Challenging from RMA to LVN??

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2007

As an RMA, you are not eligible to challenge the NCLEX-PN in California. You will need to fulfill the specific course requirements in order to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. You'll be eligible to challenge the NCLEX-PN only if you were a medic in the US armed forces, and did not attend a nursing program.

A person cannot challenge the NCLEX-PN in any other situation.

caliotter3 · Sep 27, 2007

Read the info at the following link at the BVNPT: http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/method3.htm then contact the board at the number given and speak to someone there to get your answer. This link gives the criteria for challenging the NCLEX but no specific mention is made of MAs meeting or not meeting the criteria.

smk1, LPN · Sep 27, 2007

I am currently and MA, will be taking the RMA exam in Dec. I was told by my school that after I worked in my field as and RMA for six months I could challange for the LVN exam. I can't find any information to confirm this and I could really use some help. If you know where to find the information I need, if you know if it is even possible to do this, or just any relating information would be great. I hope to here from someone soon. Thanks so much in advance.

You can't find anything on this because it isn't true. You need to search through everything given to you by your school and if you can find an official reference to challenging the PN exam you might want to contact a lawyer about false advertisement. If you spent money to be a medical assistant thinking that you could challenge the nursing exam, then they have essentially defrauded you. Sorry if I sound a bit abrupt, but it upsets me to no end to hear from MA's that have been told that their credits will transfer or they will be equal to a nurse or can challenge the nursing exam. The schools need to be held liable for making money off of false advertising.

me_daffy · Sep 27, 2007

I graduated from an MA program Took the test to become registered and am now in LPN school. I have learned totally different things in the 2 schools. In MA school they don't teach you anything about care plans, or patients assessments. I have been asked by a lot of people why I went back to school instead of just challenging the exam. There is no way I could've passed boards with just my MA education. Even if it is possible I would still go to LPN school. The MA program is centered around office care where LPN school focuses on hospital and LTC. I feel much more prepared for NCLEX-PN now versus after the MA program. BTW there are other MAs in the program that agree with me. Ma school has definately helped me with this school in many ways, but I'm glad I did it this way.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2007

this is so very true. i was a cma and now been a lvn for about 9 years now...

i graduated from an ma program took the test to become registered and am now in lpn school. i have learned totally different things in the 2 schools. in ma school they don't teach you anything about care plans, or patients assessments. i have been asked by a lot of people why i went back to school instead of just challenging the exam. there is no way i could've passed boards with just my ma education. even if it is possible i would still go to lpn school. the ma program is centered around office care where lpn school focuses on hospital and ltc. i feel much more prepared for nclex-pn now versus after the ma program. btw there are other mas in the program that agree with me. ma school has definately helped me with this school in many ways, but i'm glad i did it this way.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 27, 2007

this is so very true. i am a cma and now been a lvn for about 9 years now...

actully not in ca and that is what the poster is asking about, and also no longer anywhere. what you did 9 years ago is no longer the case in any state.

ca only permits one to challenge the pn exam and that is if they were a military corpsmen in the military, otherwise all must complete an approved school of nursing program. and when challenged like that, the license cannot be endorsed to any other state later on, it is only good for ca.

requirements are changing all of the time.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2007

i'm not sure what your talking about . i was referring to the ma program and the lvn program being very different . i never challenged the nclex- pn , i sat in class and did the time.

actully not in ca and that is what the poster is asking about, and also no longer anywhere. what you did 9 years ago is no longer the case in any state.
ca only permits one to challenge the pn exam and that is if they were a military corpsmen in the military, otherwise all must complete an approved school of nursing program. and when challenged like that, the license cannot be endorsed to any other state later on, it is only good for ca.
requirements are changing all of the time.

Murse901, MSN, RN · Sep 27, 2007

Actully not in CA and that is what the poster is asking about, and also no longer anywhere. What you did 9 years ago is no longer the case in any state.
CA only permits one to challenge the PN exam and that is if they were a military corpsmen in the military, otherwise all must complete an approved school of nursing program. And when challenged like that, the license cannot be endorsed to any other state later on, it is only good for CA.
Requirements are changing all of the time.

You misinterpreted their response. They were replying to the person that stated MA school helped them with PN school, but that MA school alone would not have prepared them for the NCLEX-PN. Their quotation was at the bottom of their message.

I think SMK1 hit the nail on the head. MA schools in my area are notorious for making false claims, but they only make those claims verbally. You won't find it written anywhere that you can go straight to being a nurse after X period of time as an MA.

It just ain't gonna happen. MA's may work very hard in a doctor's office, but the simple fact of the matter is that they are geared more for the office administration side and less in the medical side than a nurse.