Published Oct 3, 2006
Limik
180 Posts
Hi !Just out of curiosity, how many of you fellow distance learners who went through the excelsiors LPN-RN program are from Georgia? I know GA doesn't accept this program. Of the ones who have done it this way, did you have problems when you took your state boards and then filed for reciprocity? I have been doing this program for a while now and would like to hear if it is as easy to obtain my RN license as the study guide programs claim it is. Any experience, good or bad would be great to hear about.
Jo Dirt
3,270 Posts
I was told first hand that the key to becoming licensed in Georgia was to get your license in another state and then you can have it transferred.
Maybe you have an out of state relative (not in California) who could help you out while you do this?
EricJRN, MSN, RN
1 Article; 6,683 Posts
Even without an out-of-state relative, there are states where you can apply for licensure without having any kind of residence there. I believe Minnesota is one.
Leo2
111 Posts
can you test in Tenn. ?
Ronnie22
64 Posts
I know several nurses that practice in Ga., and received their nursing from Excelsior. For one, my ex-wife. She tested for N.J. in 2003 at Thompsons Prometrics in Georgia; Excelsior recommended N.J.
willtm
128 Posts
I graduated from EC sept 05 and lived in GA. NJ wanted too much stuff, they wanted proof of every name change including the license from my first marriage 20 years ago--just too much. Minnesota was much easier to get along with, they need a letter from EC which they will send before conferral, so I took the nclex around the same time that my degree was conferred. Georgia had no problem giving me a license. Minnesota was also lightening fast, I found out I passed the nclex in less then 24 hours.
Tenn might be ok, but they do everything via snail mail. I know someone who tested there last year and it took her almost a month to find out she passed the nclex--hopefully they've improved.
traumahawk99
596 Posts
I graduated from EC sept 05 and lived in GA. NJ wanted too much stuff, they wanted proof of every name change including the license from my first marriage 20 years ago--just too much. Minnesota was much easier to get along with, they need a letter from EC which they will send before conferral, so I took the nclex around the same time that my degree was conferred. Georgia had no problem giving me a license. Minnesota was also lightening fast, I found out I passed the nclex in less then 24 hours.Tenn might be ok, but they do everything via snail mail. I know someone who tested there last year and it took her almost a month to find out she passed the nclex--hopefully they've improved.
i had the same experience with minnesota and florida. since i'm a paramedic, the word was that florida would NEVER accept me. self appointed experts told me that i'd never get a florida license. when it came time to try it, i breezed through minnesota, and got reciprocity to florida in about two weeks. all those rumors were just that... rumors. not accepting excelsior up front gives a board of nursing a way to pay lip service to the crazy control freaks who run the nursing schools. then they'll leave the back door open for you to endorse in. remember, they need nurses.
don't listen to the bulls*** out there. as an old timer once told me, there is more bulls*** than there is bulls.
I believe what is misunderstood for not accepting the Excelsior degree, is testing for RN in a certian state. I know Georgia will not allow you to take the NCLEX if you are an Excelsior grad. However, they will give you reciprocity from any state...what is the reason for this? Georgia knows this is happening, but continue this stance. Excelsior suggested N.J. when my ex was going to sit for her NCLEX. She thought she would sit for the N.C. test because she might work there. The packet sent from N.C. was several pages long, and she would have had to get fingerprinted...N.J. was a single page.
Good luck, and if anyone took their CPNE at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, please let me know.
P.S. The way I understand the NCLEX, you can sit for whatever state accepts Excelsior degree, and test at your local Pearsons VUE. I know one recent grad that tested for another state at Pearsons VUE; you don't need to go to that state.