Licensing after relocation.

Published

Hey everyone! I'm a prospective student that's greatly looking into a BSN program. I have a simple question that might have been answered once before, but I've failed to locate the thread.

I currently live in the Tri-State area, Brooklyn to be exact; and I'm interested in how licensing works. I don't plan on staying in NY after graduating and would like to know if my nursing license would easily transfer to another state, such as California.

Thanks in advance, this website is full of great information.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

Hey Eric,

You can just apply for the license of the state you want to go to. So, if you want to go to California right after school, you just apply to the California BON for a license in that state. You can still take the NCLEX in New York though, so that you don't have to fly to California just to take a test.

If you want to get your license in New York and stay there for a little while before going to California, you just apply for an endorsement in California to transfer your license. Hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, thanks so much. That definitely helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU.

hi eric, have you decided yet to come into nursing? i've been an rn for 33 years, the last 25 in the operationg room. at this point, i will always be able to get a job pretty much anywhere i go. when i moved here to albany, ny from hastings, i had no job, but was working within 2 weeks. job security.....there will always be sick people!

anyhow, on to your original question:

my husband is being transferred to north carolina, and i just got through the application process for a north carolina license, got my permanent one last week. first, you have to contact the state board of nursing for whichever state you want to obtain a license in. i went to the nc board of nursing website, went to the licensure section, and followed the directions from there, submitting whatever i could on line, and they have forms you download & print to send to your own state nursing board: the new state has to verify your current license from your current bon. here in ny state it cost $20 to submit that form, which in turn ny completes & sends to your new application state bon. once verified, i received my temporary nc license, good for 6 months, while they complete background checks. i was sent a form to fill out, for pertinent personal information, as well as a fingerprint form (i took that to the ny state trooper barracks near my home, they fingerprint for free). that whole process took almost 2 months (the temp. license is issued as soon as they verifiy your current license, so you could work if you have to). again, be prepared to pay for it: i had to pay $150 to apply. so when the time comes, check out the on-line options any state board of nursing may have. good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Eric,

You might want to get floor experience before you try moving anywhere in this economy. :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion