Philippine Graduate applying for California NCLEX RN

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Hi everyone,

I'm a Registered Nurse in the Philippines and graduated in 2009 from my 4-year BSN degree.

I moved to California in 2014, and applied to take the NCLEX RN in 2015.

The California Board of Registered Nursing denied my application and sent me a letter saying I need to take a whole new RN program that is approved by the California BRN. They also attached a list of accredited schools that I can attend.

I proceeded to apply to the California BVNPT to get my LVN license instead. I did not want to pay $50k for a whole new RN program when I already have my BSN degree.

I passed my LVN exam and received my LVN license in 2016. I have been working as an LVN care coordinator since then.

Now its 2017, and I heard from friends that they were only asked to take additional subjects (usually Med Surg and OB) in order to take the California NCLEX RN. Some of my batchmates got through without a hitch and were able to get their ATT. We graduated the same year and have the same education, so it made me think it's not fair that I get asked to take an entire new RN program.

I went to the CA BRN in Sacramento to question their decision. They told me it is because I have a few OR/DR cases that fall on the summer months (April and May). They said that this is not allowed because "I was not enrolled" during those months. I told them that my school required us to pay for enrollment each semester, even during the summer semester. So I was definitely enrolled during those months.

I was able to talk to my licensing analyst directly. She said that no, I definitely still have to take a whole new RN program. I told her I have my 4-year BSN degree and my LVN license already. She said I can do an LVN to RN bridge program. I said, "so you're saying my entire BSN degree is invalid just because I have some cases that fall on summer months (April and May)?"

She said yes. She said I can apply to other states and they will for sure honor it and allow me to take the NCLEX RN. It's just that California has different rules.

I told her that I have friends who were asked to take additional subjects only or some that didnt even have to go back to school. Some of them were allowed to take the NCLEX RN without any problems.

She said that she does not want to discuss other cases or other applicants.

What should I do?

Does anyone have a similar experience with the BRN?

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That's awful. Like I tell anyone who has an issue with the Ca BoN, contact your state assembly member. Someone here told me to do this with the problems I was experiencing with the BoN. Or apply through another state. You don't have to test in that state, You can go to any Pearson location to test. I would find out Ca BoN's rules related to out of state licenses and if you need to transfer it to a California license. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
jas007 said:
That's awful. Like I tell anyone who has an issue with the Ca BoN, contact your state assembly member. Someone here told me to do this with the problems I was experiencing with the BoN. Or apply through another state. You don't have to test in that state, You can go to any Pearson location to test. I would find out Ca BoN's rules related to out of state licenses and if you need to transfer it to a California license. Hope this helps.

The same rules apply for endorsement as for licensing by exam. If your credentials did not meet criteria for exam it won't change because you attempt to endorse from another state.

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jas007 said:
That's awful. Like I tell anyone who has an issue with the Ca BoN, contact your state assembly member. Someone here told me to do this with the problems I was experiencing with the BoN. Or apply through another state. You don't have to test in that state, You can go to any Pearson location to test. I would find out Ca BoN's rules related to out of state licenses and if you need to transfer it to a California license. Hope this helps.

If you're a US citizen AND a CA resident AND graduated from the US school, then it would not help out the poster at all, if the poster does not meet ALL three criteria.

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To caligirl88, there are several factors playing into why your case is not too much different that affects thousands such as yourself.

While you and your classmates may have all taken your courses together, your cases may have been taken at different times and possibly their cases were done in the timely required manner, this is an immediate red flag that your cases are not concurrent at the same time frame of taking the course(s). Your cases must be taken within the same month of the courses, not 1-2 weeks before, not 1-2 weeks, not 1-2 years after the completion of that course. This is the fault of the PRC, CHED and PNA of not able to co-ordinate the cases and courses with making the school to make sure they do their jobs.

The reason you're required to re-take the entire nursing program and your classmates didn't have to is that possibly you're missing more than the usual two courses that's causing the deficiencies. It's been mentioned many many times by others, that they were missing Psych, Chem, Anatomy, etc, which means it's nearly impossible to make up for those deficient courses in any CA schools or even out of state to not only caught up on 4-6 other courses but you need to complete ALL of them within the 3 year limitation of getting the proper school transcripts to the CA BRN. After the 3rd year of your application date, the CA BRN will abandon the application, the application is not refundable nor able to be used for a future application.

In light of the above, it's almost nearly impossible to find a CA school that will allow you to just take those 4-6 courses so that's why the CA BRN states you need to re-take the entire nursing program. CA schools are already maxed out with international applicants trying to get the 2 most deficient courses and the other 3-4-5 other courses are not offered to international applicants as the top priority goes to their already enrolled US students and not available on a separate agenda to internationals only needing the deficients ones. Add in also the CA schools already have waiting list that goes 1-2-3 years for the international applicants and I know already many have already had to re-apply after their 3 years expired and having a real tough time to get their transcripts from their schools since the PH schools have a short retention period before they are discarded.

While you might be able to find a CA school to help you out with 4-5 courses, it will be very cost prohibitive and looking at $30,000 up to $50,000 in tuition cost alone (needs to be paid up front before you can go to class) and dont' forget to add in books, housing, living expenses will add another few thousands of dollars more.

The only other factor is when did your classmates apply and get their ATT? If they applied prior to November, 2011, then, their application was not yet affected by the concurrency rules (these regulations have been in existence since 1987, quite possibly around the year you were born and maybe not even in this world yet lol).

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Going to another state to get your ATT and getting an RN license from that state is not an automatic pass to get that state's RN license to get endorsed with the CA BRN, you'll still need to meet the exact same educational requirements that's rejected the CA application in the first place.

Many have tried using the "backdoor" method as mentioned above only to find they wasted time and money to find the door was closed (unable to get the CA license). Some have tried to use their US work experience to meet the CA BRN deficiencies but that's never worked either, since it's all educational basis and not work experience (counts as zero) towards any deficiencies.

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Caligirl88, the options that's open to you at this point is:

1). applied in writing to the CA BRN appeals board (must be within one year of the application notice date or your appeal will be denied). You must have all your written evidence stating that you feel you are in full compliance with the CA BRN concurrency rules). The proof of burden is upon you and not the CA BRN, you must show to the board meeting why your transcripts are compliant and ALL the dates do match for the same times of the course AND cases are concurrent.

2). Find the US school that's open to re-take those deficient courses and get the final transcripts before your 3rd year expires.

3). Do what the other few thousands like yourself have done and be prepared to work and practice in any other state (NV, HI, TX, NY) other than CA. This is where you will plant your roots for family and housing needs and establish your nursing career.

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Not the CA BRN fault for the PH nurses for the situation affecting tens of thousands since late 2011, read this link here:

https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/who-is-to-682278.html

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Hi! Im BSN RN in the philipines, i came here 2010 and applied Nclex Rn Ca 2011 and we are the first one who denied due to concurrency issues, in my situation i need to take the whole BSN course and i was so sad and devastated but thats not stop me becoming nurse, i applied To BVNPT to set for NCLEX PN, i waited 1 year 1/2 for my ATT, then 2014 i got my LVN license, but this wont stop me, i search And review all reqts for every state BON and found out florida matches my reqt, so i appied and in one month i got my att, and luckily i passed my exqm at 75 question, yahoo! Im already official RN but not in california, so i decided once again to try luck and do reciprocity, thought they abandoned already my application, i ask my school to help me explai ed all concurrency issues, more supporting documenta but at the end i got denied and they want me tO take the whole Rn course, so i applied receprocity in NY and took me 1 year to get my lic. And now ready to leave ca very soon but im so sad and scared what life new york waiting for

Me, i went to bon sacramento for th last time but the same thing, they want me to take the whole course, i asked the lady if ever i decided to take the whole cours so i need to retake nclex rn again? And she said do receprocity, i dont ger it but im tired dealing with BON Ca and realized thats thier policy, now i cant be LVN forever and need huge step and move one.

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HI caligirl,

can you help me on how to apply for lvn? or anybody on this thread. pls...

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Hello caligirl,

i am also a philipppine graduate, can you help me how to apply LVN in cali. Thank you so much..

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hey guys, I'm on the same boat. Recently applied to CA-BRN but I can provide copies of my cases so I'm stuck with the application.

Im on the point of considering applying to other states or just taking an LVN-RN bridge program. Any update on your status??

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