where to take the NCLEX?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello.

I go to school in NJ, but I want to move to california after school is done. Does it matter where I take the NCLEX? Can I take it NJ? Or do I have to take it in CA?

Thanks so much!!

What matters is where you apply for licensure. Once you've applied to the state of your choice for licensure and been approved to sit the NCLEX, you can physically take the exam in whatever testing center is most convenient for you. If you know you will be going to CA, you can apply for CA licensure and take the exam in NJ -- and the results will be sent to CA. There is a fair amount of time and expense involved in applying for licenses in additional states once you're licensed in one state. If you know you're going to CA, there's no real point to applying for a NJ license first.

However, we have been hearing lots of reports here that the hiring situation in CA is v. bad for new grads. Apparently, many graduates of CA nursing programs are having to move out of state to find jobs. You may want to be sure you have a job before you spend the money to move there.

Best wishes!

hi thanks so much for that info. can i apply to both NJ and CA??

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