College freshman on the road to becoming an RN. Help needed.

perioddrama · Jan 30, 2013

and was wondering if I could apply for a license in a state in the Nurse Interstate Licensure Compact and try to transfer to CA.
- Josh

No. CA is not a part of the compact states. Just because you have a license in a compact state does not give you an automatic in to CA. Each state has their own educational and other requirements you have to satisfy in order to sit for the test or to get your license.

NV requires you to have a local license if you have been educated outside the country.

You need to have stellar grades and other requirements to get in to the city colleges/state schools and unis. A lot of them are based on merit or lottery.

There is always the option of the pricier private school in the States. At least you would have graduated in the States.

Whatever, you decide, Good luck!

elkpark · Jan 30, 2013

Also, a compact state license doesn't have "compact privileges" unless you are maintaining a permanent residence in that state. If you apply for licensure from somewhere else, you'll get a license, but it will be a "regular," traditional license that is only good in that state, not able to be used in any other states.

If you don't qualify for CA licensure because of concurrency issues, getting licensed in another state and applying for licensure in CA by endorsement won't fix the "problem" because you will still have to meet CA's educational requirements for licensure, even if you're already licensed in another US state.

I don't recall the exact numbers offhand, but international nursing graduates have much worse pass rates on the NCLEX than those educated in the US (which makes sense, since US programs are tailored to US licensure standards and the US exam, while programs in other countries are tailored to the nursing standards and practices of their own countries).

JCruz94 · Jan 30, 2013

Also, a compact state license doesn't have "compact privileges" unless you are maintaining a permanent residence in that state. If you apply for licensure from somewhere else, you'll get a license, but it will be a "regular," traditional license that is only good in that state, not able to be used in any other states.

If you don't qualify for CA licensure because of concurrency issues, getting licensed in another state and applying for licensure in CA by endorsement won't fix the "problem" because you will still have to meet CA's educational requirements for licensure, even if you're already licensed in another US state.

I don't recall the exact numbers offhand, but international nursing graduates have much worse pass rates on the NCLEX than those educated in the US (which makes sense, since US programs are tailored to US licensure standards and the US exam, while programs in other countries are tailored to the nursing standards and practices of their own countries).

I see. So, I would have to plan to live in one of the 24 states in Licensure Compact ? And I am well aware of the pass rate statistics, it's about 90% US Educated pass on first try vs. ~37% International Educated pass on first try. But I was wondering if you know anyone who has actually taken it that is foreign educated and how difficult it was for them (whether they passed or failed).

No. CA is not a part of the compact states. Just because you have a license in a compact state does not give you an automatic in to CA. Each state has their own educational and other requirements you have to satisfy in order to sit for the test or to get your license.

I'm not trying to say I will automatically gain automatic licensure for CA also, but more of the matter: I have a license to practice in the US already in another state, if the CA BON will be a little more lenient since I already have my foot in the door.

By the way, thanks for the quick replies !

loriangel14, RN · Jan 30, 2013

[i'm not trying to say I will automatically gain automatic licensure for CA also, but more of the matter: I have a license to practice in the US already in another state, if the CA BON will be a little more lenient since I already have my foot in the door.]

No. CA won't care if you are licensed in another state. You will still have to meet the CA BON requirements to be licensed there and concurrency will still be an issue. CA is not the only state that has concurrency issues with foreign graduates.

JCruz94 · Jan 30, 2013

No. CA won't care if you are licensed in another state. You will still have to meet the CA BON requirements to be licensed there and concurrency will still be an issue. CA is not the only state that has concurrency issues with foreign graduates.

There seems to be so many problems with concurrency issues, especially with CA. In the future, when I pass the NCLEX, and can't get into CA (or another state with the same problem), what would my options be ? What would I do to meet the CA BON requirements ? Take another year or 2 and repeat some courses ?

loriangel14, RN · Jan 30, 2013

If you wanted to meet their requirements you would have to go back to school and repeated the needed areas.

elkpark · Jan 30, 2013

Your options would be to practice in a different state, that doesn't have the same requirements, or meet CA's requirements.

This rule has been "on the books" in CA for many years, and they just didn't start enforcing it vigorously until the economy tanked, nursing jobs dried up, and they had a surplus of nurses in the state. In that case, it makes sense to limit the number of new licenses being issued. It may be that, as (if) the economy and employment situation improve, they will be less strict about the eligibility rules again.

Or, you could study nursing in the US, and not have a problem.

JCruz94 · Jan 30, 2013

If you wanted to meet their requirements you would have to go back to school and repeated the needed areas.

How long would this usually take ? Are we talking about months, years ?

Or, you could study nursing in the US, and not have a problem.

Honestly, I would strongly prefer to stay in the US and study here because if I study in the Philippines, the major lifestyle change, language barrier, and being away from friends and family while juggling nursing school would drive me over the edge. The thing is, I can't get my classes here, I will have my BSN by the time I'm 30 at the rate I'm going -_- Also, my financial situation would not allow me to attend a private college; student loans will haunt me to the grave. So I am just trying to find out everything I can on studying in the Philippines because I am willing to move out there, although again, I don't prefer it.

loriangel14, RN · Jan 30, 2013

Why can't you take nursing in the US? Why can't you get the classes you need there?

I don't think there is any where you can take just part of a program in the US. I know it has been discussed on here but I don't think anyone has found a school that will let you apply for just some of the classes.

JCruz94 · Jan 30, 2013

Why can't you take nursing in the US? Why can't you get the classes you need there?

Here is a copy and paste reply I've just posted: Honestly, I would strongly prefer to stay in the US and study here because if I study in the Philippines, the major lifestyle change, language barrier, and being away from friends and family while juggling nursing school would drive me over the edge. The thing is, I can't get my classes here, I will have my BSN by the time I'm 30 at the rate I'm going -_- Also, my financial situation would not allow me to attend a private college; student loans will haunt me to the grave. So I am just trying to find out everything I can on studying in the Philippines because I am willing to move out there, although again, I don't prefer it.

Community colleges are so packed, and I do not have seniority compared to the other students. My registration dates for classes are so late compared to others. I would like to finish all my GEs as fast as I can so I can transfer to a 4 year university, but I'm only getting 1-2 GEs a semester. I wasn't even able to get one for my fall semester. Which like I said in the post above, at this rate I will have only my GEs done in about 5-6 years, possibly longer, then I would barely be transferring to a 4 year university by the time I'm 24-25; which then I would begin a nursing program which would take approx. 4 years to complete. Taking the NCLEX at 30 ? Way too late.

elkpark · Jan 30, 2013

Taking the NCLEX at 30 ? Way too late.

(You do realize that lots of people are much older than that when they take the NCLEX and get licensed, right?)

I'm not sure about your numbers -- in my experience (in a few different programs in a few different states over the years), the general ed/prerequisites are counted in the 4 years of a BSN curriculum; most are designed so that the first two years of the degree are all general ed and prerequisites, and the second two years are all the nursing courses. So, once you finished all your general ed and prerequisites, you would most likely be looking at another two years, not another four, to finish a BSN (unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying).

Can you take some of the general ed courses on-line and transfer them into a nursing program? That might be one way to speed things up.