Missouri nursing student moving to Illinois after graduation

[brittanyh14]

Hello everyone,

I live and go to school in Missouri and I am graduating with my BSN in May. I am submitting my application for license as a registered professional nurse by examination in the state of Missouri next week (we turn it in to my school and they handle all of the paperwork). My question is, can I submit an application like this for Illinois now so that after I take my NCLEX I am registered in both states? I called the state board in Illinois and they were not very helpful. I think he said something like I have to wait until I pass my NCLEX in Missouri, then apply for endorsement of my license in Illinois. Does anyone know how long this process will take/how expensive it is? If I move after graduation I want to be able to apply to jobs immediately, hopefully not wait for months on end to get my Illinois license. I appreciate any help, advice, or guidance you can provide me.

[AJJKRN]

If you know you are moving to Illinois before you start work (as you said in the other post I just answered in) then first apply for an Illinois license. Forgive me, it has been a few years so the whole stressful process that I can remember is vague now.

This would be my suggestion if you really just want the Missouri license as a back-up for later on in life. From what I understand it is usually a long process getting licensed in another state once you have already been licensed...I would give the process at least six months because as you have just found out that the BON's tend to not be very helpful...did what I just wrote make sense? Hope so!!!

[brittanyh14]

Thank you for the information and feedback (on both of my posts!). I have actually decided to stay in Missouri for now. Maybe someone with the same questions as me will see your responses and it will help them out too :)