicking here right now and want to be put out of my misery . A quick honest answer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

If not a citizen of the Philippines then No you can not sit their local boards but I think you will need to get something from them in writing to confirm this, they may not accept a letter just from you

This new information regarding the CA BRN now requiring local NLE has really gotten me so worried right now! I just got back here to California 6 weeks ago, have started going to work while waiting for my licensure application to process, am financing a newly bought car, at the same time reviewing for the NCLEX! Having to go back to the Philippines just to take the local boards is gonna bring up a new slew of problems for me: time, energy, and MONEY! I always knew that I couldn't even take the local Philippine NLE since I'm not a Filipino citizen. Even all my instructors and level coordinators said that I wouldn't be able to take it since I'm a US Citizen. I've never heard from anyone that the PRC would allow a non-Filipino citizen to take the local NLE but simply wont issue a license to them. If that's truly the case, I'm really screwed! And I mean REALLY!

This statement gave me a light of hope. I am a natural-born citizen of the USA born in Maryland. I am not a dual-citizen and have never established citizenry with the Philippines. Does this mean that I really can't sit the Philippine NLE at all? This is what I've always known from the start even before I came back in the Philippines to take up nursing. This is also exactly what I stated in my letter of explanation of why I don't hold a license in my country of instruction. Somebody please answer this question of mine...I'm really panicking here right now and want to be put out of my misery . A quick honest answer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

If you only hold an American Citizenship then not but as SD102 mentioned CA BRN may require you to submit additional docs to prove what you claim.

I see. That's what I thought. My cousin who is a new US immigrant already received a notice from the CA BRN regarding the requirement of taking the local NLE before she is considered eligible for the NCLEX. I've also received a notice from the board after they received my application, although it had something to do with the new fingerprinting guidelines that started this June 2008 requiring FBI processing in addition to the standard DOJ service. So I had to redo my live-scan fingerprints. Nothing was mentioned about why I didn't take the local NLE; does this necessarily mean I'm in the clear? But in case they do send me a notice in the future requiring the local NLE, I just have to contact PRC and request for a statement in writing from them explaining my ineligibility to take the local NLE due to my citizenship, right?

I see. That's what I thought. My cousin who is a new US immigrant already received a notice from the CA BRN regarding the requirement of taking the local NLE before she is considered eligible for the NCLEX. I've also received a notice from the board after they received my application, although it had something to do with the new fingerprinting guidelines that started this June 2008 requiring FBI processing in addition to the standard DOJ service. So I had to redo my live-scan fingerprints. Nothing was mentioned about why I didn't take the local NLE; does this necessarily mean I'm in the clear? But in case they do send me a notice in the future requiring the local NLE, I just have to contact PRC and request for a statement in writing from them explaining my ineligibility to take the local NLE due to my citizenship, right?

Presuming you are not a dual-citizen then yes. Just request PRC to make a letter.

Ok, I feel so much better now. Thanks so much for the replies ^.^

Ok, I feel so much better now. Thanks so much for the replies ^.^

Man thank God I found this website. I'm in the same boat as you are (U.S Citizen), but I won't be graduating in the PI till March 2009. I was kind of worried for a minute. It's not cheap taking nursing in the Phillipines it does cost a lot of money.

I plan to write the same letter of explanation as you once I graduate. Once I put the BRON package together I'll be including the letter from PRC and at the same time have PRC send CABON a letter explaining I'm inelgible due to my status. Hopefully everything works out fine because time is money. Please let me know how things go with you and CABON?! Keep in Touch...sincerely Macky

I am US immigrant and finished my nursing degree in the Philippines but did not have the chance to take the local board examination. My husband is on active duty in the US navy. Being a military dependent i am affected by my spouse's military orders/ assignment. In January 2008 my husband was stationed here in California so we were moved back here in San diego from the Philippines, therefore i was not able to attend my graduation ceremony and further more to wait for the local board examination.

I sent my application to California BON 2 months ago along with a Letter of Explanation/waiver, copy of my green card and copy of my husband's military order. Today i called the BON and had the chance to talked to one of the evaluators and she said they have accepted my Letter or Explanation since i have a valid reason and its something i did not have control of. She said she is currently working on my Transcript which they have just received and if everything goes well then they can send my Eligibility next week. I really hope things will go well so i can start working on my goal of obtaining a california nursing license.

So Suzanne is right it is a matter of a case to case basis. Its good thing i still tried the letter of explanation although i already found out that they have already changed their rules.

Yes suzanne you are right, i myself would want to sit for the local boards if only i had the chance. I got an email from the BRN and they just sent my eligibility so hopefully its on the mail this week. Thanks for this wonderful forum.