How soon to apply for job?

[Reese17]

I will be graduating July 23rd, I take the HESI on July 27th and not sure when I'm taking the NCLEX, hopefully 4 weeks after graduating. When should I start setting up interviews? I've been reading some post and it looks like graduates are interviewing well before their graduation. I thought in Illinois we could not work as nurses until we received our license. Thanks in advance.

[yesdog, BSN, RN]

Wow...I started applying for jobs in January. I graduated on May 21st. I got offered a job on May 21st. I took the nclex on July 16. I start a new grad program on July 20. I have my IP right now. My job required passage of the nclex within the first 60 days of employment.

[r0b0tafflicti0n]

I know in PA we can work well before we take the NCLEX. I'm a first year student but I already signed a contract with a hospital system that's paying for my schooling. So, that's that.