Help! CA nursing student wanting to get licensed in CO after graduation

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Hello everyone,

I am hoping someone can help me out with this because I am struggling to find the information I need!

So I am a nursing student right now at a locally reputable school in Los Angeles, California and am due to graduate with my ADN in December. The school I'm attending is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. I understand this regional accreditation will come in handy, in terms of credit transfer, when I pursue my BSN. However, the program I am in is not ACEN (formally NLNAC) accredited. This particular accreditation is not very prominent in CA. Originally I was going to stay in California upon obtaining my degree but some factors have come up in my life that are steering me towards Denver, CO after I graduate. My question is this: Can I take the NCLEX in Colorado and be licensed there if I graduated from a non-ACEN accredited program in California? My goal is to enter a nationally accredited RN-BSN program ASAP after graduation but that, obviously, requires the RN license first.

Thank you for any help you can give me! :)

Sincerely,

Ryan

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

A program doesn't need to be ACEN accredited in order to take the NCLEX. If it meets NCLEX standards in California, it should meet the standards in any state.

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You need to contact the state BON, to find out.

https://www.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Default.aspx

Find out if they will issue you an ATT once they get your transcripts.

Please be aware that most hospitals in the Denver area will not hire ADNs. There are some rural areas a couple of hours away that will, but not in the metro area.

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Thank you both for your responses! Scaredsilly, that is what I've gathered upon doing my research on employment in the area. I, however, aspire to work in an outpatient setting so hopefully I'll have a better chance! Either way I'm sure it will take some time to find something. :dead:

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Outpatient shouldn't be a problem. Most clinics will hire ADNs! Since you are in Cali, may I suggest you check Kaiser Permanente there, they are HUGE here and seem to pay better than most private clinics and I know that they hire ADNs. You may be able to get a foot in the door there before you even move.

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