FL have now problems with EC?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I live in FL and have one exam (English) to be done before graduation. When I was checking the FL BON last summer, they clearly said that to get my RN I had to have my LPN license before enrolling to EC. That's it. Today I got a letter from EC, saying that "We have been informed by the Florida Board of Nursing that RN candidates who have applied to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination, and who graduated from nursing programs that are located outside of Florida, will now have their applications reviewed on an individual basis." and they are "recommending that you seek licensure by endorsement."

I went to the BON website and they had changed their FAQ since August. Before it looked like this:

"Q: Can I apply for a nursing license in Florida if I graduated from Regents (Excelsior) College?

A: If you were a Licensed Practical Nurses prior to entering Regents (Excelsior) College and then graduate with an RN degree, may apply for licensure by examination in Florida. Non-LPNs may apply only if they have passed the NCLEX and have an active license in another state. "

Now it says this:

Q: Can I apply for a nursing license in Florida if I graduated from Excelsior (formerly Regents) College?

A: Applicants who have passed the NCLEX and have an active license in another state may apply by endorsement. Complete licensure examination applications submitted will be presented to the Board for review and a decision (pursuant to section 464.019, (1), ©, 1. Florida Statutes): © The programs nursing major curriculum consists of at least: 1. Fifty percent clinical training for a practical nursing program, an associate degree professional nursing program, or a professional diploma nursing program.

So, what should I do now? I'm confused. Can I apply for, say, MN license, get it and than get my FL license? :uhoh3: Or I have to get a job in another state before I can get a license in FL? I'll call Excelsior next week.. I'm just a bit upset about this news right now.

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Specializes in FNP.

I just went to the board of nurisng and does say that. I know of at least 3 people at my job that are going through Excelsior. I don't think they know this as they are all LPN's. If you get anymore information please post it so that everyone is aware.

I took my nclex around Aug 08, so the wording was like you said but, I don't remember hearing anything about it being changed. Why is everyone against Excelsior?

Hotlando

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OMG! I haven't even received a letter of this sort. I am just about done with the program. I am waiting for my CPNE date.... and that's it! I'm on the same page, what do we do? Not sure how to understand this. I have plans at the end of the summer to move but still in Florida. If anyone finds the answer let me know too.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

For those who haven't got the letter, here it is:

"We have been informed by the Florida Board of Nursing

that RN candidates who have applied to sit for the

NCLEX-RN examination, and who graduated from nursing

programs that are located outside of Florida, will

now have their applications reviewed on an individual

basis. This change in procedure, the result of

legislation which became effective July 1, 2009, is

being applied to graduates of all non-Florida nursing

programs, not just Excelsior College graduates.

It is our understanding that Board staff members are

sending notices to graduates who have completed

applications on file to advise them that they should

attend an upcoming Board of Nursing meeting to complete

this review process. The criteria that the Board will

use to determine whether an applicant will be deemed

eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN remains unclear.

This case-by-case review of applicants may result in

considerable delays in receiving your RN license.

Until this situation can be rectified, we are

recommending that you seek licensure by endorsement.

We have been told that endorsement applications are

being processed by the Board as they have been in the

past and that endorsement candidates will not be

subject to any review process beyond the normal

routine.

Representatives from Excelsior College met last

week with members of the Florida Legislature and

staff in the Governor's Office to discuss ways by

which the Board could recognize graduates of

accredited, out-of-state nursing programs for

licensure. Our School of Nursing is accredited by

the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission

(NLNAC) and is approved by the New York State Education

Department as a school of nursing. Excelsior College

as a whole is accredited by the Middle States

Commission on Higher Education and is chartered as a

private, nonprofit institution by the Board of Regents

of the State of New York.

It is unfortunate that the Florida legislation which

became effective last year has created an unnecessary

complication to RN licensure and we hope that a

resolution to this situation will soon be forthcoming.

If you have questions about how to seek licensure by

endorsement, please contact our State Board Team at

the College by calling 888-647-2388 and enter 1-3-1-5

at the greeting.

We will be continue to monitor the situation in

Florida and will update you when we have any confirmed

information.

Sincerely,

M. Bridget Nettleton, PhD, RN

Dean, School of Nursing"

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Volunteer Nursing.

This is very discouraging:eek: I am currently doing my pre-reqs then was going to apply for Excelsior.Well that was my plan.now what? I guess I will continue to do my pre-reqs and pray that a resolution will be made.

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I guess so far no one has answers. I'm also a Florida Excelsior student. I've taken everything but my Microbiology exam which I planned to take next week. Now I'm scared. I don't understand the whole endorsement thing. If somebody has any info on that, can you please post? Like a poster said above... How easy is it to get a license in another state? Is it just a matter of taking the NCLEX somewhere else? Would I have to be a resident of that state? Would I have to work in another state first before getting my license in Florida? I take care of my sick grandma and I can't move :( I don't know what to do. Someone please help if you have answers. Or otherwise I will talk to Excelsior this week and I will post if I come up with anything new.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Ok, I just called FL BON and they said that the rule is still the same - we still can get RN license by examination if we were already LPNs prior to enrolling to EC.

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i live in fl and have one exam (english) to be done before graduation. when i was checking the fl bon last summer, they clearly said that to get my rn i had to have my lpn license before enrolling to ec. that's it. today i got a letter from ec, saying that "we have been informed by the florida board of nursing that rn candidates who have applied to sit for the nclex-rn examination, and who graduated from nursing programs that are located outside of florida, will now have their applications reviewed on an individual basis." and they are "recommending that you seek licensure by endorsement."

i went to the bon website and they had changed their faq since august. before it looked like this:

"q: can i apply for a nursing license in florida if i graduated from regents (excelsior) college?

a: if you were a licensed practical nurses prior to entering regents (excelsior) college and then graduate with an rn degree, may apply for licensure by examination in florida. non-lpns may apply only if they have passed the nclex and have an active license in another state. "

now it says this:

q: can i apply for a nursing license in florida if i graduated from excelsior (formerly regents) college?

a: applicants who have passed the nclex and have an active license in another state may apply by endorsement. complete licensure examination applications submitted will be presented to the board for review and a decision (pursuant to section 464.019, (1), ©, 1. florida statutes): © the programs nursing major curriculum consists of at least: 1. fifty percent clinical training for a practical nursing program, an associate degree professional nursing program, or a professional diploma nursing program.

so, what should i do now? i'm confused. can i apply for, say, mn license, get it and than get my fl license? :uhoh3: or i have to get a job in another state before i can get a license in fl? i'll call excelsior next week.. i'm just a bit upset about this news right now.

hi all!

several students have posted comments & questions concerning the recent changes in the way the florida board of nursing (bon) is handling applications for licensure that are submitted by students who have graduated from nursing schools located outside of florida.

please know that this is not specific to excelsior college. a new florida law that became effective in july 2009 changed how the bon operates and this affects graduates of all out-of-state nursing schools who apply for direct licensure by examination.

as mentioned in our january 22, 2020 letter to students, we have met with legislators in florida who recognize the unintended problem that the new law has created for accredited, non-florida nursing schools such as excelsior. these legislators have promised to correct this.

while this is being addressed by the florida legislature, the bon has assured us that they continue to license graduates of out-of-state schools by endorsement, that is, graduates who have received their license in another state and seek to have it endorsed - accepted - for practice in florida.

if you plan to practice in florida, have recently graduated or are close to graduating, contact excelsior's office for state board questions at 888-647-2388, enter 1-3-1-5 at the greeting and we can walk you through the endorsement process. if you are not near graduation, we hope that the florida legislature will have a permanent resolution in place later this year.

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Specializes in RNC in OB and experience in Peds.
Ok, I just called FL BON and they said that the rule is still the same - we still can get RN license by examination if we were already LPNs prior to enrolling to EC.
I was just about to say that I took my NCLEX August 2009 which is after the legislation date and I had no problems getting licensed. I was an LPN prior.
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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Thank you guys for the information. I feel much better now :)

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Our very welcome...enjoy your day!

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