$670 to get my license?!!

grievsterlvn · Mar 8, 2008

:uhoh3:

So yesterday was my last day of class (woo hoo!!) and the DON of the school came in and told us how much it was going to cost to apply for licensure, test, and get a live scan. Can you believe it? Is this normal? I just don't see why it cost's so much, and why they didn't tell us about this in the beginning.. not that it would have changed anything, I would have still gone through the program, but I could have planned for it. Are there any programs out there to help with this expense? I work, but not enough since I have been in nursing school 40+ hours a week for the past year! :)

I'm sorry! Our program actually included the cost of everything into our fee's. The live scan, NCLEX fee and lic. fee all in included in our loans. Your program should have told you guys that prior to you siging up. It's seems like this whole nursing crap has been a pain in the butt. I don't know what state you live in hopefully not California. If your in Cali the process to get your lic. actually takes forever it seems like. Here in Cali. you have to wait almost 3 weeks to even get a test date then once you get a test date it's usually another 2-3 wks before you test. After you test it takes over 3 weeks to get your results and once you get the results you mail in $120 for the actual lic. and it can take up to 4 weeks for that. It's horrible. I just found out I passed on thursday and I mailed my fee in yesterday for the actual lic. so the waiting begins all over.

I do not know of any place that would help with the cost. I sorry!!! But good luck on the boards...

CaLVN530 · Mar 8, 2008

Thanks for the heads up... yes I am in Cali... Arg!!!! I am so sick of the red tape in this state!! :) I thought nursing school was the hard part..

suzanne4, RN · Mar 8, 2008

What did you think or assume that it was going to cost? Separate fee for the actual exam, LiveScan is for fingerprints, and then the fee for licensure, which includes evaluating the transcripts and your credentials for licensure.

LiveScan is $80

NCLEX exam actual cost is $200

Licensure fee to the state board of nursing

not sure where your instructor is coming up with that fee, depends on the state as well.

grievsterlvn · Mar 8, 2008

Thanks for the heads up... yes I am in Cali... Arg!!!! I am so sick of the red tape in this state!! :) I thought nursing school was the hard part..

I have come to realize that the state of california loves to make people wait and they don't realize that we all put some of our lives on hold during school and when we finsh school we would like to start working ASAP. I just think the waiting is horrible. Most states you can get results in 48 hrs but not here. How much did they tell you it was going to cost for each thing? Did they give you a break down of the fees? My school paid the livescan which I believe was $100 or $120 here in Ca. and the actual board was $200 and the Lic. fee is $120. I just remembered my school had to also send $75 to actually get our ATT number so thats probably included in your price also.

CaLVN530 · Mar 8, 2008

its $75 for the live scan, $75 for the aplication fee, $200 for the state testing fee, and $200 for the pearson testing center fee. Then $120 for the license.

CaLVN530 · Mar 8, 2008

I thought it would cost around $300. Thats what friends of mine have told me it would cost.

grievsterlvn · Mar 8, 2008

its $75 for the live scan, $75 for the aplication fee, $200 for the state testing fee, and $200 for the pearson testing center fee. Then $120 for the license.

Thats weird cause I only had to send the boards $75 then pearson $200. I didn't have 2 seperate fees for $200. You might want to double check cause i didn't have two seperate fees for $200. That stupid it was not all included. Our livescan was done when we were in our third term.

vivibonita · Mar 8, 2008

its $75 for the live scan, $75 for the aplication fee, $200 for the state testing fee, and $200 for the pearson testing center fee. Then $120 for the license.

The State testing fee and the pearson testing center fee should be include under one fee. When I took my NCLEX, it was only one $200 fee... the rest sounds accurate. Did you get the letter from the boards indicating that you can take your test already? That should give you the actual cost of everything. I really don't know where you DON gets the extra $200 from.

Good luck with that, let us know what happens.

grievsterlvn · Mar 8, 2008

The State testing fee and the pearson testing center fee should be include under one fee. When I took my NCLEX, it was only one $200 fee... the rest sounds accurate. Did you get the letter from the boards indicating that you can take your test already? That should give you the actual cost of everything. I really don't know where you DON gets the extra $200 from.
Good luck with that, let us know what happens.

I totally agree with you. I think the DON added an extra $200 in the cost. I believe she is wrong on the price. I would ask them about that...

scallywags · Mar 9, 2008

It was $70 for livescan, although you may check with your local police department for the current fees. $75 goes in with your initial application, which the school will usually have to send it. It is then $200 for pearson vue testing center and an additional $120 for your license.

It should not cost more than $500.