How soon would you take the NCLEX and apply to jobs?

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So I will be done with my LPN program at the end of April and my graduation should be in May. Financially, I'm pretty much in a situation where I need to have some kind of money rolling in by May or the beginning of June and I was wondering how long the hiring process is for LPN. When you apply, do you typically hear back from employers in a few days or a few months?

Also, how soon are you allowed to take the NCLEX? Do you literally have to wait until after graduation in order to take it or can you take it once classes are done? I have been studying for the NCLEX pretty heavily for the last two months. Aside from my usual studying for my current class, I do about 30-35 NCLEX questions a day and review things I may have forgotten.

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Specializes in NICU.

I went through a BSN program, so this might vary. But the soonest we could take NCLEX after graduation was about a month or so. The nursing school has to send proof that you graduated to LARA, you need to apply for your license, do fingerprinting and background check, and wait until LARA sends you ATT (authorization to test). And only then can you register for a date. Hope this helps!

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Specializes in LVN Home Health Nurse/QA and Urgent Care.

LVN program I went to in California (Concorde Career College) submitted our application to test about a few days before we finished the program. You can't take the NCLEX until your board of nursing in your state approves you to take the NCLEX. It took 3 weeks before I received my approval to test. The minute I read my approval letter I applied for the soonest NCLEX date which was two days later (NCLEX test dates varies literally everyday, so don't expect a date of your choice to be there tomorrow. Pick one and commit to it). As a new grad nurse I know I wouldn't get the best job so get what you can. You can try applying to jobs even before you get your official license. I applied to 2 home health jobs to gain nursing experience then 5 months later applied and currently working my dream job at a high acuity urgent care. I'm only making $23/hr but great benefits and discounts. Here's a timeline to make it easier to see:

Graduated March 30th - Received approval to test April 18th - Scheduled and took the test April 20th - Got my license April 30th - Job offer April 28th but didn't start working until May 1st.

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Just graduated in December. You should start applying before you graduate. My city held two New RN Grad Hiring nights held by two different hospitals so I attended those. Got a job at the second event in the ICU. The hospital understands that you are a new grad, so most of the time, they just wanted to be updated as to when you are testing and if you've passed/failed. You can also get an Interim Permit so that you can start working before you are able to take your NCLEX. I start my job Feb 24th. Other classmates started working back in Jan.

As for how soon you are able to test, it completely depends on your school. You cannot test until your school sends your transcripts to the BRN. I'm also in CA and once transcripts were sent, it took 2 days for the BRN to send out ATTs. Once I got my ATT via email, I immediately booked for the NCLEX the following week. In total, my school took 3 weeks to send out transcripts so from graduation to getting my license posted, it took exactly 1 month.

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Graduated from my LPN program December 5th and on the day of my pinning I payed for my fingerprinting/Nclex/BON fees and received my ATT 8 days after I graduated... tested for NCLEX on 1/17/20 and my licence was posted on 1/20/20 on my state’s BON...started working on 1/30/20... I didn’t take any “breaks” after graduation and did Uworld and listened to Mark Klimek every day up to the day of my test....I started applying for jobs a month before I graduated because I already claimed NCLEX and was beyond it...I needed to work ASAP..best of luck to you ❤️

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I graduated from SCCC in May of 2016. I believe my classmates and I had to wait up to a month before taking boards. Our names had to be sent upstate to verify that we could sit for NCLEX. I remember calling them every day to see if they received my name. Fast forward--- I was told that I could sit for NCLEX. I took boards with my classmate in July and passed on the first attempt. I went on an interview a week after, and was hired on the spot. So good luck! ?

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