Degree or California license only nursing program?

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Any of you LVN's skipping the first semester of nursing for advancement placement in your school's nursing program? It would be nice to take the NCLEX and get that "RN" next to my last name, but I won't be able to claim I graduated from my local college's nursing program and I can only use my license in California.

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I haven't done it, but if you just get advance standing and don't get to challenge the course I would ummm not do it as I want that RN and I want to graduate. I also like the option of being able to travel outside of CA, that is in part because I am not a fan of Cali... So that was my honest opinion.

~Azi~

28 more days and I am back to WA from CA... Home is where the heart is and I miss them both.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Earn the degree. The degree will enable you to have mobility just in case you ever need it someday. Even though I am a native Californian, the 30 unit LVN-to-RN option did not appeal to me because I am somewhat young and mobile. With a degree, you can go anywhere in America. With the limited 30 unit option, your license is worthless outside of California, and you are not considered a college graduate.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

The other issue is that, eventually, California will consider becoming a Compact State. When it does, it will have to address and probably close the loophole of this license route.

At that point, that route might become 'orphaned'. I'd do it if I had to, but if I had other options, I'd consider them.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU; CV Nursing; Medical Surg; Psychiatric.

Not to hijack, but what if you take the 30 unit option, and let's say a year down the line you jump into a BSN program and graduate. Does that qualify you as a graduate and permit you to be able to travel outside of cali as a traveling nurse? Thanks

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Not to hijack, but what if you take the 30 unit option, and let's say a year down the line you jump into a BSN program and graduate. Does that qualify you as a graduate and permit you to be able to travel outside of cali as a traveling nurse? Thanks

Answer is YES!!!! I needed to take my NCLEX right away and have worked only in California for 10 years as an RN. Now that I have relocated, this State is requiring that I complete the coursework in order to be granted my diploma/degree.

You can do this at any time, there are no time restrictions according to the BRN in any State. My advice, do what you need to do, take the NCLEX, work and continue part time to get your degree, whether it's an ADN or a Ph.D.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Answer is YES!!!! I needed to take my NCLEX right away and have worked only in California for 10 years as an RN. Now that I have relocated, this State is requiring that I complete the coursework in order to be granted my diploma/degree.

You can do this at any time, there are no time restrictions according to the BRN in any State. My advice, do what you need to do, take the NCLEX, work and continue part time to get your degree, whether it's an ADN or a Ph.D.

Do you not have to re-take NCLEX once you complete your degree in order to be eligible for licensure outside of California? It is my understanding that re-taking and passing NCLEX a second time is required.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

I don't see how they can make you take NKLEX again if you passed you passed. The exam is the same for those that graduated with a diploma, AND or BSN. When you go into pearsonvue they don't know your status. It's an NCLEX LPN or NCLEX RN, not NCLEX RN diploma NCLEX RN ADN and NCLEX RN MSN. I know that CA loves to make thing sooooo hard but I can't imagine that everytime you advance your degree you have to retest.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
I don't see how they can make you take NKLEX again if you passed you passed. The exam is the same for those that graduated with a diploma, AND or BSN. When you go into pearsonvue they don't know your status. It's an NCLEX LPN or NCLEX RN, not NCLEX RN diploma NCLEX RN ADN and NCLEX RN MSN. I know that CA loves to make thing sooooo hard but I can't imagine that everytime you advance your degree you have to retest.

Every state ofther than CA requires NCLEX candidates to be graduates of a nursing program prior to sitting for NCLEX. Since the candidate in question passed NCLEX as a non-graduate, other states may not recognize that accomplishment, and may require NCLEX to be re-taken. I know it's a technicality, but one that a candidate should be aware of when making the decision to test early or not.

It's not a matter of advancing a degree. This applies only to candidates who test without ever having earned a degree.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.
Do you not have to re-take NCLEX once you complete your degree in order to be eligible for licensure outside of California? It is my understanding that re-taking and passing NCLEX a second time is required.

Ok I missunderstood and thought op meant CA would require passing the nclex again after completion of ADN BSN.

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Every state ofther than CA requires NCLEX candidates to be graduates of a nursing program prior to sitting for NCLEX. Since the candidate in question passed NCLEX as a non-graduate, other states may not recognize that accomplishment, and may require NCLEX to be re-taken. I know it's a technicality, but one that a candidate should be aware of when making the decision to test early or not.

It's not a matter of advancing a degree. This applies only to candidates who test without ever having earned a degree.

No State will ever require a candidate to take the NCLEX again. It is a national board exam and recognized nationally. Also, some States are "compact" which means you need only to verify your license, perhaps submit fingerprints and pay the fees to get licensed in their State. You can also obtain a permit in that State to practice, sometimes for up to 6 months.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f137/non-degree-rn-license-issues-264706.html

There's an issue going on with our nursing program...

In December our class will have all the requirements needed to test for the nclex but we aren't issued degrees cause we still have another year left in our BSN program. We have the choice to take the nclex before we graduate which the BRN will label us as non-degreed RNs OR we continue on with the BSN program for another year and take our boards after we graduate which the BRN will label us as degreed RNs.

My issue is that I want to take my nclex before i graduate so that I can start working while i'm continuing my BSN program. This will give me a non-degree rn license yet i'm still planning on getting my BSN.

(even if i do receive my BSN afterwards, i'm still labeled a non-degreed RN, and I can only change my status if I take the NCLEX again)

Haunted,

I am pretty sure that lolale is correct. While NCLEX is a national exam, each individual state has the right to insist that candidates for licensure have met the educational requirements of that state. In most states, it is a requirement that NCLEX is taken and passed AFTER completing an educational program. It's sort of like the situation where some states refuse to recognize and license Excelsior College grads. Even though they have passed NCLEX, they may not be granted a license because they don't meet the educational requirements of that particular state.

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