Hi everyone. I have been doing a lot of research about the Excelsior program. I have a lot of prior medical experience, so I'm not too worried by the fact that there is not a lot of clinical time.
The thing is, I currently live in New York, but plan on moving to California in the next year or two, but see from the boards that CA does not "accept" Excelsior graduates. What does that mean?
I was told (though I may have been giving some wrong information), that once I passed the NYCLEX, I would be able to carry my "RN" with me wherever I go. Will I be able to work in California as an RN if I get my RN through Excelsior?
From what I hear the VA hospitals pay pretty well (and have great benefits). I enrolled in the program in October of 2003--I made the set date just barely! We are moving to CA in December so I just had the endorsement package with fingerprints sent to me. I really hope the college and the board will come to an agreement for those who did not make the set date. I have been an LPN with over 10 years of experience and feel EC is acceptable under these conditions. Here in Florida, EC is accepted but only if you are already an LPN with theory taught in your PN. Maybe they will allow this option for LPN's and/or require so many precepted or hours worked in another state before licensure. I really think EC is and should be for the expeienced LPN...much of this rep has come from under qualified students going this route and then being clueless when they hit the floor and the real world of nursing!
Thank you for that info, sympmat. I'm checking it out.
Dyates, I'm in the same predicament. I am wondering if I was to get a BSN degree online if the state would recognize that and allow me to be licensed in the state?
From the sounds of it, the VA is as good a place as any to work, but I still hate knowing that is the only place I can get a job.
Another thing that worries me is the high cost of living. I'm thinking it will be worth it, but affording it is another thing. I'm a single mother and I know how to stretch a dollar and save, but I'm wondering if my nurse salary will support me in San Mateo county? I really want to buy a plot of land in a nice country area where I can have a simple house with chickens and a garden. I want my kids to grow up in a nice area and I hear this particular county is very nice.
Thank you for that info, sympmat. I'm checking it out.
Dyates, I'm in the same predicament. I am wondering if I was to get a BSN degree online if the state would recognize that and allow me to be licensed in the state?
From the sounds of it, the VA is as good a place as any to work, but I still hate knowing that is the only place I can get a job.
Another thing that worries me is the high cost of living. I'm thinking it will be worth it, but affording it is another thing. I'm a single mother and I know how to stretch a dollar and save, but I'm wondering if my nurse salary will support me in San Mateo county? I really want to buy a plot of land in a nice country area where I can have a simple house with chickens and a garden. I want my kids to grow up in a nice area and I hear this particular county is very nice.
LPN--I just barely made the deadline so the board said there would be no problems with endorsement. I really think that if you want to live in Cali you should! I am so glad that I knew about the deadline so I could enroll before that date with Excelsior. I think the decision is unfair to LPN's like yourself who didn't make the deadline but have plenty of NURSING experience under your belt. We will all just keep praying for the board to possibly reconsider--especially with recognizing that this route is a means of mobility for working LPN's. . The VA is a start and maybe that thirty unit option is something to consider. I also worry about the high COL but I think it is doable. When do you finish the EC program LPN? Good luck with the BIG clinical--I am sure you will do fine.
LPN--I just barely made the deadline so the board said there would be no problems with endorsement. I really think that if you want to live in Cali you should! I am so glad that I knew about the deadline so I could enroll before that date with Excelsior. I think the decision is unfair to LPN's like yourself who didn't make the deadline but have plenty of NURSING experience under your belt. We will all just keep praying for the board to possibly reconsider--especially with recognizing that this route is a means of mobility for working LPN's. . The VA is a start and maybe that thirty unit option is something to consider. I also worry about the high COL but I think it is doable. When do you finish the EC program LPN? Good luck with the BIG clinical--I am sure you will do fine.
I'm going to have to do the 30 unit deal, meanwhile you'll find me down at the VA working with those tough old codgers. I'm looking forward to it. :roll
Your NCLEX exam score would transfer and be accepted in all states, as far as the exam goes. However, each state can make their own requirements as to what they will not accept as far as clinical/theory nursing education.
California offers a program for LPNS to do what they call a 30 credit program, you can then sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and get licensed in CA. But you will never be able to transfer that license out of the state because it will not meet the educational requirements of other states.
Suzanne,
Scenario: LVN Graduates from EC, receives RN licensure, practices as RN, then relocates to lets say CA. Still will not CA recognize the validity of having been licensed and practicing in whatever other state, or will it be necessary as you say to upgrade to licensure for the state of CA?
I'm considering the same route myself. I will receive my LVN in the state of CA. Any assistance will be helpful. Thanks.
EC doesn't meet the requirements for licensure in CA. The experience is not the question. Each state has the right to accept or not accept the curriculum of a school.
California accepts the special 30 credit plan that they created. Each BON is their own entity and can chose what they will and will not accept.
If your goal is to work in CA as an RN, then you need to get the training that they recognize. This is why I always tell everyone to make sure that the program that they wish to follow is accepted all over. Even if you are definite that you will not be working someplace, that is for now only, you do not know what is going to happen ten years down the road.
EC doesn't meet the requirements for licensure in CA. The experience is not the question. Each state has the right to accept or not accept the curriculum of a school.
California accepts the special 30 credit plan that they created. Each BON is their own entity and can chose what they will and will not accept.
If your goal is to work in CA as an RN, then you need to get the training that they recognize. This is why I always tell everyone to make sure that the program that they wish to follow is accepted all over. Even if you are definite that you will not be working someplace, that is for now only, you do not know what is going to happen ten years down the road.
i have finished the EC program along with the dreaded CPNE..i did not make the cut off date for Cali...we moved out here a year ago ...though it was just to spend a little time with my husbands family while i finished EC..my husband is a RT and we traveled out here for the past year. You need to check the CA BON site...they will accept EC grads past the cut off date if you complete so many clinical hours while you are completing EC. Look up also VA jobs, there are not alot of openings at the moment in CA...as for me ...i am heading for Nevada...once i get my license...good luck
You need to check the CA BON site...they will accept EC grads past the cut off date if you complete so many clinical hours while you are completing EC.
You must have found an old page. Originally the board did state that EC grads would have to complete 360 clinical hours, but that statement was later revised. This was the board's final statement on the EC issue:
"Excelsior College graduates, like other out-of-state graduates, must meet the requirements set forth in California Business and Professions Code Section 2736, including supervised clinical practice concurrent with theory, in order to be eligible for examination and licensure as a California registered nurse. This eligibility requirement applies to students who enrolled at Excelsior on or after December 6, 2003."
Unless you enrolled by December 6, 2003, you will not meet the California requirements with the EC program.
Unfortunately it is true that California will not accept any excelsior nursing student that enrolled after Aug 2004. Fortunately/unfortunately, you are welcome to apply to our (Calf.) crowded nursing programs. You can also
obtain your RN in NY and apply with California's State Dept. for resiprocity(permission to work in the state with a different license except for non-degree nurses).
Unfortunately it is true that California will not accept any excelsior nursing student that enrolled after Aug 2004. Fortunately/unfortunately, you are welcome to apply to our (Calf.) crowded nursing programs. You can also
obtain your RN in NY and apply with California's State Dept. for resiprocity(permission to work in the state with a different license except for non-degree nurses).
Sorry, but this is not true. Misinformation is not going to help anyone. And wishful thinking isn't going to help anyone either ...
Don't be confused ...
The cutoff date was December 6, 2003 ... not August 2004 ...
It does not matter if you get an RN license in another state. You cannot endorse into California. It does not matter if you get more clinical hours.
Nothing matters except the date when you enrolled in EC.
If you enrolled in EC after December 6, 2003 you cannot practice and get an RN license in California. Period.
If you don't believe me, call the board and ask them yourself.
Lizz is absolutely correct. California will not issue you a permanent license if you got your degree from EC, if you did not meet the cut-off date. You need to submit a full set of transcripts to them before they will issue you the license.
The NCLEX exam is a national exam and is accepted by all states, but just because you pass NCLEX doesn't necessarily grant you a license to practice as an RN. Each state is free to set what ever educational requirmements that they want. Another state cannot dictate to them what they can do or cannot do.
You can also
BladderCancerSxMgt
46 Posts
There are 2 VA hospitals in easy driving distance of San Mateo county:
1. San Francisco VA
2. Palo Alto VA (Santa Clara county but has a branch campus in Menlo Park, which is in San Mateo county).
Cheers,
Dave