Nursing refresher course vs. retesting out of state?

Extra Pickles · Jun 5, 2017

Im in need of advice, options, or even feedback from anyone out there who went through this and how they went about. My first post is related to this but I didn't find the answers I need. A lot of advice in taking In another state and endorse back to Az. I appreciate all the comments but I didn't find a solid answer with steps.
So if I apply to take exam in another state (Az is compact state) do I apply in another compact state or can it be a non compact state? Also if all goes well will I be able to endorse back to Az. I just don't want to apply and find out I can't endorse back to my home Az.

You won't get a guarantee, we can't lay out exact steps and promise you that you will get a license. Best you're going to get on a forum like this is info from someone who knows something about the process in general and will share. Like me :)

Compact states only are relevant for licensing in that you can live in one state and be licensed in that state yet be permitted to work in an adjacent compact state. You can apply to any state BON for authorization to take the NCLEX and have results sent to that BON with the goal of getting a license from that state. And once you have a license, apply to AZ for a license by endorsement (not exam). Rules change from time to time so you will want to ask the BON the question about what would be needed to apply to them for a license by endorsement, what documentation is required, etc. You're right in that going through the work of getting a license in another state but not being able to get one where you live is a waste.

It's becoming more difficult to do what you are doing; you could say states are "wising up" to this and are putting obstacles in place to prevent someone circumventing the rules, as you are ultimately attempting to do as well. Georgia, for example, has a rule that requires anyone seeking license by endorsement to Georgia to have worked in the original licensing state for a minimum of 1000 paid nursing hours. Prevents someone from bypassing their educational requirements. I don't know if AZ has followed suit, this is why you MUST call them directly and ask. After all if an internet forum doesn't know all the hoops you need to jump through and you can't work in your home state, who will be the one with the problem? Not the internet.

please, if anyone is familiar or have actually done this I need your assistance. I'm running out time since the AzBon sent me a letter stating I have before 11/20/17 to test or I need to submit new application and fees after that date. I'm so bummed the letter doesn't even make sense because I'm not allowed to retest until I complete a refresher course which is a semester long so why give me a date if refresher is required.

The BON has no way of knowing if you're currently enrolled in a refresher course, as you said it's been two years since you graduated so for all they know you're repeating school entirely. It's actually pretty nice for them to send you a letter cluing you in as to the time you have left to do something, some BONs would just let your time run out and then it's your problem again.

Call the BON. Ask about what needs to happen if you have a license in another state and want to endorse to AZ, what obstacles might there be you need to know about.

And after that it's crucial that you figure out WHY you have failed this exam or you are probably going to fail again. Meet with a tutor, take a review class. You don't want to buy more resources, I get that, but you might have to shell out some $ to get you through this process or it will ALL have been a waste of time and money. It might not be free, people want to be paid for their time to tutor you, but you have to do something differently or you can expect the same results as before. What's your future worth to you?

LhetzP · Jun 6, 2017

@Extra Pickles I appreciate your honesty in this. You are right that I will have to contact my BON to get the correct response at least I will know if there are requirements to endorse back to Az. I'm currently in search of a tutor and hard to find. I'm in preparation this this time. I started a list of what areas I'm weak at and a study plan. I remembered getting a lot of prioritazion questions so def on my list to work on. I don't want to fail this time.

Prayers that I can pass this and get a study plan in place. I'm also contacting other states to see if they are requiring anything completed after passing nclex in their state. I don't want to get stuck working in another state just to meet their requirements.

Thank you again

hopess12 · Sep 4, 2017

please, if anyone is familiar or have actually done this I need your assistance. I'm running out time since the AzBon sent me a letter stating I have before 11/20/17 to test or I need to submit new application and fees after that date. I'm so bummed the letter doesn't even make sense because I'm not allowed to retest until I complete a refresher course which is a semester long so why give me a date if refresher is required.

I got one of those letters too. I have a couple of days left until it will expire, but my last nclex result pretty much left me stumped since they are telling me I can retake the test, but they didnt send me an application form (because I have to take a refresher course, first). IT IS quite confusing!

LhetzP · Sep 5, 2017

@hopeless12 I PM'd you

elkpark · Sep 5, 2017

If you live in a compact state and want to apply for licensure in another state, you will have to apply to a non-compact state. The rules of the NLC state that you can only be licensed in one compact state (at a time), and it must be your home state. As long as your permanent residence is Arizona, you are ineligible to apply for licensure in any other compact state.

As already noted, whether Arizona will issue you a license once you're licensed in another state is up to the BON, and I agree it would be smart to clarify with the AZ BON what their endorsement requirements are; you don't want to go to the effort and expense of getting licensed in another state and then find out you still can't get an AZ license.

Best wishes for your journey!

LhetzP · Sep 5, 2017

@elkpark thanks for your input. Definitely I would do homework about this.