Nursing student in Illinois planning to be a nurse in California?

[AnonymousNurse2012]

Hello, I am currently a nursing student in Illinois and by the end of next year I will graduate with an associate's degree in applied science and be able to take the NCLEX to become a registered nurse. I plan on moving to California(San Diego) once I graduate from my nursing program in Illinois. I am unsure on how to go about this? Should I finish my nursing program in Illinois but take the NCLEX in California to be a nurse? Or should I take the NCLEX in Illinois? Which will help me get my RN license faster for California?

Also, I have been reading other people posts about how its not recommended for nurses who just graduated and have no nursing experience to come to California and seek jobs because it's hard to find a job with that background. Is this true? Keep in mind I'm only getting my associate's degree. Does anyone have any info about this? How true this is, especially for San Diego?

Basically I would just appreciate some guidance on how to go from Illinois to California as a nurse. Is there anyone out there who has gone through something similar and wants to share their tips? I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

[caliotter3]

You can take the NCLEX where ever you want to, but you will be applying for your initial license to be a CA license and you will have the NCLEX results sent to CA in support of your application. But if you want to get your initial license elsewhere, such as your “home” state, then you apply there and have the results sent there. Then step two is to have your initial license from “wherever” endorsed to CA. Of course this will take longer. You will find out how easy it is for a new grad with no experience to get a job in CA when you start seeking work in CA. Or you can read some of the many accounts about obtaining work in CA on AN over the years and decide whether or not the people are posting true experiences.