December 2017 New Grad moving from VA to CA

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Hi guys!

I would really love some insight into moving across the country. I am currently in nursing school in Virginia and will graduate this December (2017). I am looking to move to California as soon as possible to start working but there seem to be a lot of challenges to get there. Here are some of the things I can't seem to find out:

  • Should I get my license in VA and then transfer to CA because they will hire someone that already has their license?
  • Is there any way to accelerate the ATT in order to take the NCLEX as soon as possible in CA?
  • Will I ever have to take the NCLEX again?
  • If I get my license in CA, what is the process to then switch my license to another state?
  • If I am taking the NCLEX in CA, what steps do I need to take to register? Are they the same as in VA?
  • Do any hospitals in CA hire nurses with licenses in other states or new grads that have yet to take the NCLEX?
  • I also read that some places let you get your interim permit in order to work as a nurse under a registered nurse until you get you NCLEX results back. Any insight into this?

Thanks for any help!!

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Hi guys!

I would really love some insight into moving across the country. I am currently in nursing school in Virginia and will graduate this December (2017). I am looking to move to California as soon as possible to start working but there seem to be a lot of challenges to get there. Here are some of the things I can't seem to find out:

  • Should I get my license in VA and then transfer to CA because they will hire someone that already has their license?
  • Is there any way to accelerate the ATT in order to take the NCLEX as soon as possible in CA?
  • Will I ever have to take the NCLEX again?
  • If I get my license in CA, what is the process to then switch my license to another state?
  • If I am taking the NCLEX in CA, what steps do I need to take to register? Are they the same as in VA?
  • Do any hospitals in CA hire nurses with licenses in other states or new grads that have yet to take the NCLEX?
  • I also read that some places let you get your interim permit in order to work as a nurse under a registered nurse until you get you NCLEX results back. Any insight into this?

Thanks for any help!!

- You cannot "transfer" a nursing license to California. What you can do is apply by endorsement. If you already have a license in another state, you'll simply have two licenses when the process is complete.

- Don't count on accelerating ANYTHING when dealing with the California BON. They are notoriously slow and non-commutative regarding one's status.

- You'll only have to take NCLEX more than once if you fail it.

- I have no idea where you're moving to in California, but at least some areas are saturated with new graduate nurses and it's very difficult to find employment without some experience. BSN is strongly preferred and even required by some hospitals ....again, depending on the area.

- Positions that involve working as a nurse before taking NCLEX are called "graduate nurse" positions. I'm not sure how common they are in California.

- Here are the current processing times that you can expect to wait when applying in various ways:

Processing Times

Your school should go over some of this process as part of your education prior to graduation.

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Thank you so much for responding!

Any idea if it is faster to get my license in VA and then have it endorsed to start working or if I should just take the NCLEX in CA?

I'm hoping to move just outside of Fresno, so a little less popular than some other places in California.

Thanks for all of the information!

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Thank you so much for responding!

Any idea if it is faster to get my license in VA and then have it endorsed to start working or if I should just take the NCLEX in CA?

See the "processing times" link. It's not faster. You can take NCLEX anywhere, though ...it doesn't have to be in the state you apply to.

If you have no desire to work in your home state, I see no benefit to getting licensed there. Count on waiting three months for your California license after everything is completed, though. And if there are complications, it could take even longer.

I'm a transplant in the greater LA area, so I don't know much about Fresno.

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Thank you so much for responding!

Any idea if it is faster to get my license in VA and then have it endorsed to start working or if I should just take the NCLEX in CA?

I'm hoping to move just outside of Fresno, so a little less popular than some other places in California.

Thanks for all of the information!

Pass your NCLEX in the VA. Get a job work a year then move .

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