HELP! CA LVN endorsement to IL....

U.S.A. Illinois

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Specializes in Skilled Nursing., Dementia.

Hi nurses!

Currently I am an LVN licensed in CA and looking for endorsement in IL. I graduated from the Philippines, took my NCLEX-PN and passed. I have one year experience working in a Skilled Nursing Facility here in San Diego. My question is..Is it possible for me to get license in IL as reciprocity..How do i go through the process..Is there anyone here have done this before..How long does it takes for them to give you the license...PLEASE HELP.. I am US citi so no problem with that... Any info regarding this matter is greatly appreciated. I want to go back to Chicago to work as a nurse. I've lived there for so many years and left jsut to study nursing..I really hope i can go back soon, but I need IL LPN license to be able to work there. Thank you for your time reading this.....:uhoh21:

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Hi, kabayan! You need to do Illinois' License by ENDORSEMENT

http://www.idfpr.com/Renewals/apply/forms/lpn-end.pdf

What degree did you graduate from in the Phils?

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Specializes in Skilled Nursing., Dementia.

I took Practical Nursing for 2 years... :D

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Specializes in Skilled Nursing., Dementia.

I am also an IV Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Certified here in CA...:D

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I took Practical Nursing for 2 years... :D

Oh ok. I was going to suggest going for RN if you have a BSN from the Phils. :p

Better start processing your endorsement. I read from the forums here that Illinois licensing is a slow process.

Good luck! :D

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Specializes in Skilled Nursing., Dementia.

I have an answer already...IL wont accept my nursing program since i took it in Manila. They dont allow any education taken from foreign country. which is SUCKS!! I feel like its discrimination. I have a licensed in CA so it doesnt matter if i get my education in some country as long as i have my papers and all legal..they should open there state to any nurses applying like CA.. So i guessed i'm stacked here in CA..i can still apply to other state and im sure they will give me a license..ANYWAYS!!..WHATEVER!! is there lost not mine!..

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Have you tried CGFNS service? It's a credential service that compares education credentials of foreign nurses. Thus, Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

I would believe they would accept yours because there are a lot of Filipino nurses in Chicago. My CGFNS just got done too which states my education from the Phils. is equal to what they have here.

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Specializes in Skilled Nursing., Dementia.

I know...But the Lady that i spoke with keep insisting that there is NO LPN in the Philippines...and keep telling her there is..and my school that went too is credited in CA..She just wont listen to me and shot me off right away..She IL wont accept my education because there is NO LPN in the Philippines..which is kinda stupid for her ....and keep teeling her already..I have CGFNS CES before that said that my education is comparable here in the US, but its already expired...so i need to do another CES again for IL....I dont if she is telling the truth or just want to SHUT ME OFF!!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

While there may be practical nursing programs in the Philippines it is not a recognized credential by Filipino authorities and you are not eligible for licensure as a practical nurse in the Philippines since there is no such credential. Therefore technically there is no such thing as an LPN in the Philippines.

Many US states are now requiring a nursing license (or at minimum eligibility for licensure) in the country where you were educated. All Canadian provinces require a nursing license from your country of education. Since there is no such credential as a licensed practical nurse in the Philippines you are therefore not eligible for licensure in these states (by endorsement or examination). There are several states that do not or no longer recognize graduates of international practical nursing programs as eligible for LPNlicensure.

yamkins, are the nurses you are referring to RN's or LPN's that makes a big difference?

RN is a recognized license/credential in the philippines whereas LPN is not. From the Illinois Board of Nursing, information regarding internationally educated nurses (in red font on this document: http://www.idfpr.com/renewals/apply/forms/cgfns_02.pdf) "you must be licensed in country from which you received your nursing education" since you cannot be licensed as an LPN in the Philippines you are not eligible for a license by examination or endorsement in the state of Illinois. Therefore the representative you were speaking to was in fact telling the truth. I'm sorry for the situation that you are in.

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Beachy, would that be the same for her even if she has an existing license in CA?

Won't the CGFNS recommend which units she needs to take in case it's not the same in IL?

I was pertaining to mostly RNs but I do know some LPNs in IL. Not sure where they went to school for it though.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Beachy, would that be the same for her even if she has an existing license in CA?

Won't the CGFNS recommend which units she needs to take in case it's not the same in IL?

I was pertaining to mostly RNs but I do know some LPNs in IL. Not sure where they went to school for it though.

it is the same whether she is applying for license by endorsement (already have a license in another US state or territory like the OP) or examination. Even if she was licensed as an RN in CA but not licensed in the country of her education (ie Philippines) she would not be eligible for licensure as an RN in IL (or other states with similar regulations) for the same reason.

In this case, attending a PN program in the Philippines (no PN programs are recognized by the Phillippine government as a bona fide educational pathway for a recognized credential. LPN's do not exist in the Philippines, however for some reason practical nursing schools do exist. It's kind of like attending a practical nursing program that is not approved by your state's board of nursing. You'd have paid the fees, completed the work but not be eligible for a nursing license in the end.

Also, the OP stated that here practical nursing program in the Philippines was "credited" by the CA BVNPT. It is my understanding that no US state has the authority to approve or credential a nursing program of study outside of the US. CGFNS exists to evaluate the credentials of an internationally educated nurse to determine if their program of study meets the requirements of the state the person is applying in. If you look at the list of approved vocational nursing programs in CA, only schools physically in CA are approved. Not a single school in the Philippines, or any other country or state is listed as approved by the CA BVNPT. BVNPT - California Approved Schools

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