Does it matter what state you take the NCLEX?

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I will be graduating with my BSN in Texas but I want to work in California or Connecticut. I was under the impression I can take the NCLEX in TX and then just contact the Board of Nursing in CA/CT to have my license transferred to whichever state I move to. I recently heard some nurses saying they thought I had to take the NCLEX in the state I would be working in (CA ot CT), OR I would have to take the NCLEX AGAIN in CA/CT in addition to TX.. Can someone clarify?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

You can take your NCLEX in any approved NCLEX testing center in any state. Your Lic. will be a Texas lic. and you would apply for endorsement for California and do whatever requirements they may have. Will be the same for any state you wish to Perm. move to. I drove to Wyoming to take my boards so that I could do it days after graduating instead of waiting weeks to do it in Colorado. It was still a Colorado license I got.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

You can take the NCLEX in any approved testing center. You can also choose to apply for your initial licensure in a state other than the one you currently live in. There is no need for you to become licensed in TX if you have no plans to work there- you can apply for licensure in CA or CT instead. NCLEX is a once and done test if you pass- you only take it once, get licensed in the state of your choice, and if you would later move to/work in another state, you apply for licensure by endorsement.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Your Lic. will be a Texas lic. and you would apply for endorsement for California and do whatever requirements they may have. Will be the same for any state you wish to Perm. move to.

OP's license will only be a TX license if OP applies for licensure in TX. OP could apply for licensure by examination in CA or CT if there is no desire to work in TX and skip the endorsement step.

I drove to Wyoming to take my boards so that I could do it days after graduating instead of waiting weeks to do it in Colorado. It was still a Colorado license I got.

That would be because you applied to Colorado for your initial license. You very well could have applied for a license in WY instead if you had wanted to.

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Thank you! I will try selecting CA as my licensure state when I take the NCLEX, as that is my first choice.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Thank you! I will try selecting CA as my licensure state when I take the NCLEX, as that is my first choice.

You don't "select" CA as your licensure state when you take the NCLEX; you must first apply for licensure with the BRN of CA. Once the BRN confirms that you have met their requirements to be eligible can Pearson Vue send you your authorization to test (ATT). You will actually need to complete two applications: one with CA and one with Pearson Vue. Licensure by Examination

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
OP's license will only be a TX license if OP applies for licensure in TX. OP could apply for licensure by examination in CA or CT if there is no desire to work in TX and skip the endorsement step.

That would be because you applied to Colorado for your initial license. You very well could have applied for a license in WY instead if you had wanted to.

Yes I am aware, I just wanted to not wait 3 weeks to take the test and 3 weeks was the soonest they had open within a couple hrs to us in CO. So I was letting the OP know that you can in fact take the test in a different state that without having to get the license for that state, as that is what I did.

I was simply reiterating that you can test at any approved NCLEX testing center. That to test in CA they wouldn't have to apply there first or in CT as they had heard others say. If they were unsure where they wanted to move yet and were not ready, then it would be quicker for them to just get the test done and then apply for endorsement when they were decided. If they already know for sure they want to move to CA or CT and are ready, well then yes it would just be better to skip the endorsement step.

But depending on some states and how long their application process can be, it might be simpler to just go get the licensing part done with. CO was very simple. My license was online and active the day after I tested.

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You don't "select" CA as your licensure state when you take the NCLEX; you must first apply for licensure with the BRN of CA. Once the BRN confirms that you have met their requirements to be eligible can Pearson Vue send you your authorization to test (ATT). You will actually need to complete two applications: one with CA and one with Pearson Vue. Licensure by Examination

OP, also be aware that, if you decide to apply for initial licensure in CA instead of TX, you will need to tell your school that you want them to send your documentation to the CA BRN. All schools of nursing automatically send all the necessary paperwork on their graduates to their own state BON, because they assume that most/all of their graduates will be applying for licensure in that state. There is no reason they can't send your documentation to CA instead, but they will need to know that you want them to do that.

Best wishes for your journey!

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Thank you everyone for the advice and information! I understand better how it works now. I will be looking into applying for licensure with the CA BRN before taking the NCLEX.

Does anyone have an estimate on how long this process takes? I am applying to jobs in CA now but am waiting to hear back. I don't know if I want to get my licensure in CA if I don't have a job lined up there. Also do I need to have my BSN and waiting to take the NCLEX before the CA BRN will approve of me taking the NCLEX for CA licensure? Or can I apply while still in school?

Thank you!

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I don't know if I want to get my licensure in CA if I don't have a job lined up there. Also do I need to have my BSN and waiting to take the NCLEX before the CA BRN will approve of me taking the NCLEX for CA licensure? Or can I apply while still in school?

Thank you!

The catch is, many employers won't consider you unless you already have license in hand, esp. if you are applying from out of state. This is esp. true for new graduates; there is no point in the employer investing time and money in interviewing and hiring someone when they don't know whether or not that individual is going to pass the NCLEX and get licensed. It's not as big a deal for experienced nurses who already have a license in another state, because getting a license in the new state is largely a formality for them.

It is sometimes possible to apply for licensure before you have graduated, but the state will not authorize you to write the NCLEX until you have graduated and they have received and reviewed the documentation from your nursing school.

I have no personal experience with the CA BRN, but I've heard that they are very slow in processing applications because of the huge numbers of people applying for CA licensure and the limited numbers of BRN staff. Also, be aware that the nursing job market in CA is very tight because of the large numbers of nurses who want to live and work in CA. That, again, is esp. true for new graduates (somewhat less so for experienced RNs)

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I have no personal experience with the CA BRN, but I've heard that they are very slow in processing applications because of the huge numbers of people applying for CA licensure and the limited numbers of BRN staff. Also, be aware that the nursing job market in CA is very tight because of the large numbers of nurses who want to live and work in CA. That, again, is esp. true for new graduates (somewhat less so for experienced RNs)

This is what I keep hearing. I am not picky about location though and have been applying to many small towns, so I am hoping I can get lucky there.

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Thank you everyone for the advice and information! I understand better how it works now. I will be looking into applying for licensure with the CA BRN before taking the NCLEX.

Does anyone have an estimate on how long this process takes? I am applying to jobs in CA now but am waiting to hear back. I don't know if I want to get my licensure in CA if I don't have a job lined up there. Also do I need to have my BSN and waiting to take the NCLEX before the CA BRN will approve of me taking the NCLEX for CA licensure? Or can I apply while still in school?

Thank you!

Processing Times

Looks like current processing time is 10-12 weeks ...and that's after they've received everything that you need to send in. You will need to graduate from your nursing program and your school will need to send your authorization to test to the BON before you can actually test.

California is a tough market for new grads. When I lived in Texas, I worked with a lot of new graduates from California who moved because they were unable to find work in their home state. A year or two of experience will get your foot in the door in a lot of places, though.

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