Help! Nclex registration? Virginia or north carolina

Nurses General Nursing

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I need some advice. I live in Georgia and just got a job offer in Virginia. I haven't officially accepted it because I have another interview in North Carolina this week. If I recieve an offer at the hospital in North Carolina, I will take it over the Virginia hosptial. That being said, I am not getting my hopes up because the hospital in North Carolina is very competitive. Either way, I will not be staying in Georgia.

I am graduating May 8th so the deadlines for applications is approaching. Should I just sign up for boards in Virginia since I have a guareenteed job there? I know Virginia and North Carolina are part of the compact license states so would that make it easier to transfer? I interview with the North Carolina one this Friday and I don't think they will be making decisions right away because they are still conducting interviews at the beginning of may. I am so confused on what to do. Can anyone give me any advice on this? If what I wrote is confusing, let me know and I can clarify.

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Specializes in Psych.

You can take NCLEX anywhere you want...wherever is most convenient for you. You can change the site up to 24 hours before you're scheduled. This is entirely separate from licensing matters.

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I know I can take it in Georgia, but the human resource person told me I can't start until I have my VA license. Also, it takes 4-6 weeks to transfer. I think this would be to long for me to start when I need too. I am trying to figure out which state to apply to sit for boards for.

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Specializes in Psych.
You can take NCLEX anywhere you want...wherever is most convenient for you. You can change the site up to 24 hours before you're scheduled. This is entirely separate from licensing matters.

I just remembered you have to schedule it by applying for licensure by examination...so..I'm not sure what would be best for your particular situation.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Where you should be licensed depends on where you plan to live. You may be working in another state (rather common along the VA/NC border), but you need to hold a license in your state of residence.

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Specializes in Psych.
I know I can take it in Georgia, but the human resource person told me I can't start until I have my VA license. Also, it takes 4-6 weeks to transfer. I think this would be to long for me to start when I need too. I am trying to figure out which state to apply to sit for boards for.

If you're concerned with starting very soon, then you should probably apply in Virginia. If you pass NCLEX, your license will be active within days, and you could practice in North Carolina as well, since (you said) it is one of the compact states.

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Specializes in Psych.
Where you should be licensed depends on where you plan to live. You may be working in another state (rather common along the VA/NC border), but you need to hold a license in your state of residence.

Does that only apply to compact states? I live in Virginia, and have a number of classmates who also live in Virginia but only have D.C. licenses (where they practice at the hospitals they work at.) D.C. is not a member of the compact.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Does that only apply to compact states? I live in Virginia, and have a number of classmates who also live in Virginia but only have D.C. licenses (where they practice at the hospitals they work at.) D.C. is not a member of the compact.

I was talking about the compact states...sorry if that wasn't clear :)

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Does that only apply to compact states? I live in Virginia, and have a number of classmates who also live in Virginia but only have D.C. licenses (where they practice at the hospitals they work at.) D.C. is not a member of the compact.

Yes, that only applies to compact states (which both NC and VA are, which is why Meriwhen made the comment). You can only get a compact state license with "compact privileges" (recognized by other compact states for work purposes) if you maintain your permanent residence (maintain a home, pay taxes, etc.) in that state. If you apply for licensure in a compact state but live elsewhere (in a non-compact state), you'll get a "traditional" license that is only good in that state and doesn't have compact privileges. And you can only hold one compact license at a time (in your home state). So, if you apply for licensure in VA but end up living in NC, you'll still have to apply for NC licensure (or vice versa).

For non-compact states (like DC), you have to have a license for that state in order to be able to work there, regardless of where you live.

You may want to wait until you know for sure where you're going to be working and living before you make a decision about applying for licensure. I'm not aware of any "deadline" for applying for licensure -- some new grads wait extended amounts of time before they finally get their nerve up to apply for licensure and write the NCLEX; although that's not a good idea, there's nothing to prevent one doing that. Or, you could just go ahead and apply for GA licensure, and then apply for licensure by endorsement in the new state when you know where you'll be ending up (that would involve paying for two licenses, though, and you know you're not staying in GA). Best wishes!

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