Graduating in Texas but want to take NCLEX in Louisiana

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER, Cath lab.

I'm in a delimma at the moment. I'm a Louisiana resident going to school in Texas. My ADN program is accredited. I want to test in Louisiana after I graduate in May but what I get from the LA State Board is that my program doesn't meet their hour requirements (mine is 60 but LA requires 70-72). I mentioned to them I have a total of 180 hours on all of my transcripts combines but they won't give me a straight answer on whether or not I can test in Louisiana (or if I can apply for endorsement after getting a TX license since endorsements are subject to the same educational requirements). Are 10-12 hours going to prevent me from ever getting a Louisiana license even if I pass the same licensing test that every other nurse in the country has?

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Sorry - but you will have to meet the Louisiana BON rules in order to test in Louisiana. This is one of the consequences of Texas' choice to reduce hours in ADN programs. I (and many others educators) believe it was a very bad decision. Kudos to Louisiana for hanging tough! Once you get your Tx license, you can apply for a La license. On a brighter note, La is in the process of becoming a member of the Nursing Compact but I don't know when that will be realized. Afterward, license reciprocity will be much easier.

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