California BRN Processing Times Poll

U.S.A. California

Published

So it seems that more than a few of us have applied to California for a license either by exam or endorsement. Let's share our 2016 processing experiences here:

1) Are you applying for license-by-exam/endorsement?

2) Date application was filed?

3) Number of weeks since you applied?

4) Electronic/paper?

5) For those who are applying for license-by-exam: school you graduated from California/other in the US

6) Your home state of residency: California/other US state

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced?

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for?

Me:

1) License-by-exam

2) April 13

3) 15 weeks

4) Electronic

5) Graduated from non-Cali school

6) Non-Cali resident

7) I was told that the documents I uploaded to BreEZe weren't there, the paper copies of the same documents that I had sent in the mail were not received (I have a USPS delivery confirmation saying they were), fingerprint hard card was lost, was told application fee wasn't paid (was paid with BreEZe application on 4/13), passport photo wasn't on file (was submitted X 3)...oh, and when I received confirmation of the documents I sent via email, the supervisor told me my application date is not April 13 (even though BreEZe says it is)

8) Numerous phone calls to BRN; extra trip to California for LiveScan; letter to a Senator, letter to the Governor, complaint to the Consumer Affairs Dept (crickets from all three)

9) I have a contract with an ever-nearing, fixed start date

Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

1) Are you applying for license-by-exam/endorsement? Endorsement

2) Date application was filed? 05/25

3) Number of weeks since you applied? 10

4) Electronic/paper? electronic

5) For those who are applying for license-by-exam: school you graduated from California/other in the US N/A

6) Your home state of residency: California/other US state NJ

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced? None, I just wait painstakingly :(

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed None

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for? Nope, I plan on applying for jobs once I get my license!

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Specializes in CTICU.

1) License by exam

2) Date application was filed? March 30

3) Number of weeks since you applied? 18 weeks

4) Electronic/paper? Electronic

5) For those who are applying for license-by-exam: Loma Linda University

6) Your home state of residency: California

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced? Rude, are not concerned, no sense of urgency, slow

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed. Call, complain, and call and call and call

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for? yes

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So it seems that more than a few of us have applied to California for a license either by exam or endorsement. Let's share our 2016 processing experiences here:

1) Are you applying for license-by-exam/endorsement? Endorsement (I have been licensed in 5 other states before this)

2) Date application was filed? I sent my application in March 18th, received by the board March 21st or thereabouts. However, they note on my BreEZe account May 25th.

3) Number of weeks since you applied? Depends on how you define "applied". Kind of like what "is" is. Almost 20 weeks per priority mail. According to CBORN, 10 weeks.

4) Electronic/paper? paper...everything paper. Didn't know electronic was even an option.

5) For those who are applying for license-by-exam: school you graduated from California/other in the US

6) Your home state of residency: California/other US state. Washington state. Thank God I kept my license here and my job and I am still active and practicing away.

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced? Are you kidding me? Rejected my fingerprints from livescan but waited 3 months plus to notify me of the rejection, even though the fingerprint results were available to them instantly. Now I find out that I have to submit a second round of nursing school transcripts because I didn't fill out the CBORN form for transcripts to be sent along with my school transcripts by the school. It's the form, it's all about the form. But you must use THEIR form, not the school's transcript request form. What next by snail mail? Just waiting for the next slow shoe to drop.

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed Calling and complaining. I am patient to a point. The attorney option may be my next try if the politicos don't respond.

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for? No. I am working here at home. I will not bother even applying to anything until I have license in hand. This is the best argument ever for Interstate Compacts for nursing licenses. The fact that the nursing unions are fighting the compact idea speaks volumes about them.

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Specializes in ICU.

1) Are you applying for license-by-exam/endorsement?

Endorsement

2) Date application was filed?

5/5/16 - dropped off at BRN office in person

3) Number of weeks since you applied?

Licensed after 11 weeks

4) Electronic/paper?

Paper with Live Scan prints

6) Your home state of residency: California/other US state

Also licensed in OK

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced?

They tried to act like the "missing education history" on Breeze was nothing when I went into the office to inquire. I made them actually check my file and turns out my nursing school wasn't able to list all my prereqs on their transcript like they told me they would. Saved myself being rejected for missing education history and requested my other transcripts after leaving the office.

Also got the run around about what classes would satisfy the communication skills requirement. I've never taken public speaking or communication but have taken tons of humanities, linguistics, literature, and research classes and also TAed undergraduate biology classes. I wrote a letter explaining that and got my university to send the BRN a letter stating that what they call "humanities" is equivalent to a writing-intensive freshman comp class. I got licensed without having to do any other coursework.

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processeda complaint

File a complaint with the
CA Department of Consumer Affairs
, the body that oversees the BRN.

If you already have a household in CA, contact your local state assemblymember and state senator by phone and explain how you're having trouble with a state agency and need their help. It carries a lot more weight if you're a constituent since they can earn your vote.

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for?

I've had a job lined up since June that was contingent on licensure. I was upfront about the wait time on licensure during the interview, and they were willing to work with me. My orientation was scheduled for a couple weeks after the end of the 10-12 week processing time frame that used to be on the BRN site.

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1) Endorsement

2) Application was filed online May 19th and temp app dropped off in person

3) 10 weeks 4 days since I applied

4) Electronic permanent app (with livescan finger prints) /paper temp license app

5) N/A

6) Your home state of residency: Resident of Colorado but will be moving to CA Aug 8th

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced? The huge wait time, poor communication, lack of assistance, lack of concern.

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed. Many calls to the BRN (only 3 answered), 2 emails (none answered), 1 fax (not answered). Formal complaint filed with DCA (was told they would forward it to the BRN, never heard anything back from BRN). Email complaint sent to governor Brown's office (was told they would forward complaint to DCA, never heard anything back from the DCA about forwarded complaint).

9) Do you have a job/contract with a dead line that you need this license for? Yes I have a pending position at a hospital.

Finally received my temporary license August 10th.

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Mine is kind of different because I'm a foreign student nurse and had my BSN in the Philippines.

1) Are you applying for license-by-exam/endorsement?

EXAM

2) Date application was filed?

MID JUNE

3) Number of weeks since you applied?

10 weeks

4) Electronic/paper?

PAPER

5) For those who are applying for license-by-exam: school you graduated from California/other in the US:

had my BSN degree in the Philippines (Velez College)

6) Your home state of residency:

non resident

7) Hiccups with the BRN you've experienced?

Didn't hear anything from them after they cashed out my check

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed

Just waiting and calling them

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for?

No. I can't apply yet if I don't get my license

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Did you get ATT yet. I applied on August 8. I'm waiting for ATT and I'm a foreign graduated.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
1. Applied for licensure by exam

2. Application filed 05/17/16

3. 12 weeks since I applied

4. Electronic application online

5. Graduated from Saddleback College 05/10/16

6. California resident

7. No hiccups that I know of since I've never been able to get through on the phone

8. I've tried calling and sent emails but have never received a response; I filed a complaint with the DCA, they responded quickly and apparently forwarded my complaint to the CA BRN and that's the last I've heard

9. My acceptance into a BSN program that starts 8/26 will likely be rescinded if I don't have my license or at least a tag date soon

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I finally got my ATT after writing a very strongly worded letter to the Governor of California on August 11th via his website. I got a call from his assistant on August 12th that she had spoken with their contact at the CA BRN and were able to expedite the processing of my application. I got my ATT within 24hrs! Taking the NCLEX in 10 days woohoo!

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Were any of you out of state applicants told you needed communication credits?

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I applied 9 weeks ago. After 7 weeks I called and the said they have lost my paper application so had to go and reapply online. There's a job waiting for me down in LA and won't most likely wait that long.

licensed in NY and MN

sent paper application and online

still waiting

has this happened to anyone before?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Telemetry.

1) Applying for license-by-exam (currently a working LVN)

2) Date application was filed? 5/15/17

3) Number of weeks since you applied? 11

4) Electronic App

5) Graduated from Palomar College May 25th, 2017. All but 1 other student from my graduating class have received their ATT; many are already licensed and working.

6) Your home state of residency: California/other US state

7) Received letter 2 weeks after initial application requesting re-do of LiveScan; submitted fingerprints for 2nd time 5/29/17.

8) Remedies you've tried to get your application processed: email to DCA

9) Do you have a job/contract with a deadline that you need this license for? Missed out on 1 job so far.

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I applied from Georgia but had already done Speech and Communication at a Community College. I needed license by endorsement for RN. Went to Sacramento specifically to hand deliver my application on May 25. I was curious to see if that would speed the process.

Went from the airport to Livescan, printed application form and next day went to the Board. Had my transcript, receipt from Livescan and Nursys and a check along with ID and application. I did not pay the $50 for temporary license, seems like a waste.

Two weeks later I logged on to CA Breeze to track and see if I needed any further documentation and I checked every week until I saw the license posted today, exactly one day before the 3 months waiting period. Going directly was not advantageous for me but I was also curious. Hope this tidbit helps someone in obtaining their license.

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