Planning to move, where to take NP boards?

[ivyRN987]

I'll be finishing my Master's as a Psych NP in about a year and a half, and we are planning to move to California afterwards. I am open to staying here (in Virginia) for a year or two to get some experience first, but I would like to at least see if there are any job possibilities in California as a new grad PMHNP. Does anyone know if I would have to take my boards in CA to have license to practice as a PMHNP out there, or if I should take them here, in VA, and then apply for a PMHNP license out there once I pass my boards? Just curious how it works as an NP to apply for a job in a state where you don't currently live -- do you have to first be licensed in that state before you are eligible to apply? Thanks for any help!

[babyNP., APRN]

Nope it doesn't matter unless PMHNP is completely different.

I worked full-time as a RN in the east coast, went to school in another state, took my boards on the west coast while applying for my license in the southwest.

Fun fact, I also went to school for my BSN in one state, took boards in another state, for a license in a different state altogether.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

The NP boards (like NCLEX) are national in scope. Only ANCC offer a PMHNP certification so that's your only option and it is recognized pretty much everywhere.

There are a couple of states that do not require national certification in certain situations. California is one of them - you do not need national certification to apply for an NP license here if you finished your NP programs in a CA-approved institution. If you're coming from out of state, then for sure you are required to have it in order to endorse your out of state NP license. You also must meet endorsement criteria for your RN license.

You can apply for jobs in another state, I have done this and know many others who have. You have to to be able to complete the endorsement process (and credentialing if required) prior to starting your job.