Job interview no license yet. What to do?

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When I originally applied for the job I had no idea it would be so long for me to get my graduation paperwork and my license. I thought I'd be graduated 2 weeks earlier and thought I'd have my license in February. At this point I think it's going to be April before I am licensed. I have an interview tomorrow at the hospital. I really want this job, but afraid that they will not wait on me to fill the position. Why should they? What should I say in the interview about this? I can't even get a good feel on how long it'll take the state board to authorize me to test. It says 6-8 weeks to process applications on the state board. I submitted the original paperwork in December, along with the fingerprint stuff. The only thing I needed to submit was my transcripts. Those should have been received last week, but I still have not got authorization to test. Thoughts on how to address this in the interview?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Tell the truth. Tell them you have done all you can do and have submitted all the required paperwork. Tell them you are simply waiting for authorization to take the test ... and that you are ready to take the test as soon as the board gives you permission to do so.

That's all you can do.

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Tell the truth. Tell them you have done all you can do and have submitted all the required paperwork. Tell them you are simply waiting for authorization to take the test ... and that you are ready to take the test as soon as the board gives you permission to do so.

That's all you can do.

Yeah I guess I knew that was all I could do, but was just trying to deemphasize that.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I was hired into a job before I graduated, tested, or got licensed. Several of us did. I started my job 2 days after graduation. I just followed the nurse, saw how things flowed, etc. When my temp license came through I did a little more. When I passed my exam and got my actual license I was prepared to start taking my own patients. I graduated May 8 and wasn't licensed (with my real license) until June 23 I think.

There was one person who didn't pass the NCLEX who was hired into an RN position and she just worked as an aide until she passed then went back to the RN role to finish orientation.

Depending on the facility and manager it can be flexible.

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A lot of people have been hired pre-NCLEX. I was.

Just be upfront about it.

Tell them you are waiting for your ATT and you plan to schedule ASAP. My hiring manager told me my start date was a week after my projected test date and only to call her if I hadn't passed by then, because she would need to move my start date back.

Good luck!

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After all that stressing I got notification from the state that they received all my info and have sent my authorization on to Pearson. I should hear something on authorization to test in 7-10 days.

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