Nursing school and state boards

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If you go to school in one state, can you get a Nursing license in another state? What tests do you have to take. For example I'm living in California, but I'm considering going to school in Nevada, or Pennsylvania.

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"State Boards" is an obsolete term. Today, we have a national licensing exam for nurses; for RN's it's the NCLEX-RN, for LPN/LVNs, it's the NCLEX-PN.

One test is administered regardless of the State in which a candidate resides. Before taking the exam, however, a candidate needs to apply to whatever State he/she wishes to receive licensure.

Once licensed, a nurse may apply to any other State for an endorsement to his/her license; it's essentially "another" license for all practical purposes, it's just called an endorsement because *technically* you ony receive one license....and then additional endorsements to practice in other States.

Each State Board of Nursing (BoN) has its own regulations and requirements. There is no national standard for receiving a license, only for the licensing exam itself. You may qualify for a license in NY, but not FL; if you fulfill California's requirements but don't meet NJ's, you won''t be licensed there.

In a nutshell, nurses move around ALL THE TIME and can get licenses without tremendous difficulty, it just depends on what you have ready at the time you are applying. If you are required to have CEUs but don't....you can expect delays. Typically, if you're organized, it's not a big deal :)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

take the test in the state from which you were graduated. Get a license. Move. Apply for a license in the second state. They will require paperwork and a fee but should not be an issue.

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A good case for doing CE's whether your State requires them or not would be just this kind of thing. At one time, I considered moving to a different State, one that required (I think) 30 credits at the time of application. My own State does not require any, and I have no doubt many nurses here don't do them because they don't "have" to. Can't imagine having to suddenly do a couple dozen credits :nono:

But if you're considering changing States, it's a good idea to have things like CEs ready to go when you are!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

And be prepared for delays in processing and some delays can be significant.

Choose carefully because there are costs/fees involved - from the 'home state' and 'the new state'.

Each state is different and has its own requirements. An omission of one teeny-tiny item can boggle down the quest. So check with the BONs individually.

Acquiring multiple licenses is doable - those 'travelling' nurses do it all the time.

And just FYI - Pennsylvania requires CEUs.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

You can take the boards anywhere you want and you can go and apply for the RN license in any state you want. Since you know where you may possibly go, research what CEs they require their RNs to have per state.

I am getting my RN license endorsed to WA state and they require 45 hours of CNE and 531 hours of active nursing practice (I know). I searched, and short of checking every state it seems only WA required the active nurse work hours.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fce.nurse.com%2FRStateReqmnt.aspx&ei=peNRVOqEDtHnoATy0ICQBQ&usg=AFQjCNHClXqXUU3L3TIeXCgzcF1_Dmby5g&sig2=fBXIo7vLKc3vkUpzmRWjGw&bvm=bv.78597519,d.cGU

The above link will take you to a site that features each states requirements per their BON for licensure for RNs and LPNs.

Read em and weep! :bookworm:

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