Failed NCLEX for the 1st time... Can I apply for another state?

suzanne4, RN · Dec 20, 2006

Hi all... just learned today that I failed NCLEX, took it for the first time.
Now I am thinking of scheduling a retake, but I might be applying at New Jersey this time, because I just found an agency I can trust there.
Is this a good decision? Do I need to submit all my credentials again to the new state, and wait (again) for eligibility? I am hoping to retake before April 1.
By the way, I am from the Philippines, and had applied for CA on my first take. I just found out a few months ago that CA does not release licenses unless you have an SSN. This could be a problem if I apply for NJ (or so the agency said).
By the way, is there any truth to the rumors that CA exams are harder than the rest of the states??

First, the exam is a national exam, and does not vary among states. The state that you test for has nothing to do whatso ever with the type of questions that you will get on your exam. The questions that you get are given to you, and you alone, based on how you answered the previous questions. Just a rumor that they vary by state, completely untrue.

Now onto your next issue: NJ requires that you get a CES done before they will let you sit for the NCLEX exam, or even endorse to there. You are correct that CA does not issue a license until you have a SSN#.......either way, you will need to go thru the License By Examination process for NJ. You can start it now if you wish............be aware that there is definitely no guarantee that you will be able to test in April, if you start now with NJ. The CES needs to be completed first..............faster for you to retest with CA, and start the process now for NJ. Just have CA submit the passing score to NJ when that happens.

You need to go thru the CES process to work in NJ, no way around that and you need to pass the NCLEX exam..........get both done.

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But the bigger question for you is why you feel so confident about this agency in NJ if they are already giving you incorrect information about the licensure process...........CA never endorses licenses in the first place for a foreign nurse, you always need to go thru the License by Examination process. NJ does not give a license either until you have a SSN#.

gmsal · Dec 20, 2006

Hi Suzanne, thank you so much for the information...

scottishRGN · Apr 5, 2008

How did you get on? I'm in a similar situation. I just failed the NCLEX - i had a pplied to NYS but am also thinking of applying to another state now. If you applied to NJ - were you allowed to re-sit the NCLEX more quickly or did you still have to wait the 45 days from your last exam?

suzanne4, RN · Apr 6, 2008

How did you get on? I'm in a similar situation. I just failed the NCLEX - i had a pplied to NYS but am also thinking of applying to another state now. If you applied to NJ - were you allowed to re-sit the NCLEX more quickly or did you still have to wait the 45 days from your last exam?

This thread is 1 1/2 years old.

NY has a retesting time of 45 days, so not sure why you would want to go thru another state for licensure.

There are no states that are faster than the 45 days for the retest. If you apply to a new state, then you are going to have to go thru their evaluation and none of them are that quick.

And especially as a foreign nurse, you will need to also get the CES completed before NJ will look at your application and they do not accept the CVS that was done for NY. You are looking at four months plus before you could sit for the exam for NJ.

The exam is national, so it does not matter which state that you write it for. I would not change your state at this point in time.