Graduating and Immediately Moving Out of State

[eyoliver]

I am graduating in May 09 in Alaska and my family is planning to move immediately to Texas. As in, tomorrow would not be soon enough Should I plan to apply for a Texas BON license and take the NCLEX in Texas, or would it be easier to apply through Alaska and then transfer my new license? Also, I am planning on job hunting over spring break.... feeling a little nervous about looking for a job before graduation. Any advice would be great!

[elkpark]

You can apply for licensure in TX without actually physically taking the NCLEX in TX; you can take the NCLEX anywhere it's convenient for you, and the results will be sent to TX. There's no reason to get an AK license if you know you're not going to use it -- why pay the (hefty) fees for two licenses?

It's perfectly normal and reasonable to apply and interview for jobs before you actually graduate and have a license in hand -- it's recommended, in fact, that you not wait (until you're actually licensed) to start looking -- many of the "new grad" positions will already be snapped up by then. Employers might not let you start working until you are actually licensed (depending on whether TX is a state that permits "graduate nurse" status, and I don't know that offhand), but you should start looking as soon as you're getting close to graduating -- the sooner, the better!

Best wishes!

(PS -- I think you must mean you're graduating in '10, right?)

[eyoliver]

thanks for the reply! yes, graduating in 10 :) oops!