License question. Please help !

EDRN-2010 · Jan 8, 2010

Renewal Cycle

Your first California RN license is issued for two birthdays - not two years - and it will expire the last day of the month following your birth date. From that date on, it will expire every two years, if renewed timely. Once a California license number is issued, it will always remain the same number whether active, inactive or delinquent. If the license lapses and is later renewed, the same license number and renewal cycle will apply.

http://www.rn.ca.gov/licensees/lic-renewal.shtml

My license information just got posted on CA BON today and was wondering if this is a mistake.
Issue date: Jan 06 2010
Experiration date: Aug 31, 2011
Thats not even 2 years, should I call and ask? I cant get through to them today because they
are closed the first 3 fridays of the month. But im really confused right now. please help.

elkpark · Jan 8, 2010

Licenses are issued when you pass the NCLEX, whenever that may be, but every state has a "rotation system" for renewals that is typically based on your birthday (let me guess -- your birthday is in August, right?) Typically, your renewal date is the last day of your birthday month, either the first or second time that happens after your license is first issued (but less than two years). After that, you're on a regular one- or two-year cycle (depending on how your inidividual state does things). But most people's licenses are good for an "odd" amount of time the first time around.

Sometimes this can really catch you -- I applied for licensure by endorsement in another state many years ago (I was moving there for graduate school). The state BON was v. slow in processing my application -- it took them months, and I didn't get my license until August (just before school started). My birth month is September, and, to my surprise, the new license -- which cost me a few hundred dollars, of course -- was only good for a little over a month (the last day of my birth month that same year ...); I had to immediately turn around and renew it by the end of September, and pay a couple hundred more dollars. :rolleyes:

Unless August isn't your birth month, that's the correct information and I wouldn't bother contacting the BON.

(If I'm completely wrong and CA has some wacky system that's different from all the other states, I apologize for giving you bad info and I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to set me straight. :))

Edited to add: Ooops, I see someone else was faster on the keyboard than me, but it's good to know I was right.

mr.hustle · Jan 8, 2010

Actually guys, my birthday is JULY 5

paacollins · Jan 8, 2010

I got my NC license on Jan 5th and the expiration date is 3/31/2011. Apparently we have the same rule at CA. Thanks for posting this question because I was wondering myself.

mr.hustle · Jan 8, 2010

is your birthday in march?

paacollins · Jan 8, 2010

Actually guys, my birthday is JULY 5

You'd have a birthday in 2010 and in 2011, so it would be TWO birthdays before it expired. Strange rule huh?

paacollins · Jan 8, 2010

is your birthday in march?

Yes my birthday is March 27. When I saw my license expired so soon I was shocked too but that rule makes sense now.

EDRN-2010 · Jan 8, 2010

Did you see what I posted from the CA BON? It says it expires the last day of the month after your Bday which would be august. HTH!

Actually guys, my birthday is JULY 5

mr.hustle · Jan 8, 2010

Sorry I read it wrong, I thought it expires the last day of the month after the month of your birthday.

Thanks for all the replys and help. I cant rest my head now

morte, LPN, LVN · Jan 8, 2010

Actually guys, my birthday is JULY 5

then you lic should only be good untill 7/31/11.....not 8/31/11.....perhaps your birthdate was entered incorrectly??

paacollins · Jan 8, 2010

then you lic should only be good untill 7/31/11.....not 8/31/11.....perhaps your birthdate was entered incorrectly??

Well, that's true. I didn't read it correctly either. I think the OP and I are suffering from "just took NCLEX, passed the dang thing, got new license, still in shock blues." lol I'd call and ask them just in case.