Licensure in another state

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I'm about to begin an acclerated BSN program in Florida next week, however my ultimate plan after graduating from the program is to work as a RN in another state (either Georgia or Tennessee). How exactly will I go about this? I guess I'm a little confused - I take the NCLEX in Florida, get licensed here and then apply for a licensure in the other state I want to go to? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you:)

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Specializes in ICU.

You don't have to get a license in Florida just because that is where your school is. Once you know which state you want to work in, apply there after graduation. You can still take the NCLEX in FL if that is where you are. The NCLEX is a national test, so it does not matter which state you take it in. What matters is the state that you submit your application to. If you wanted to stay in Florida and work for awhile after graduation, then you would get your license there, and then you can endorse it to the other state.

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You don't have to get a license in Florida just because that is where your school is. Once you know which state you want to work in, apply there after graduation. You can still take the NCLEX in FL if that is where you are. The NCLEX is a national test, so it does not matter which state you take it in. What matters is the state that you submit your application to. If you wanted to stay in Florida and work for awhile after graduation, then you would get your license there, and then you can endorse it to the other state.

Thank you so much - that really cleared up a lot of my confusion.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

There are two ways you can do this. You can either take the NCLEX in your present state and then get an RN license through endorsement (assuming you pass the NCLEX, of course!) for the state you eventually end up moving to. Endorsement, however, usually takes a couple of months because of the paperwork involved. Or, if you already know where you are going to be moving, apply for and take the NCLEX in that state. I've given you links into information on how to take the NCLEX to get an RN license in both Georgia and Tennessee. This information can be found by going to the board of nursing websites for these states. Links are on allnurses under the "Links" button at the top right of this page.

You need to know that Tennessee is a participant in the Nurse Licensure Compact (https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm) which is a agreement among a group of states where nurses who are registered as RNs in one state can practice in any one of the other compact participating states without having to go through endorsement of their licenses. Here is a link to a page that lists all the states currently participating in the compact: https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/acrobat/PLB/38%20Application%20for%20Licensure%20by%20Exam%20-%20U.S.Graduates%20(Rev%203-06).pdf - Georgia information and application to take NCLEX

http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Downloads/g3104229.pdf - information on how to get first RN license as a new grad in Tennessee

https://www.ncsbn.org/245.htm - home page of the organization that write the NCLEX exam

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