Licensure in Florida and NCLEX advice please

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

Hi!

I am going to be applying for licence in Florida soon(just moved here with my husband from the UK) and was just wondering about peoples experiences with the application process? I am UK qualified and have a green card already.

I am having trouble trying to figure out when I should start the application process. I have not really started studying for the NCLEX yet and so don't want to apply for the CES/ATT in case it doesn't take very long and then I have to sit the NCLEX within 90 days. Just wondering what the usual time frame is? How long did it take you all to prepare for the NCLEX?I appreciate that the NCLEX is just one small part of the application process but its the one small part I have total control over! If I don't pass, its all down to me!

I also appreciate that every bodys experiences will be different but am just interested in hearing peoples stories and advice! I feel a bit swamped with information right now and its all getting more confusing not less!!

Also, I am worried that I won't have enough training hours in the relevant areas. I qualified in 1996 after 3 years of project 2000. Does anybody have any knowledge of this and/or had similiar training?

I look forward to hearing your stories and/or advice!! Thanks in advance for sharing

[akropolis]

hi!

i studied two months for the nclex and i passed it successfully.

good luck!

[suzanne4, RN]

Suggest that you start with the CES process, that can take months to complete. It definitely will not be instant, never has and never will. That will be the best for you to find out if your hours are accepted or you will need to make up some courses. That is where you should begin. You do not need to do anything else until that is done.

Did you actually have enough hours in peds/maternal health and mental health? Clinical and theory hours? That is where most get hung up on the hours.

The ATT is not going to start until you actually pay the fee to Pearson-Vue so you are looking at months from now. The CES will take some time, and then Florida also will take time.

Without starting with the CES process, you will never know.

[suzanne4, RN]

The NCLEX exam is just one part of the licensing process, and is the final step in the process. You must meet all of the other requirements and get actual approval from a state BON to be able to even sit for the exam.

When you are given permission to sit for the exam, it means that you have met all of the requirements for licensure other than the passing of the exam.

Best of luck to you.:balloons:

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the advice! I think I will just go ahead and apply for CES. If I haven't got enough hours can I make them up and how would I go about doing that?

Thanks!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Thanks for the advice! I think I will just go ahead and apply for CES. If I haven't got enough hours can I make them up and how would I go about doing that?

Thanks!

For making hours up all you need to do is contact local school of nursing and see if they will accept you as a student for the courses you need to make up. You may be lucky and not make any hours up, been a few from the UK with your timeline roughly who have not had to make any hours up

[RGN1]

Most project 2000 nurses seem to have enough hours from what I've heard. I agree get your CES done (you'll need it when you apply to the BON anyhow) & then you'll know exactly where you stand.

Good luck