Nursing license reciprocity

steppybay · Jan 17, 2014

Hi Everyone,
Is there anyone here that could give me an information about nursing license reciprocity. For Example, If I take the NCLEX exam in new mexico and pass it, can I transfer my liscense to Nevada or California?

Just apply into the state that you want to work and practice in the minute you pass the NCLEX and to start the job search the same day. It makes zero sense to apply into one state hoping that you can avoid certain exams or requirements or what could be the "easiest, fastest and cheapest" state to try first then simply endorse that over to the real desired state. You'll find out soon enough that going that route will become the "hardest, slowest and expensive" way to get licensed in the States.

By "state-hopping", you're still going to waste more time and money (to wait several months for testing results from either needing to pass the English proficiency exams or course evaluations or the combination for both) plus waste more money to repay for brand new applications fees.

I take it that you're either a US citizen, dual citizen or a green card holder, in which any case you have a SS# that's work authorized?

Two of the states mentioned requires that you also have a current and valid nursing license from your country to apply.

At the end of the day, you will ALWAYS have to submit your school's transcripts to the real desired state and still need to meet the desired state's requirements in the first place.

Everyone thinks going to one state to get licensed, then, wanting to go to the real desired state, just did a full turn around back to square one to where they should have started in the first place. Doing this will have costed from 2-3 years or more.

Say if you're going to really want to work in CA, but know that your transcripts will probably get rejected in CA, so go to NV, TX, FL, NY, Mars to get licensed, then maybe even work 1-5 years out of state, then endorse over to CA, guess what?

The endorsement application will still get rejected at the CA office, as they ALWAYS need to review your original school's transcripts. Then you're stuck in a state you don't want to work and play in, as you're now locked in by whatever state you got the license from.

steppybay · Jan 17, 2014

Here's the deal if you plan to apply into CA, there's been only a handful that's been granted the ATT since Nov. 2011, especially if you're getting the BSN from the Phillipines.

Click here: https://allnurses.com/international-nursing/end-phillipine-nursing-885162.html

Basically, the concurrency enforcement has affected those coming in from the Phils from the years 2005 to present (2013). These issues have been very well discussed in the Nursing Registration tab.

But if say CA is your true career-wise stop, it's better to have apply into CA with 100% knowledge if you do get declined and asked to take up some deficiency course or courses, then you have three years to get them done, if you read the other threads, you'll find that's another hurdle to get over, read those too.

Because, let's say you do get licensed out of state, but CA is still the main target, you'll have wasted that time going thru all the motions to get the ATT, then have to start all over in CA once the BRN has determined that you are not in compliance with the educational background. While at least if rejected in CA, you can start to look for schools and try to get enrolled for the deficiency subject(s).

CA BRN gives rejected applicants up to 3 years to complete any deficiencies and you'll need that full three years, as many here will not make it, due to time is expiring, but if not completed within 3 years, the application will be abandoned.

There are many PH grads and nurses still looking for the elusive schools, then try to pass the entrance exam, then go on a waiting list that starts from 1-2-3 years long, then takes a few months to complete.

This is NOT singling out the PH applicants but finding out the competition for these deficiency courses are needed by those coming in from China, India, UK, Russia, some Latin American countries, other European countries, of which class size ranges from 12-30 (maybe if that large) and there tends to be 1-2 students per country. Some schools range from cheaper community (but probably very oversupplied) to the expensive ones where up-front tuition fees start from $7,000 to over $14,000 (but less waiting, geez, I wonder why).

Then you start from square one again with all brand new submittals of previous sent transcripts, brand new (and probably increased) application fees AND meet any possible new requirements.

Just know any and all fees submitted and whether you're approved or declined, there's no refund, it's gone.

angel15 · Jan 17, 2014

I am a US citizen and came back to the Philippines to study Nursing. I am almost done this year and I heard so many changes about the BON policy especially in California. Also I called the BON in Nevada and they told me that I need to have a valid nursing license in the Philippines to take the NCLEX in Nevada. However, one of my friend said that some states like New Mexico doesn't need the International nursing license. My friend told me that I can take the Nclex in New Mexico without the valid nursing license in the Philippines then transfer it to Nevada . Also, she took her nursing license exam in Texas and transferred it to Nevada. Do you know if they still allow the transferring of license?

steppybay · Jan 17, 2014

I am a US citizen and came back to the Philippines to study Nursing. I am almost done this year and I heard so many changes about the BON policy especially in California. Also I called the BON in Nevada and they told me that I need to have a valid nursing license in the Philippines to take the NCLEX in Nevada. However, one of my friend said that some states like New Mexico doesn't need the International nursing license. My friend told me that I can take the Nclex in New Mexico without the valid nursing license in the Philippines then transfer it to Nevada . Also, she took her nursing license exam in Texas and transferred it to Nevada. Do you know if they still allow the transferring of license?

Did your friend do this just before 2013? It wasn't until January, 2013, did the NV BON start the need to prove the nursing license if you're from out of the country degree holder.

Actually, there were no changes to the CA BRN policy, just enforcing them more strongly and these were established in their written Nursing Practice Act since 1987.

Yes, NV BON still allows the endorsing (aka transferring if you will) any out of state license PROVIDED you meet the NV BON requirements and having a local PH nursing is one of them. However, there have been some who were able to get around it, but that's probably more the exception than the rule, so it's a 50-50 chance. If you don't get the right 50%, then you stay and work in NM or TX.

Again, you're back to square one if NV is final preferred work location. Being a US citizen, some have written a statement they can't take the NLE because the PH folks don't allow it. How long the NV BON will accept that excuse is totally up to the BON and the evaluation. One day, they could simply say, "no local country nursing license, no approval"...next!

With the flood of PH applicants crossing into NV, they could try to stem the flow, by no longer taking any excuses on why the local country nursing license can't be provided, it's not their problem.

angel15 · Jan 17, 2014

My friend did it before 2013. Thank you for all the information. Also, there are nurses from California that moved to nevada. I need to get a license in Nevada bec my family is there. Thank you for al the info steppybay. God bless