California NP License processing time

[Kyra]

Hey All- I finished school in December and just submitted my application for my NP license in the state of California. The board says it can take 12-14 weeks to get the license (which I am prepared to wait) but I was also curious if any new licensees can speak to the timeframe they ended up waiting? It would great if it was slightly less than that...thank you!!

[AddictionNP, MSN, NP]

I graduated Dec 10, 2018 and for my license in January. I had also applied in October while I was in school and I remember it was about 15 weeks from the time I applied.

[db2xs]

12-14 weeks is great! It took me five months but I finished school in May and since you finished school in December, I think that the BRN will be less inundated.

[renzlao, MSN, APRN]

So if we graduate in May do you suggest we start applying for the license now?

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

I applied for my California RN license as soon as I completed my BSN.

You can't apply for a California NP license until you graduate and pass boards. The BON website gives accurate processing times.

At least a few years ago, getting the LiveScan in California speeded up the process a little over manual ink fingerprints. A bunch of us flew cross country just to do this.

You can apply for a temporary license at the same time and I suggest you do this - you will get this a few weeks quicker.

Some employers will hire you provisionally if your NP license in in process. You can start work once you have your license. Some may even allow you to work as an RN until you get the NP license.

[db2xs]

I would agree with some of what @FullGlass says and not some of what she says.

Yes, you can't apply for a California NP license until you graduate and pass boards. I graduated in May, took and pass the boards in June, and was granted my license in November.

The BRN was so snowed with applicants that when I called them to ask them a question, the voicemail message said (paraphrased), "Don't even bother to leave a message--send us an email and we'll get back to you when we can." It took what felt like forever, but I felt like I was not alone. I talked to some MDs who told me it took them eight months.

I can't speak to employers who will hire you provisionally because all the places I applied to wanted me to have my license on hand. I did apply to one place who was willing to let me work as an RN first but then I found out they didn't have Standardized Procedures, and that's a whole other story.