How long for licenses?

truern · Jul 22, 2006

Sweetie, I'm confused...here in NC we don't even get our ATT before all the paperwork and background check is complete including fingerprints.

Are things that different in NJ?

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2006

I found the NJ BON pretty fast. I received my letter with my license number on it 10 days after I passed NCLEX, and then received my actual license 5 days after that. I took NCLEX right before the state shutdown, so I was suprised it all came so quickly.

I suspect they may be backed up since the shutdown, I see they updated the state licence site on July 12th instead of the 1st of the month like they usually do. I took NCLEX 6/27, and my name was posted when they updated on July 12th. Some of my friends took it July 5-6th, and they are not posted on the state search yet.

And it is really difficult to ever get a live person there, and they seem to not return messages. Your friend might try emailing to get an answer, there are contact emails on the state site for people who specifically handle different areas. HTH. :)

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 22, 2006

Sweetie, I'm confused...here in NC we don't even get our ATT before all the paperwork and background check is complete including fingerprints.
Are things that different in NJ?

Evidently so I guess. I sent in my application to the BON on 5/27. I got my ATT 2 weeks later and got my fingerprint paperwork 2 weeks after that. I made my appt for my fingerprinting on 6/28 and took my NCLEX on 7/13.

At this point I'm just waiting.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 22, 2006

Thanks for the info! I'll tell her to email them. Do you have a link where to get the email addresses? From where I have looked, there's just a list of various links, which none of them are any help.

And it figures I take my NCLEX on the 13th and they updated the site on the 12th. I know once I got to their automated phone system to where you can check the status of your application, but I can't remember how I got to that prompt.

I still think it's nuts that my friend has been waiting for for her fingerprint paperwork when she put her license to the BON in early June - not long after I had mine in - and she got her ATT, took her NCLEX, passed her NCLEX and is STILL waiting for the fingerprint stuff. She's going crazy.

Thanks for the info Lurksalot!

I found the NJ BON pretty fast. I received my letter with my license number on it 10 days after I passed NCLEX, and then received my actual license 5 days after that. I took NCLEX right before the state shutdown, so I was suprised it all came so quickly.
I suspect they may be backed up since the shutdown, I see they updated the state licence site on July 12th instead of the 1st of the month like they usually do. I took NCLEX 6/27, and my name was posted when they updated on July 12th. Some of my friends took it July 5-6th, and they are not posted on the state search yet.
And it is really difficult to ever get a live person there, and they seem to not return messages. Your friend might try emailing to get an answer, there are contact emails on the state site for people who specifically handle different areas. HTH. :)

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2006

This page had emails for the administrative assistants and license verification secretaries, and also the NCLEX department staff. Maybe they would return emails sooner than phone calls? Scroll down, the NCLEX department staff is towards the end.

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/nursing/know.htm

I tried the automated system, too, with the looong list of prompts, not much help with that.

That is crazy about your friend's fingerprints, I wonder what the deal is? Hope she gets it worked out soon. :)

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 22, 2006

Thanks so much for that! At least it has DIRECT phone numbers! She's gone through their receptionist who has just transferred her at random to people. I've forwarded it all down to her. Thanks again!

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

No prob! :)

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

Well my friend has decided she's going to drive up to Newark and find out what's up with her fingerprint stuff. She's on the fence about everything. She doesn't think the hospital would recind their intern offer if the state takes a long time to get her stuff processed. Besides, the first 2 weeks of our internship is just orientation things. We won't hit the floor until after August 18th.

I just want it to work out for her.

I, OTOH, will stalk my mailperson for the mail this week! Today is 10 days after my NCLEX (I know, no mail on Sunday) but I just want to see thier confirmation in my hand!

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

Update: My friend went up to Newark. They said she didn't fill out the criminal background portion of her application and that they sent her out a blank sheet 3 times (which she never got and her address with them was correct). She filled it out, they gave her her fingerprint sheet but of course she can't get an appointment for 2 weeks.

Here it is 15 days post NCLEX and not a peep from the NJ BON.

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

ugh, what a mess for your friend! I have to hand it to her, driving there and getting her answer, good for her being pro-active like that!

That stinks your license has not made it to you yet! I wonder if they are having issues or something? My employer said there is some kind of delay going on with the license verification, too, and many of us new RNs are not cleared to officially work as RNs yet with our employer, despite having given them a copy of our actual license!

Fingers crossed that you get it soon. :)

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Last update I swear, lol: Well I spent 40 minutes on hold waiting for an operator. I told them that it's been like 3 weeks and I haven't heard anything from them in regards to my license. The receptionist said my application had been sent to the disciplinary department (and I was freaking thinking OMG what have I done already???). Turns out that there was a discrepancy with the spelling of my name (it was legally changed) and my birth name, maiden name, married name which I had faxed the letter to about that 2 months ago. She found the letter, fixed it in the computer and gave me my nursing license # over the phone. I'll have my license in hand within 2 days or so. Yippee!!!!!!!!