NCLEX question about moving after school to new state

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Specializes in CICU.

I am sure this question is somewhere on this website, but I don't have time to sift through it all. I am finishing my second semester in nursing school and I have asked several instructors and nurses, but I keep getting different answers.

Does anyone know about passing NCLEX in one state and then moving to another for a job?

I grew up in Northern Cali had to move down to Southern Cali (YUCK) for school. No offense but I had large cities and I was not about to wait around for two years. Anyway, I want to get a job in Oregon or Montana, or Colorado. So after school I plan on moving back home, studying for NCLEX and taking the exam. However, if I take the exam here in California will I have any problems when applying for jobs in other states?

There are not many jobs in California unless you work for that hospital while you are in school, like I said I will be moving back home after I complete school so getting a job with a hospital down here would not help me. (Yes I obviously know that experience is a plus also, but I have enough on my plate, I am not smart enough to have a job and go to school).

Anyway would appreciate ANY advice!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

California is the hardest state to become Licensed in....if you obtain licensure there you can pretty much apply for endorsement in any other state.

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

I don't know getting a license in CA would be any harder than getting it anywhere else. it's all the same test. But yes, you can apply for endorsement in any state, but all the states you listed are compact states so you would need to see what they require to reconize your CA license.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Compact state licenses are only multiple state if you are a legal permanent resident of the compact state (if you kept your permanent residence in California you would need a license in each of the other states). You need to look at requirements for licensing by endorsement for each board of nursing. Whilst the NCLEX is the same across the US, licensing requirements are not. Some states require more clinical & theory than others, some states have different background check requirements.

With the current economy many employers may reject your application if you do not have an active state nursing license at the time of application.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I don't know getting a license in CA would be any harder than getting it anywhere else. it's all the same test. But yes, you can apply for endorsement in any state, but all the states you listed are compact states so you would need to see what they require to recognize your CA license.
Yes......California has the same test, however, they have stringent educational requirements that need to be in compliance before they allow you to sit for the exam.

There are school in the US that do not meet these requirements and although you may be licensed in another state....if you do not meet these requirements, California will not issue you a license buy endorsement and will not allow you to sit for the exam.

Here is a map of Compact states.....California is not one of them...compact-nurse-license-states.jpg

Nurse Licensure Compact

Once licensed...you may apply for licensure by endorsement. If you meet that states requirements they may grant you license. California has probably the most stringent requirements.

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

I apologize, the link I looked confused me. I thought it was listing compact states but now see it listed all states.

Had no idea that different states wouldn't endorse your license if your education didn't meet their requirements. That sounds odd to me. Then again, CA is flooded with nurses anyway so I will definitely not be moving out there for work.

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Specializes in CICU.

Thank you everyone! I just wanted to say, I talked to my nursing school director and she told me once you pass the NCLEX, it is simply applying for the state licensure. At least I won't have to talk the exam ever again. Anyway, I plan on getting a bachelor's while I work because I need to make money to pay off student loans before I can go to school again.

Thank you again!

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Specializes in CICU.

take* the exam

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