Foreign Graduate California Concurrency Issues - Success!

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Hello everyone,

i've been an avid reader of AllNurses for a few years, and wanted to share my California RN success story with you all.

Born and raised in California, I went to the Philippines for nursing school due to financial constraints (wuhoo no student loans!), and graduated in 2012. Applied to take the NCLEx for California in June 2012, the whole process took 2-3 months, but eventually I was in the same boat as my fellow foreign grads - they told me there was a concurrency issue with my classroom and clinical hours for Med-Surg and OB (which honestly I thought was pure bullsnaps). But oh well! How to fix this? Re-take the classes.

I wanted to take the NCLEx right away so I did my research and found out Hawaii was a state where they processed applications quickly. I applied for licensure by examination for Hawaii, got my ATT, passed the NCLEx. I wanted to focus on earning money first back then, because I was young and naive and didn't know you could take out a student loan too pay for tuition. Hey, I'd been in the Philippines where the policy was pay (tuition) now, study after. I worked an office job at a biotech company in the Bay Area for two years when I finally decided I was financially stable enough to try and take the two classes. Went to thr board of registered nurses website snd e-mailed every approved nursing school on their list. Dominican, Evergreen San Jose, Samuel Merritt and Unitek replied to me, if I remember correctly. Every single one of thrm were waitlisted, full of other foreign grads who had decided to work on this problem way before I had.

I came across a thread here that mentioned there was a school in Texas that offered the courses. Perfect. I had a friend who lived in TX, and a relative as well. San Antonio, specifically. I started e-mailing schools in San Antonio (again, went through the Texas Board of Nursing for a list of approved nursing schools) to see if they would be able to accomodate me for two courses. By some miracle, I found a school. Without even thinking, I applied for reciprocity to transfer my Hawaii license to Texas, put in my two weeks at work, drove to the midwest, got my TX RN license, applied for a job, started working in the Medicine ICU at a too hospital in the city, took the classes while working full time, finished after two terms in Feb. 2015. Got my California license May 2015. Now just working until I get a solid two years of ICU experience before heading back to the golden state!

Lots of sacrifices, but everything was worth it, my friends. Just wanted to give y'all a little bit of hope in the midst of this dilemma :-)

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Specializes in ICU.

Maybe I am off here, since when has Texas been in the midwest? I live in the midwest, last time I knew Texas was a whole other part of the country. You went to the Philippines from the US due to financial constraints? I guess I am not understanding why it is cheaper for a US natural citizen to go to a foreign country? Of course there are issues as the education is not the same. I guess you have taken a very round about way to get your nursing degree and license but for most, family is what keeps us her for our education.

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Sorry, you're right I guess I am geographically incorrect. Texas is in the South! :-) it was easier for my parents to afford my nursing program in the Philippines, since the exchange rate was 1:50 at the time, and they are from that country so I had family to stay with. The concurrency issue in California became a thing in around 2010, but before that most foreign graduates had no problem applying to take the NCLEX in California. It had become a trend for Filipino families to have their children wanting to go to nursing school in the Philippines, so this had posed a problem since then.

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Specializes in IV Therapy, Trauma Nursing, SICU.

Oh my!!! I went to the Philippines too and graduated there. I got my FL license first and work here in SICU then also got my DC and VA lic so I can travel. I applied for CA lic and they asked for my OB and OR cases with signatures, I graduated 2010 and the school can't find my records. I hope I don't have to go for any classes. :"(

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Oh my!!! I went to the Philippines too and graduated there. I got my FL license first and work here in SICU then also got my DC and VA lic so I can travel. I applied for CA lic and they asked for my OB and OR cases with signatures, I graduated 2010 and the school can't find my records. I hope I don't have to go for any classes. :"(

The risk is high of needing additional concurrent clinical and theory coursework, especially if you cannot produce the records. They may outright deny you if you cannot produce the records. In addition, concurrency has been strictly enforced since 2008.

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Oh my!!! I went to the Philippines too and graduated there. I got my FL license first and work here in SICU then also got my DC and VA lic so I can travel. I applied for CA lic and they asked for my OB and OR cases with signatures, I graduated 2010 and the school can't find my records. I hope I don't have to go for any classes. :"(

Read the reciprocity to CA link: https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/reciprocity-to-california-921784.html

Basically, if your school can not produce the written proof and signed, the CA BRN will reject the application (non-refundable). There have been others who actually received job offers in CA only to not work in CA as they could not show evidence of their cases.

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hi nurse joy can u name the school or can i have ur fb account i need to go to that school waiting list here in california is a snail so slow lols

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Hi Nurse Joy,

I am so excited to send you a message coz basically we have the same situation. I am really in need of a school in Texas that will accept me to fulfill California BON's request to complete 3 subjects which are Med/Surg, OB, and Psych. If you can please kindly send me the school's information to my e-mail address [email protected].

I will greatly appreciate your responds. Thank you so much.

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Hi Nurse Joy,

I am so excited to send you a message coz basically we have the same situation. I am really in need of a school in Texas that will accept me to fulfill California BON's request to complete 3 subjects which are Med/Surg, OB, and Psych. If you can please kindly send me the school's information to my e-mail address [email protected].

I will greatly appreciate your responds. Thank you so much.

Hi may i just ask what are the additional documents the BON asked from u for the concurrency? Thank u so much.

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You mean when I submitted my application? They required copies of my clinical cases with signatures and all. Fortunately, I made a copy of those forms before I submitted them to PRC.

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I went to the Philippines for nursing school due to financial constraints (wuhoo no student loans!), and graduated in 2012.

Congrats, Great Decision on your family part.

I paid for nursing school in PHilippines and was one of the better financial decision I made. Super cheap compared to USA.........

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I can shoot you an e-mail with the details! What is your e-mail address?

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