getting licensed in another state

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Hi, I'm a senior nursing student at UNC Chapel Hill. I graduate in May and am moving to Oregon to start my nursing career. I was wondering if I should wait and take my NCLEX out in Oregon, or is there an option to take it in NC and make it applicable to OR, that is, is there a box you can check for what state you want a license in. Also, how do I go about getting an Oregon license as a new grad. Do I need to let my school know that is what I am doing? Really confused as to the protocol here, could use some help. Thanks!

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Specializes in Rural Health.

You need to call the Oregon SBON ASAP and get the application and get started as some states several months to get the process going. I would suggest if you are moving to Oregon after graduation, you might as well get licensed there from the start. It will save you money and time. If there is going to be a large delay and you need to work where you live now, then you can get licensed there and then file for endorsement in Oregon when you are ready.

And you can take your NCLEX in any location you want to - it's a nationwide test. You do have to desginate on the application what state you are wanting to be licensed in.

I would either get on line and get the information from Oregon or call them and get it mailed and then have your school help you with the rest. You'll have to be fingerprinted and all that good stuff and some states allow electronic fingerprints, while others want the old fashion card.....so you need to get started with the process very soon.

Good luck!!!! I lived in Oregon until I was 18 years old.......

http://www.oregon.gov/OSBN/index.shtml

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Also, how do I go about getting an Oregon license as a new grad. Really confused as to the protocol here, could use some help. Thanks!

I believe you have to have an established residency in the state you will first obtain your RN license. After you are licensed in any state, you can usually obtain 'license by endorsement' in a non-compact state (Oregon is one of them). License by endorsement usually involves a small fee, an application but no written test.

You can call the Boards of Nursing in question for more specifics:

http://nursing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=nursing&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncsbn.org%2F515.htm

P.S. And when you move to Oregon, remember it is pronounced Or-e-gun, NOT Or-e-GONE.

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Specializes in Rural Health.
I believe you have to have an established residency in the state you will first obtain your RN license. .

You don't have to establish residency in that state before you get licensed. More than 50% of my graduating class lives in 1 state and is licensed in another (we boarder 3 states where I live). What you do have to do is get started on this process pretty quick. It takes some time and your school will have to be verified to ensure that it meets the OSBON requirments, you'll have to have a background check, etc....all of which takes much more time that you can expect.

And, Oregon does not allow you to work w/o a license (some states allow you a GN position while waiting for your NCLEX results). So that is something else to consider if you are like the rest of us who graduated poor from NS.

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I believe you have to have an established residency in the state you will first obtain your RN license. After you are licensed in any state, you can usually obtain 'license by endorsement' in a non-compact state (Oregon is one of them). License by endorsement usually involves a small fee, an application but no written test.

You can call the Boards of Nursing in question for more specifics:

http://nursing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=nursing&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncsbn.org%2F515.htm

P.S. And when you move to Oregon, remember it is pronounced Or-e-gun, NOT Or-e-GONE.

Sorry, but that is not true. You can have a license in any state that you want. There are many foreign nurses that hold US licenses and have never been to the US.

With the compact license to be valid, the nurse needs to have a legal residency of that state, and maintain one there. Even if working in another state.

Even if the state is part of the Compact Pact, if you move, the compact part becomes null and void.

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For the original post here:

Best bet is to apply directly to Oregon and you can take the exam where ever you are. But best suggestion is to write it before you move. That way you have no worries and everything is behind you.

NCLEX is a national license, it is not state specific and the passing score is valid in all 50 states as well as US territories.

Hope that this helps....................

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