Higglytown

Saipan is a US territory, therefore, you don't have to pay an additional $150 when you schedule your exams. But you still have to pay Pearsonvue $200 for registration.

Ei, beachbuff! Welcome to allnurses. You should know first in which US State you want to work then check the website of that Board of Nursing for the specific requirements, because each state has its own set of requirements. You can apply on your own. No need to ask for help from the review centers or agencies. You can also prepare for nclex by doing self-review. Saunders Comprehensive Review (3rd edition) and Kaplan are highly recommended in this forum. Suzanne, one of the moderators here has tips on how to effectively use the Saunders book. A lot of people passed using just her review strategy. It's free. Kaplan online review is also very good for critical thinking, which is needed in answering nclex style q's. IMO, it's better to take all the foreign exams first before getting a job. That way, it's easier to review because everything is still fresh in your mind. Best of luck on your local board test results.

Thank you so much for all your help!!:thankya: You guys are the greatest! You've been trying to tell me, and it just wasn't registering. It's only now that it's starting to sink into my head.:smackingf Sorry for not "listening." Thanks for bearing with me.

CA will not delete NCLEX results? Then that sort of clears things up. They will delete your files, but not your nclex test results. So in case I do not give them an SSN within 3 years, I don't have to worry that all the hardwork (and money)I invested at passing the nclex will not go to waste. All I have to do is reapply (send them the necessary docs) at the time I choose. Is this what you're saying, augigi?

Hello again, Lawrence! It's not really such a bad thing that I may not be able to leave within 3 years. I consider it a real blessing actually.There was a change of plans. My husband's overseas contract might get renewed for another 2 years. It might not be a good idea if I pursue a nursing career in the US for now because we don't want our family to get separated. Imagine me in the US, my husband in another country, and my 8 y.o. girl here in Manila (in case their docs and green cards do not get processed at the same time as mine). My plan for now is to work in a hospital to enhance my clinical skills and gain experience, which I believe will be to my advantage when we do decide to migrate. California is still my chosen state though. I do not want to apply for a license in another state, but if I have to just to prevent all my nclex hard work from going down the drain, then I will. I'll call CA BON again tomorrow. They have no office now because of thanksgiving. I do have a lot of questions to ask them. I'll let you know what they say. Maybe it could help others who are in the same situation as I am. Thanks for your replies, augigi, silverdragon, lawrence and others!

But what if you are still not able to get an SSN after 3 years? Will they still delete your files? Do you recommend reapplying to another state that does issue licenses without SSN? I mean, all I have to do is request CA to send that other state with a letter stating that I passed NCLEX-RN, right?

Hi! If CA BON does not grant extensions, then what exactly do we get after paying the reapplication fees?

Hi! California is not recommended for initial licensure. When you pass NCLEX, they will not give you your license unless you provide them with an SSN. You cannot even endorse a "license" to another state because there is no license to begin with. Try applying to Vermont or New Mexico. They will issue your license even without an SSN. As soon as you get your license, just apply for endorsement to California. To answer your questions: 1. I think when your registration expires next February, you have to register again. Check the Pearsonvue website or call them to be sure. 2. I'm not sure if there is a limit to the number of times you can retake. But I do know that you have to wait 90 days before you can sit for the exams again. 3.Saunder's 3rd edition is a very good reference. I used it as my main reviewer in preparing for the NCLEX. At the top of the NCLEX discussion forum, there is a sticky by this forum's moderator Suzanne entitiled "the first tip of my study guide." Follow that. Once your done, you have to PM her for the rest of her guide. It's free. Her plan has a very high passing rate. You don't have to enrol in a review center. You can do self-study. A lot of people passed doing just that. Make a timetable and stick to it. Hang on! They say 3rd time is a charm. Perhaps this time, you'll pass. Good luck and God bless you!!

Thanks for your reply, Suzanne! You mentioned in another thread, that if after 3 years, I still cannot give an SSN to CA Board of Reg. Nsg., we can renew our application and pay the fees. What kind of application forms do I fill out? Are these the same forms I submitted when I applied to CA so I can sit for the NCLEX? Do I need another fingerprint card? Do I have to ask my school again to send them my transcripts? If I passed NCLEX, I do not have to take it again, right? At least not for 10 years, you said?

Hi, Suzanne! I recently found out that I passed the NCLEX-RN. The problem is, Calif. will not issue my license until I give them an SSN, which I do not have since I'm not a US citizen. I know that you do not recommend Calif for initial licensure, but I only knew about this after getting my eligibility and I did not want to delay the whole NCLEX process by going through the whole application in another state. I have no plans yet of working in the US, not in a year at least. But I want to have an official US RN license. My question is, how do i apply for a SSN? Do you think it's ok to get the SSN that is stamped "not valid for employment"? If I do get this kind of SSN, can this be converted easily to the ones that can be used for employment? What agency/institution can I approach with this problem? Your advice is very much appreciated. Thank you and God bless you!

Lawrence and Rep are right! There are several good review centers, but I doubt very much if there is anything else they can add to what you can find in very good references, such as Saunders Comprehensive Review. It takes time and effort to read/study on your own, but a lot cheaper. Another advantage of self review is that you can always go at your own pace. If you follow Suzanne's guide for using Saunders, you will realize that self-review is so much better than enrolling in a review center. Just go to a quiet place and study using Suzanne's guide at a time you choose. I heard her study plan has a very high passing rate.

Good luck to you! Sending positive vibes your way!!!

:balloons:Congratulations, RN!!! :balloons:

Thank you for all your greetings! Yes, AuntiRN, I felt really, really good after reading that one page letter in a nice, thin envelope. How should I describe it? relief? awesome? overwhelming? Guess all of it!

Hi! I used Saunders to reinforce my nursing foundation, then I took Kaplan online review. I also read the Yale New Haven website to learn more about infection control. Kaplan is very very good with critical thinking and test taking strategies. I got around 5 or six select all that apply q's, prioritization, cohorting, delegation, diet, about 2 meds and 1 calculation. It took me around 2 and a half hours before the computer shut off at 75.