Endorsing a GA license to California

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 20, 2014

The biggest hurdles are that you must have an active RN license and that your educational background meets this: "[t]heory and clinical practice shall be concurrent in the following nursing areas: geriatrics, medical-surgical, mental health/psychiatric nursing, obstetrics, and pediatrics."

If you're an Excelsior grad (or other online RN upgrade program grad) you'll have problems with the concurrent theory/clinical components above. BSNs from the Philippines are most notable for having problems with that, but others have issues with this as well.

Basically as long as you've got an active RN license and your program had concurrent education in those areas above, you can just apply. There will probably be a significant wait time, but they'll eventually get to your file. All the steps you'll need to follow are right in the packet for license endorsement on the California BRN website.

edelwisa · Jul 20, 2014

Hi Silver!

Thanks for the info. I did get my nursing education in a state college here in GA. We did go through all those topics as far as I know. And I've been actively working fulltime as an RN for 2 years now so I do have enough experience.

Will that be enough?

Thanks again

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 20, 2014

If trained in the US then really the only thing you can do is send the required documents for endorsement and wait for their assessment.

edelwisa · Jul 20, 2014

Thanks Silverdragon102

RunninOnCoffee · Jul 22, 2014

Honestly the biggest challenge I ran into was the enormous back log of applications that the state had. I have heard they have made a lot of progress on it, but when I applied in January it took around 3-4 months to get my application processed. I think it would have been longer had I not called the BON to verify that they had everything because I was coming up on 90 days since applying. Good luck! I hope it is a faster turn around for you!

Also make sure you secure employment before relocating, the job market here is awful and grossly oversaturated with nurses!

edelwisa · Jul 22, 2014

Thanks Flicurn! Thanks for the info! Is there a separate number for BON? Or is it the same as the california boards? In case I have to call them in the future.

Thanks again!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 22, 2014

I'm thinking the problem you most likely will face will have nothing to do with your license, but rather your degree. Do you already have a job waiting? There is a lot of nurse unemployment in CA; with so many to choose from, BSNs have the best shot at a job (although their unemployment levels are high, too).

Good luck!

RunninOnCoffee · Jul 25, 2014

Not a separate board, just the California boards. Back at the end of last fall they changed their computer system and the roll out of that was just about as bad as Obamacare sign ups. Nothing went smoothly what so ever. When I applied they had a backlog of 10k-15k applications I believe. It was over 30 days between when I overnight FedEx'd my application (big fat waste of money) and when they processed my payment. They were attempting to get app's processed with in 90 days of cashing your payment. In my case that would have been 4-5 months had I not called. If you called the office yourself to ask any questions it was nearly impossible to get anyone. The day that I called it took me about 45 minutes and over 25 attempts to reach anyone. (I counted on my phone the number of tries just out of curiosity). They were instructed not to answer the phone in an attempt to get more apps processed. Don't even attempt to request a finger print card. They don't get mailed. The card is a standard finger print card you can obtain elsewhere. I believe the form number is on the site. Your other option, and probably best is to do the livescan with in the state if that is an option for you. I know I sound negative, but it was extremely frustrating and I just want to be honest what it's like.

And also like I said before the job market is oversaturated with RN's. I have now been here licensed since the end of March and have yet to been able to secure a hospital job. I am employed through a private physician's office, however I am still wanting to work some in a hospital. For the numerous positions I have applied for I have gotten one response back. Did a phone interview and then never heard from them again. Experience wise I was worked on a general medicine floor for one year, then TICU/SICU at a level one trauma center for a year, and SICU/TICU at a level II center for just over a year for a total of 3 years before attempting to find a job out here. I have current BLS, ACLS, PALS, and TNCC. My bachelor's degree is partially done but not completed yet. Best of luck to you! I really hope it goes much smoother for you!

edelwisa · Jul 25, 2014

Thanks for that very detailed information Flicurn. I did hear that application processing is taking about 3 months right now, not including the processing times of your check which probably would add another month to that. As far as getting a job there, I was planning on doing travel nursing in the beginning so I can get accustomed to their healthcare and the environment. I did live in San Francisco before I became a nurse so California living is nothing new to me. I have been in contact with a travel nursing company and there seem to be a lot of open positions waiting just about everywhere in California. I'm not sure if this will get me in a fulltime job in hospitals but I've heard its a good way to get in. My sister also works in a longterm care facility which she has been asking me to apply at because they have been looking for nurses at her facility as well. I do hope these jobs are still available by the time I get my license.

Thanks again for your input! I do appreciate it! Good luck to you, too!