How much time? CA BRN

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

Huh? You're going to have to rewrite your question because it's very confusing what you're asking...I think you're asking if they start a file on you once they receive your application? They will have a file on you, but it's your job to make sure that everything they ask for is complete....Good Luck

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 14, 2009

I doubt they will do anything with your file until it is complete or they have received everything that is required ie Fingerprints/transcripts/application etc

suzanne4, RN · Jan 14, 2009

The transcripts are the most important part of it, they will not do a thing without having that in their hands. Wait time is averaging four to six months now for CA. Since you trained out of the US, even being a US citizen, you are still considered a foreign grad.

They also do not permit one to sit for the exam until they have everything and have approved it as well.

Does not matter if they open a specific file or not, without all of the items being received by them, they are not going to look at your file or do anything with it; makes no sense to do anything if they have nothing to review.

woknblues · Jan 15, 2009

Huh? You're going to have to rewrite your question because it's very confusing what you're asking...I think you're asking if they start a file on you once they receive your application? They will have a file on you, but it's your job to make sure that everything they ask for is complete....Good Luck

Well, since you got the point of my question, can we leave it at that for now? So you are saying that they will start a file. Of course, I would expect them to require the applicant to provide all the information. What they do not state, is how long the process takes.

I doubt they will do anything with your file until it is complete or they have received everything that is required ie Fingerprints/transcripts/application etc

OK, I get that, and expected it to some degree. I was planning on doing a live scan once I got back anyway (I can get up to Sac easily). Since I see that many International nursing people have already put their papers in, regardless of the lack of SSN#, I figured I would do the same, just without transcript instead of SSN#, which I possess.

The transcripts are the most important part of it, they will not do a thing without having that in their hands. Wait time is averaging four to six months now for CA. Since you trained out of the US, even being a US citizen, you are still considered a foreign grad.
They also do not permit one to sit for the exam until they have everything and have approved it as well.
Does not matter if they open a specific file or not, without all of the items being received by them, they are not going to look at your file or do anything with it; makes no sense to do anything if they have nothing to review.

6 months is a long time. Are there any states that are faster? Travel is no problem. I guess there are no shortage of applicants in CA. Maybe the governator will approve a budget some time, and they can get another couple of staff members to start processing. I have certainly paid enough taxes to that state for someone to push the papers a little faster. (Sorry, off topic rant)

Thanks again.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 15, 2009

If you go to another state you will have to meet their requirements for foreign trained nurse and still meet Ca requirements for foreign trained nurse when endorsing. Ca evaluate transcripts themselves so. Most states on average are 4-6 months depending on how timely they receive paperwork. I think if Ca is your destination you may as well keep with them IMHO

suzanne4, RN · Jan 16, 2009

CA does not begin to process any application until the actual transcripts are received by them. So even if a file is created, the papers are just going to sit there, no one can do anything reviewing anything without the main focus of everything.

The average time for CA is going to be four to six months; no way to make things go faster. Even if you go thru another state and then wish to endorse to CA, it is still going to involve additional time. No other state will do anything with an application without a completed set of transcripts in the first place, even if graduated someone else in the US.

Not sure what you have been reading about CA either; but right now, they are rated in the top 5 in terms of unemployment. This also means that as a new grad, it is going to much tougher to get hired if you do not already possess some experience. There are many new grads that actually trained in CA that are having to leave the area to get hired. Add into that the fact that the state is going to be out of money February 1, so do not expect any additional personnel to be hired in any government offices either. No matter what taxes were paid in the past.

Issue now for you is that you are now going to be classified as a foreign grad. Does not matter what your immigration status is. Best of luck to you.

Mobiusrain · Jan 17, 2009

Yup, newgrads (especially foreign-trained newgrads) have it tough out here in California in the midst of this budget crisis. Most hospitals are on hiring freezes at the moment in the Bay Area, might have better luck down in SoCal. A number of hospitals have newgrad programs, but some would only take in US-trained newgrads. Not to mention so little spots and way too many applicants...chances are very slim to get in. Got my license back in November, still no luck to this day. Might have to move down south if worse comes to worst just to get some needed hospital experience.

Anyway, back to the topic . Suzanne is right, wait time is 4-6 months average from the day they receive your application. But they will create a file on you and open your application packet upon receipt just to check it for completeness to make sure everything is in order (ie. if the payment is the correct amount, if you have your fingerprint card or live scan forms, if you have an explanation letter if you do not hold a local license from your country of instruction, etc). If something required is missing, they will send you a letter asking for what is needed (except for transcripts, they will be looking for these once your application is up for review).

They won't actually review your application and make a decision until they have cleared all other applications that came before yours. In my case, I received my letter of eligibility to take the NCLEX after roughly 3 months. This was back in August of last year though, not certain about the volume of applicants this time around. I would suggest you send in your application early, that way you're securing your place in line and the earlier they will get to processing your file.

woknblues · Jan 18, 2009

CA does not begin to process any application until the actual transcripts are received by them. So even if a file is created, the papers are just going to sit there, no one can do anything reviewing anything without the main focus of everything.
The average time for CA is going to be four to six months; no way to make things go faster. Even if you go thru another state and then wish to endorse to CA, it is still going to involve additional time. No other state will do anything with an application without a completed set of transcripts in the first place, even if graduated someone else in the US.
Not sure what you have been reading about CA either; but right now, they are rated in the top 5 in terms of unemployment. This also means that as a new grad, it is going to much tougher to get hired if you do not already possess some experience. There are many new grads that actually trained in CA that are having to leave the area to get hired. Add into that the fact that the state is going to be out of money February 1, so do not expect any additional personnel to be hired in any government offices either. No matter what taxes were paid in the past.
Issue now for you is that you are now going to be classified as a foreign grad. Does not matter what your immigration status is. Best of luck to you.

Yeah, foreign grad, I get it. I reserve the right to complain all I can about the State of California, I grew up there, and have paid way more than my fare share of taxes, and spent months a year stuck in traffic on the I5. And I do want a few more bodies to process paperwork for me. California has ALWAYS had the worst unemployment in the US. If they are running out of money on Feb1, sounds like I better have mine in before then. My comment about taxes was tongue in cheek, anyway. Crack a smile Suzanne, it feels good!

Yup, newgrads (especially foreign-trained newgrads) have it tough out here in California in the midst of this budget crisis. Most hospitals are on hiring freezes at the moment in the Bay Area, might have better luck down in SoCal. A number of hospitals have newgrad programs, but some would only take in US-trained newgrads. Not to mention so little spots and way too many applicants...chances are very slim to get in. Got my license back in November, still no luck to this day. Might have to move down south if worse comes to worst just to get some needed hospital experience.
Anyway, back to the topic . Suzanne is right, wait time is 4-6 months average from the day they receive your application. But they will create a file on you and open your application packet upon receipt just to check it for completeness to make sure everything is in order (ie. if the payment is the correct amount, if you have your fingerprint card or live scan forms, if you have an explanation letter if you do not hold a local license from your country of instruction, etc). If something required is missing, they will send you a letter asking for what is needed (except for transcripts, they will be looking for these once your application is up for review).
They won't actually review your application and make a decision until they have cleared all other applications that came before yours. In my case, I received my letter of eligibility to take the NCLEX after roughly 3 months. This was back in August of last year though, not certain about the volume of applicants this time around. I would suggest you send in your application early, that way you're securing your place in line and the earlier they will get to processing your file.

I am looking at SoCal, and I have heard about new grad programs ongoing there. If they open a file, that is all I need to know. I have put enough paperwork through the federal government to know that the most important thing, is to get it in ASAP. Sounds like the state/CA BON is no different. I am not trying to game the system, but I will put my application in early if it means the possibility of getting it in before another wave of new grads, foreign and domestic, before the money runs out.

>>>>>>>>

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not asking about working in the United States. I have actually done this for more 20 years, during good and bad economies, and in industries a lot tighter than nursing. Wringing my hands about the economy isn't going to get me a job. I am really only interested to know if anyone knew what steps or processes the CA BON takes when they get your application, and I guess I got my answer.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 18, 2009

Getting your application in any earlier without the school transcripts being there is not going to speed things up for you. They are not going to review anything in your folder until all is there.

It is up to you as to what you want to do. But do be aware that we are even seeing other states return applications if not all is received very close to the same time. No reason to have a file open if nothing can be done with it. The reviewer will not even look at your file without everything being there.

And even though you may have lived and worked in the US for years, it no longer has any bearing on anything in terms of licensure. You are now going to be considered a foreign nurse and that is where the changes are going to be felt and seen. It also is going to make a difference as to the school that you attended as well. CA BRN does their own credentials eval and it depends on what they have done in the past with those from your school.

CA has new grad programs, but they have gotten much tighter in the past six months or so even for graduates of schools in SoCal. For those that have trained out of the US and do not have any experience, the job prospects are not going to be as good as you have expected. If you take the time to do some reading on the CA forum, you are going to reading some posts from new grads down there that have gotten hired, but have just recently heard that the have been cancelled from even starting the new grad program because of lack of funding. When a state is having issues and is expected to issue IOUs next month, that means that hospitals are not going to get paid either.

All we can say is best of luck to you.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 18, 2009

If a file is not complete, then it is not going to get processed. And the item that takes the longest is the evaluation of the transcripts. If they are not sent in, then it pushes anything to the back of the pile or shelves it.

And if the graduation date has not occurred yet, then they most definitely will not do one thing with your file. One of their requirements is that one have a completed set of transcripts to submit to them, and this is usually not even available for weeks after one completes their studies in the Philippines.

CA BRN will approve a CA nursing school grad to sit for the exam before they receive the final transcripts, but when has graduated thru another state, or even country, then all documentation must be complete and approved before they will do anything.

You have not mentioned if you have actually graduated already or not.

And I have not seen nursing like this in many, many years. When I have nurses that I work with getting laid off, that tells you something or that the facility has a hiring freeze in place and for nurses, that should open your eyes even more. And it is not just in nursing, and there has also been a glut of nurses that have graduated in the past year in CA that are still unable to find work. Ca trained quite a few new nurses never anticipating that things were going to get like they are right now, it is that bad. And all industries are affected. Nursing was thought to be recession proof, but things have changed with that as well. As a new grad and not having any experience, then that much tougher. Add in training out of the US where things are done so very differently from here and that just compounds it.