How soon to apply for position??

lowrylb · Jan 8, 2011

Good luck! I just graduated and have found that most places would like for you to have taken boards already. I can say though that it can't hurt you might just find the right place in the mean time. I just got hired on at an urgent care by word of mouth so getting out there is good. Also, if its an office that you would need some training the earlier the better. They like to pay for you to have training before you take boards so when you take them you can start pretty quickly seeing patients.

carachel2 · Jan 8, 2011

A little different here. Through word of mouth, I had three job interviews and then offers lined up before I graduated or shortly thereafter. None of the positions were urgently vacant and they all understood it would be months before I was tested, certified, credentialed, etc.

I accepted a job with a family practice physician a few weeks after graduation and then the waiting process began. I didn't get permission to test from ANCC until about mid January. I tested in the middle of February and it took well into March until everything else was done.

At first I was a little upset that the physician I was with wanted all the proverbial i's dotted and t-s crossed but I AM SOOOOO glad that I waited until everything was done! My experience, and that of classmates has been that most training is on the job i.e. no following the doc around and nothing like how it was in clinicals. My first day of work, I was seeing patients as a provider and they did not see the physician going behind me or me checking with the physician, etc.

labbio · Jan 11, 2011

It depends on what YOU want. I know people who took a job immediately after graduation while studying for certification. But I also know people who don't even look for a job until they pass the exam. It's up to you. Good luck.