Moving TO Houston, TX area; SOS

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Specializes in Future BSN, RN Winter 2020; thrive in fast paced!!.

Hi guys. I have stalked AN for a while now and its time to post. Really looking for a lot of advice and direction. I am graduating in December 2020 with my RN, BSN at university of Louisiana at Lafayette. I am moving to the Houston, TX area in January 2021. I have seen a lot of “residency programs” posts, which isn’t as popular in Louisiana yet. I noticed a minimum GPA of 3.0 is desired. Unfortunately, being in school for almost 6 years, and going through many rough patches and a long journey of being accepted into clinicals; my GPA will be a 2.9. It is impossible for me to recieve a 3.0 with the amount of credit hours I have and will be receiving prior to graduation. Any advice on where to apply for these? I see that most don’t hire you unless you have that background. Second, I know we have the compact license now, but can anyone tell me the process of getting a texas license if I must get my license in the state I can prove my residency in. I don’t see how I could get a TX license right off the bat. I plan to take my NCLEX in feb 2021. Third, ANY ADVICE AT ALL I am desperate for. I don’t know where to even begin with this transition or how to even get my name out there, etc. best hospitals, job advice, etc. Please and thank you all.

forever xoxo,

Madison

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The residency question I cannot answer seeing as I graduated 33 years ago and there was no such thing as that for nursing. I can answer the license question though. When you graduate apply for a Texas license through examination with the Texas BON. You can take the test in any state you live in for another state. The whole reason for NCLEX computerised testing.

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Specializes in Future BSN, RN Winter 2020; thrive in fast paced!!.

Would I have to get LA liscense first? or could I get a tx liscense instead? I could use my inlaws address, if that would work

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You can get a Texas license first

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1 hour ago, Kyrshamarks said:

You can get a Texas license first

Not necessarily. If she is a resident of LA she can't apply for licensure in TX.

3 hours ago, MadiC said:

Would I have to get LA liscense first? or could I get a tx liscense instead? ...

If you are a resident of LA you can't apply for licensure in TX. If you are a resident of any state that is a member of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) you cannot apply for licensure in another eNLC member state.

3 hours ago, MadiC said:

... I could use my inlaws address, if that would work

You might be asked to complete a declaration that TX is your primary state or residence. If you can use this address, and meat all requirements of residency when you do so, then yes, by all means do so. If not, do you want to risk completing a fraudulent application.

This is an unintended consequence of the eNLC as residency is based upon where you are when you apply, not where you will be going. If you contact the TX BON they can best advise you on how to do this. However, bear in mind that it might be fastest to apply for licensure in LA, if you are a resident there as this license should grant multi-state privileges, and then apply for licensure in TX after you relocate.

Again, best wishes.

ETA: if you are a legal resident of a third, non-eNLC state and just attending school in LA, you should be able to apply for initial licensure in TX.

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