Wishing to work in California, from another state

U.S.A. California

Published

since there have been so many threads started on this, thought that a sticky would answer most questions about this.

1. you must endorse to california, you do not transfer a license. you will continue to maintain an active license in the original state until it expires if you do not renew it.

2. you need to follow the license by endorsement application, you can find it on ca brn website.

3. california requires a completed set of transcripts from your nursing school before they will issue you a permanent license.

4. they need verification from your state licensing authority. if ca has received that or the state is part of nursys, then you can actually go to the brn in sacramento and get a temporary license issued that same day.

5. otherwise, expect it to take about one month for you to receive the license once they have received all documents.

Thank you for all the info. This thread has been very helpful. I will be applying to take the NCLEX and get licensed in California after I graduate in May from NYC. Since I'm moving right after graduation, it seems easier for me to get licensed in California initially rather than get licensed in NY and then get endorsed. My only concern is that the California Board of Nursing website states the nursing program must meet their educational standards and I can't find any information to let me know if my school does or not. I haven't had any success contacting them by phone or e-mail, but I'll keep trying. I was just hoping someone could shed some light and possibly calm my nerves til I get an official answer from CBRN. Thanks.

Thanks for the response Suzzane,

No it's not an LPN to RN. It's an ADN program. I do 9 months at IUON (international University of Nursing) St. Kitts, and then go straight to Oklahoma State College 9 months. (NLNAC Accredited)..I graduate from Oklahoma State w the Degree and be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN...

-Mark

Definitely speak to the CA BRN before you sign on the dotted line. Being able to sit for the degree in one state does not guarantee all states. CA is very particular about somethings that others are not.

Thank you for all the info. This thread has been very helpful. I will be applying to take the NCLEX and get licensed in California after I graduate in May from NYC. Since I'm moving right after graduation, it seems easier for me to get licensed in California initially rather than get licensed in NY and then get endorsed. My only concern is that the California Board of Nursing website states the nursing program must meet their educational standards and I can't find any information to let me know if my school does or not. I haven't had any success contacting them by phone or e-mail, but I'll keep trying. I was just hoping someone could shed some light and possibly calm my nerves til I get an official answer from CBRN. Thanks.

A couple of things to be aware of. CA will not you sit for the exam until they have a completed file on you and they have evaluated it. If you attend school in CA, then they will let the student test as soon as they finish and before they even receive the final transcripts from the school, as long as the nurses name is on the list of those expected to graduate.

Also be aware that CA does not participate in quick results. You may need to wait a week or so to get your results.

If you are in a regular style program in a real nursing program that has walls, you should not have any problem. It is some of the on-line programs or ones that have been creative in their training that do not get approval.

Thanks for the reply. I feel calm now about my school meeting the requirements. From the CBRN website, it seems like a lengthy process, so I've started the paperwork already (transcripts, fingerprints, etc.). Wish me luck!

Thanks for the reply. I feel calm now about my school meeting the requirements. From the CBRN website, it seems like a lengthy process, so I've started the paperwork already (transcripts, fingerprints, etc.). Wish me luck!

How are you starting the process if you have not graduated yet? There are no transcripts to submit for them to evaluate. You need to graduate before you will have any transcripts to submit. They will not do a thing with your file until that point in time.

The CBRN website suggests submitting the application for NCLEX eligibility 4 months prior to the date you wish to take the exam. So, I will go ahead and send the finger print card, application with attached photo, and a check for the fees. I'm a second degree/transfer student, so I sent for transcripts from my other schools. The last piece will be getting my nursing school transcript sent out right away after I graduate. I will also be applying for an Interim Permit. I'm just crossing my fingers that it goes smoothly and I can sit for the exam in July.

The CBRN website suggests submitting the application for NCLEX eligibility 4 months prior to the date you wish to take the exam. So, I will go ahead and send the finger print card, application with attached photo, and a check for the fees. I'm a second degree/transfer student, so I sent for transcripts from my other schools. The last piece will be getting my nursing school transcript sent out right away after I graduate. I will also be applying for an Interim Permit. I'm just crossing my fingers that it goes smoothly and I can sit for the exam in July.

CA will permit a student that graduated from a CA program to be able to take the exam before their file is complete. For all others, they will require a completed file before permitting the ATT to be issued to you.

Highly recommend that you proceed directly with taking the NCLEX exam before you even move there. You will find many facilties are not even offering a job until you have proof that you passed the exam. There has been much posted on this very topic. Always much easier to get everything done before moving when you are still in your comfort zone. And always much better to take the exam before you begin your training. There will be too much for you to learn from the job and having to worry about the exam will be a strain.

Take the time to read about this same thing.

HI, The federal Bureau of prisons in San Pedro needs about 6 nurses. If you want more information, respond and I will tell more.

Frances, graduate nurse

Specializes in Transitional ICU, Neuro/Trauma ICU.

Hi all,

I'm planning to move from NY to CA after I graduate on May 20. I will be starting a new grad training in a hospital in CA on July 23. But I'm a little worried that CA BON takes longer to process the licensure application although you have provided all the credentials needed to process the Interim Permit. The IP is needed at least to be able to start the training. But I'm planning to take the NCLEX before the program starts if I get the IP earlier (like last week of June). Does anyone been through this? I need some input about what the approx. timeline of CA-BON's IP/ATT processing.

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

most of the information that you are all looking for can be easily found and answered on the california board of nursing sites. california has two boards of nursing: one for rns and one for lvns (licensed vocational nurses). here are some weblinks that should be helpful for most of you:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/ - the home page of the california board of registered nursing

http://www.rn.ca.gov/lic/lic.htm - links to information on the california board of registered nursing regarding rn licensure by examination (if you graduated from nursing school in the u.s. or you are an international graduate) or endorsement (already hold an rn license in another u.s. state)

http://www.rn.ca.gov/lic/lic-faqs.htm - frequently asked questions (faqs) about rn licensing and examination in california

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/ - home page of the california board of vocational nursing and psychiatric technicians (lvns)

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/lic.htm - how to get an lvn license in california

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/osfacts.htm - if you are an lpn/lvn outside of california looking to endorse to california you need to read this page!

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/forms.htm - links to the application to take the nclex-pn exam in california. if you are a military corpsman and looking to take the lvn exam by educational equivalence challenge you need to follow method #4 and instructions that apply to the military.

Hi all,

I'm planning to move from NY to CA after I graduate on May 20. I will be starting a new grad training in a hospital in CA on July 23. But I'm a little worried that CA BON takes longer to process the licensure application although you have provided all the credentials needed to process the Interim Permit. The IP is needed at least to be able to start the training. But I'm planning to take the NCLEX before the program starts if I get the IP earlier (like last week of June). Does anyone been through this? I need some input about what the approx. timeline of CA-BON's IP/ATT processing.

You will not get the IP until they have approved you to take the NCLEX-RN exam. In order to get the IP, it means that you have met all requirements for licensure, except for taking and passing the exam.

Always recommend that you try and take the NCLEX exam before moving. Too many things to do and worry about once you move.

Hello all!! I have a question. I am preparing to send my application to the CA BON. I graduated in May and I will be applying for an interim permit. My issue is this:

I attended three school before coming to my current school. With two, my major was practical nursing ( community colleges in Georgia) and the other was registered nursing (community college) and then I transferred to my current school (university). The classes that were transferred from these institutions are on my transcript for my current degree that I completed May 5th. My question is this:

Should I send the BON transcripts from all of the schools I have attended or would the one from my current school be enough?

Please help!! I feel so lost right now. Thanks in advance for your help.

PICU RN 2b

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