Florida or California?

praeclarus · Feb 17, 2007

Hi truper72! :welcome:

CES does take a lot of time and don't expect that it will be finished exactly within 6-8 weeks. I don't know with the others but mine took almost 4 months. :rolleyes:

I'm not familiar with Florida requirements for licensure but basing from your statement that they require the CES, you will STILL NEED to pass that requirement when you endorse your license to Florida.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 17, 2007

Hello there!
I wish to be licensed in the State of Florida but I'm having second thoughts because of certain factors. One of the requirement for foreign educated nurses is to go through the CES to completely analyze and evaluate their credentials. It generally takes 6-8 weeks to prepare and furnish a completed report and the processing fee is $278 apart from the Florida BON application itself($190).
California BON on the other hand requires no CES and the processing fee is only $107. I thought of pursuing my license in California and eventually transfer to Florida through endorsement. Would that be possible?
Please share your thoughts. Need to know if that would be a better decision. Thanks and more power.:)

CA will not issue you a license until you are in the US and actually have a SSN#. You cannot endorse a license that you do not have in hand. And to endorse to Florida will still require the CES be done. They will not do a thing without it.

The other issue is that CA will not post anything when you pass, as you would not have a license issued. Only way for results is by snail mail that will take about four weeks.

nursedandy · Feb 17, 2007

Hello there!
I wish to be licensed in the State of Florida but I'm having second thoughts because of certain factors. One of the requirement for foreign educated nurses is to go through the CES to completely analyze and evaluate their credentials. It generally takes 6-8 weeks to prepare and furnish a completed report and the processing fee is $278 apart from the Florida BON application itself($190).
California BON on the other hand requires no CES and the processing fee is only $107. I thought of pursuing my license in California and eventually transfer to Florida through endorsement. Would that be possible?
Please share your thoughts. Need to know if that would be a better decision. Thanks and more power.:)

Had my initial licensure in California board then endorsed to florida board last december. Got my florida license in 6 weeks. No CES required from me. I just ask Ca board to forward my license verification to florida board.Paid $212 for my endorsement.Hope this help. Good luck on your application.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 17, 2007

FL normally requires the CES. And if you endorsed a CA license, it means that you were in the US and had a SSN#.

You cannot endorse if you do not have a SSN#, you need to go thru the License by Examination process and then have CA forward the passing score on the NCLEX exam to FL.

truper72 · Feb 18, 2007

Had my initial licensure in California board then endorsed to florida board last december. Got my florida license in 6 weeks. No CES required from me. I just ask Ca board to forward my license verification to florida board.Paid $212 for my endorsement.Hope this help. Good luck on your application.

Thanks for that information. If I may ask, did you somehow worked in California before being endorsed to Florida? If yes, how long?

truper72 · Feb 18, 2007

FL normally requires the CES. And if you endorsed a CA license, it means that you were in the US and had a SSN#.
You cannot endorse if you do not have a SSN#, you need to go thru the License by Examination process and then have CA forward the passing score on the NCLEX exam to FL.

Please tell me if I got your message right. Say I had my license in California through examination and eventually worked there. If I want to be endorsed to Florida, my NCLEX passing score would be forwarded to them by California. But since Florida require CES, I would still be going through the process of having my credentials evaluated?

truper72 · Feb 18, 2007

Hi truper72! :welcome:
CES does take a lot of time and don't expect that it will be finished exactly within 6-8 weeks. I don't know with the others but mine took almost 4 months.
I'm not familiar with Florida requirements for licensure but basing from your statement that they require the CES, you will STILL NEED to pass that requirement when you endorse your license to Florida.

Hi!

That was indeed a long process. Did you request for the healthcare profession and science report? Did they also require you to have your secondary education evaluated? Was it performed by CGFNS? (Coz there are several agencies who do CES).

Hope you won't mind me asking several questions praeclarus.:)

nursedandy · Feb 18, 2007

Thanks for that information. If I may ask, did you somehow worked in California before being endorsed to Florida? If yes, how long?

No haven't been to the states. I just have an active California license and a valid SSN.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 18, 2007

Please tell me if I got your message right. Say I had my license in California through examination and eventually worked there. If I want to be endorsed to Florida, my NCLEX passing score would be forwarded to them by California. But since Florida require CES, I would still be going through the process of having my credentials evaluated?

Even if you did not work there, FL requires the CES for licensure of a foreign nurse. If you are going to work in CA, then you will be doing it for a minimum of two years, the length of most contracts.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 18, 2007

No haven't been to the states. I just have an active California license and a valid SSN.

The issue is that you have a SSN# based on being in Guam, the others do not. And that is the only way that you have an active SSN# and an active license for CA.

nursedandy · Feb 18, 2007

The issue is that you have a SSN# based on being in Guam, the others do not. And that is the only way that you have an active SSN# and an active license for CA.

I agree 100%. Thanks suzzane.