Graduating Soon...How Long To Test?

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I am graduating soon from a school in New Jersey. I live in PA and posted about where to take the test. The director at the school suggested I take the test in PA and just fill out paperwork for New Jersey if I want to work there. Just wondering if LPN's out there just recently, have found more jobs in PA or NJ? I live in Bucks near Philly and could travel either way. Thanks! ...Jac

I forgot the rest of my post. Long day :wink2: How long does it take from the time the school sends in your paperwork, you pay all fees and do your paperwork and then take the test. If I graduate December 19, how long until I could possibly take the NCLEX? ...Jac

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I graduated December 8, 2007, got the paperwork in to the state board by Christmas and heard back from them the first week of January with my authorization to test. I signed up for the test online and could have taken the boards within two weeks. Instead I waited until the end of February, waited two days to hear that I passed, and had the paper license within 10 days. As far as jobs, all of my friends have gotten jobs in Northeast PA fairly easily. We have a very large senior citizen population and the jobs are here for the taking. I am not working as a nurse, but continue to work from has as a medical transcriptionist and I immediately returned to school for a BSRN and will finish that in the spring of 2010. I have friends who travel over the border to north jersey to work and have not had a hard time finding jobs and I believe the pay is even better than here. The friends working in PA are making anywhere from $15 an hour med surg in a hospital to $20 to $25 an hour agency or nursing home.

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P.S. If it were me... I would initially test in the state you have a preference for, probably your home state, and then do what you need to to "port" your license with the other state... that way you are licensed in both states and if a better opportunity comes up over the border, you can start immediately.

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the school mailed their portion 1 week before graduation{was a surprise]then I mailed my nb application the week of graduation,then went online about 5days later and registered with nclex,recived my ATT 2 days later,went back online with nclex and was able to set a date anywhere from 4 days and out,I chose to wait about 6 weeks from graduation date...then a few days later I recived a letter to set up fingerprinting..

we went to same school and they recommend waiting 6 weeks and guess what there is so much I dont know still or feel comfortable with...and I did well with Hesi's

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