California for initial licensure not recommended unless one has VISA

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Over and over again, the moderators here have posted about not going thru CA for initial licensure, especially if you do not have a SSN#. You do not see you name posted on the website for the BRN, as you will not be issued a license until you are in the US and have a visa that will permit you to work.

It also takes about four weeks for you to receive your results out of the US, via regular air-mail. And the letter just informs you if you passed or did not pass; nothing more. And since a license is not issued, then you cannot endorse to another state with that procedure.

As many of you are aware, CA gives you three years to present them with a SSN#, or your file is destroyed and you start all over again. For those of you that decided to go with CA anyhow, you can apply to another state for licensure by examination while you still have a valid file with CA, and have them forward the results, and then get a license that way. Make sure that the new state issues a license without a SSN#. Suggest that you do not do that until it has been over two years of waiting, until you know what will be happening with visas.

Right now, you are looking at several years wait, depending on place of birth, for a chance to get to the US to work, there are no guarantees anymore; no matter what an agency tells you. They do not have anything to do with what USCIS does, and the fact that there are still more applicants than there are visas per year available.

We tell you things here for a reason, to help you. It does not make a difference to me as to what someone does, but when they come back later on when things are not working as they wanted, then it is time for me to say something. And this has been happening over and over again lately.

Best of luck to all of you, but please take the time to do some further reading before sending in one application for licensure. There is no application for the NCLEX exam, there is no such thing.

In the past, a few years ago, CA and NY were the only states that did not require the CGFNS exam; but that has changed significantly over the past couple of years, where only four do not require it out of all in the US. Things have changed and are always changing, recommend that you always check with the website for the BON/BRN that you are interested in. They can change requirements, and they do change requirements.

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as many of you are aware, ca gives you three years to present them with a ssn#, or your file is destroyed and you start all over again. for those of you that decided to go with ca anyhow, you can apply to another state for licensure by examination while you still have a valid file with ca, and have them forward the results, and then get a license that way. make sure that the new state issues a license without a ssn#. suggest that you do not do that until it has been over two years of waiting, until you know what will be happening with visas.

hey suzanne, I was just wondering, if 3 years had passed & I wasn't able to give ca BON my ssn, my file for application for licensure will be destroyed, does that mean I need to take NCLEX again? could you suggest a state where I can apply while my file in ca is still valid? thanks....

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We are hearing of mixed responses as to what will happen with the NCLEX results. Different people have gotten different answers when the BRN has been asked.

My suggestion is to apply for License by Examination to a state that will issue a license without a SSN#. Things change all of the time, and what a state is permitting today does not mean that it will be valid even in a few months.

The three that many have used are Arizona, New Mexico, and Illinois; but you will wish to check directly with them before you do anything. Remember that you need a SSN# for most states to be able to renew the license if you do get one issued to you.

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Since this thread was meant to be informational only, and there are already many threads about getting licensed in another state, I am going to go ahead and close this thread to any more posts.

This will make it easier for those to follow.

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Hi. I am a foreign graduate and taken my California State board NCLEX last December 27. No result yet.

Since I am a foreign graduate I won't have a chance to acquire a SSN which means no License.

My question is... If ever I pass my NCLEX (really hoping), can I be endorse to another state without CA License?

Thank you so much

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum

Because you do not get a license from Ca due to no SSN you can not endorse. Generally you have to apply for licensure by exam and request Ca forward your results to the state you apply to. You also have to meet that BON's requirements for foreign trained nurse. Much has been written in this forum on this subject so suggest a good read

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thanks

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hi smcsy, i too registered myself in california, can you let me know if ever you are successful in transferring to another state? thanks..

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You are not registered in CA if you do not have a license number issued to you. No SSN# and therefore no license. Suspect that you have a letter that states that you have passed and only that.

Much has been written here on what needs to be done to get licensed in another state if you have gone thru CA, not a big deal at all. Just do a search for the threads on this very topic. But do be aware that some of the states that are most frequently being used for this are now tightening their requirements as well, such as Vermont.

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i did some reading..

so california will really destroy my file if im unable to provide them my ssn?

if i apply to other states, and as previous threads have said, that when we renew they still require the ssn.. so does that mean after a year or so on being registered in the new state i cannot renew any longer?

can you suggest which state is advisable to transfer to?

also, if i apply to the new state, do i still need to pay them again for the fees?

thanks suzanne.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
i did some reading..

so california will really destroy my file if im unable to provide them my ssn?

if i apply to other states, and as previous threads have said, that when we renew they still require the ssn.. so does that mean after a year or so on being registered in the new state i cannot renew any longer?

can you suggest which state is advisable to transfer to?

also, if i apply to the new state, do i still need to pay them again for the fees?

thanks suzanne.

You have no license to transfer to and in fact you don't transfer you endorse but need a license to endorse. You will need to apply for application by exam and meet requirements for foreign trained nurse, so basically start all over again only difference being you shouldn't have to re sit NCLEX just ask Ca to forward your results. There are only a couple of states that will destroy your file within a certain period of time unless you provide a SSN a lot of the others allow you to renew whilst waiting and sign a form stating you are not in the US and do not have a SSN

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Do states allow TIN issued from the IRS, instead of SS #?

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