Nursing with endorsement?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 30, 2012

Licensure by endorsement means that you are applying for a license in another state...however, you've already taken (and passed) the NCLEX once and hold a valid nursing license. License by endorsement means you apply for another nursing license, but you don't have to take the NCLEX again.

Most of the time, licensure by endorsement is a simple matter. Go to the state BON website that you want to get a license in (in your case, DC) and follow the instructions for endorsement. Fill out the form, pay the fee, and submit any required additional documents. These additional documents can vary depending on the state you are applying to. Some states don't want anything extra sent, while others require you to send fingerprints and transcripts.

Keep in mind that even if you are licensed in one state, getting endorsed into another state IS NOT guaranteed. It's very likely, but not guaranteed. A perfect example is California: they have some of the most stringent educational requirements of any state BRN. They want to see your transcript(s) when you apply for licensure, and if your education doesn't meet these requirements, you can't get a CA license. Doesn't matter if your school was NLNAC/CCNE accredited, doesn't matter how many other states you are licensed in. If the CA BRN isn't satisfied, no license.

Hope this helps!

FutureFLRN2014 · Dec 30, 2012

Licensure by endorsement means that you are applying for a license in another state...however, you've already taken (and passed) the NCLEX once. So getting a license by endorsement means you don't have to take the NCLEX again.
Most of the time, licensure by endorsement is a simple matter. Go to the state BON website that you want to get a license in (in your case, DC) and follow the instructions for endorsement. Fill out the form, pay the fee, and submit any required additional documents. These additional documents can vary depending on the state you are applying to.
Keep in mind that even if you are licensed in one state, getting endorsed into another state IS NOT guaranteed. A perfect example is California: they have some of the most stringent educational requirements, and if you don't meet these requirements, you don't get a CA license no matter how many other states you are licensed in.
Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! It makes more sense now and I will go to the BON website and get in contact with them when the time is necessary. :)

elkpark · Dec 30, 2012

If you aren't going to be moving right away, and aren't sure where you want to end up, then initial licensure in FL would probably make sense.

However, the other option, if you definitely want to move to DC, is to skip FL licensure entirely and just apply for initial licensure in DC. Now that the NCLEX is nationally standardized, you can apply for initial licensure in any state, regardless of where you currently live or attend school. You would just need to also ask your school send your documentation to the other state when you graduate, instead of sending it to the FL BON. If you know you are going to another state once you graduate, why go to the extra expense and time of pursuing licensure in FL? It would be quicker and cheaper to just get licensed in the state in which you want to live and practice.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2012

Give yourself 6-10 weeks-- this is almost never an efficient process. Don't wait until a week before your DC job starts :) .