Taking nclex in different state

RN403, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2015

You can take NCLEX anywhere and still receive a license where you live. As long as you indicated where you reside and which state you will be practicing in on your application to take the exam you should be fine. I do not believe you need to do anything further at this time.

Best wishes.

agavina · Jan 20, 2015

You can take NCLEX anywhere and still receive a license where you live. As long as you indicated where you reside and which state you will be practicing in on your application to take the exam you should be fine. I do not believe you need to do anything further at this time.
Best wishes.

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thank you for your response.

I really hope your right.

also, i just talked to one of my old professors and she was talking about i have to fill out a "reciprocity" form?. would you happen to know what that it? and if i do have to fill that out?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 20, 2015

The NCLEX is just an exam. You can take it anywhere after you've been given the OK to take it. I imagine that you've applied for a nursing license after finishing nursing school, have passed the NCLEX and you'll receive a license from wherever you applied for that initial license. If you wish to apply for a license in a different state than where you are currently licensed, you apply through the new state's nursing board for a license. They likely have forms for currently licensed nurses to apply for a license to be "endorsed" for working in that state too. This is a form of reciprocity.

It's not (hopefully) a difficult process... basically you fill out forms, perhaps send transcripts, and pay a fee. It's only if you don't meet their educational requirements that the process can become difficult.

agavina · Jan 20, 2015

The NCLEX is just an exam. You can take it anywhere after you've been given the OK to take it. I imagine that you've applied for a nursing license after finishing nursing school, have passed the NCLEX and you'll receive a license from wherever you applied for that initial license. If you wish to apply for a license in a different state than where you are currently licensed, you apply through the new state's nursing board for a license. They likely have forms for currently licensed nurses to apply for a license to be "endorsed" for working in that state too. This is a form of reciprocity.
It's not (hopefully) a difficult process... basically you fill out forms, perhaps send transcripts, and pay a fee. It's only if you don't meet their educational requirements that the process can become difficult.

thank you,

so what your saying is that since i initially registered to be licensed in NJ, and i took the NCLEX in PA, doesnt mean that i am licensed in PA correct? I will still be licensed in NJ?. Only if i wanted to be licensed in another state i would have to fill out the forms.

wheeliesurfer · Jan 20, 2015

Correct. If you applied to be licensed in NJ and took the test in PA, then your license will be for NJ and NOT for PA. If you wanted to have a license in PA you would have to apply for endorsement/reciprocity there and fill out their paperwork and send whatever documents they request. You would also have to pay their application fee and pay to keep that license up to date, therefore holding two separate licenses with their own maintenance requirements (number of CME's, number of hours worked to keep licensed, etc).

If you don't wish to be licensed anywhere other than NJ then at this time you don't have to do anything.

Congratulations on passing the NCLEX!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 26, 2015

thank you,
so what your saying is that since i initially registered to be licensed in NJ, and i took the NCLEX in PA, doesnt mean that i am licensed in PA correct? I will still be licensed in NJ?. Only if i wanted to be licensed in another state i would have to fill out the forms.

Correct. You originally registered to be licensed in NJ. Once approved to take the NCLEX, you could (in theory, if not actual practice) take the NCLEX anywhere in the world and if you pass, you'll be a NJ Nurse. To be licensed anywhere else, you'll have to apply for a license in that new location but you shouldn't be required to take the NCLEX again.

agavina · Jan 26, 2015

Thanks for the replies everyone .. It's been a little over a week and still waiting for license number . Hope to get it soon

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 26, 2015

Thanks for the replies everyone .. It's been a little over a week and still waiting for license number . Hope to get it soon

NJ takes 4-6 weeks to issue a license.